Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act, 2021

Exact source transcription retained, including print layout and extraction artifacts. Text SHA-256: b1b39b1ae65e39666014277a678488f3dcf44e577e0a6e8a9e0082c4b9ae6101.

Page 1 of 14 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE PROTECTION OF JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA 
PROFESSIONALS ACT, 2021 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
      CONTENTS 
 
PART-I 
PRELIMINARY 
1. Short title, extent and commencement 
2. Definitions 
PART-II 
RIGHTS OF JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA PROFESSIONALS 
3. Right to life and protection against ill treatment 
4. Right to privacy and non-disclosure of sources 
5. Independence in the performance of duties 
6. Good faith obligation of journalists and media professionals 
7. Protection from abusive, violent and intolerant behavior 
8. Protection against harassment 
PART-III 
TRAINING AND INSURANCE 
9. Institution of the Journalists Welfare Scheme 
 
 

 
Page 2 of 14 
 
PART-IV 
INVESTIGATION AND REDRESS 
10. Obligation to investigate, prosecute and penalize threats, coercion, acts of violence and abuse 
of journalists, and media professionals 
11. Combating impunity  
PART-V 
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION FOR 
THE PROTECTION OF JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA 
PROFESSIONALS 
12. Establishment of a Commission for the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals 
13. Appointment of Chairperson 
14. Term of office of the Chairperson and members 
15. Removal of the Chairperson and members 
16. Terms and conditions of service of members including Chairperson 
 
PART-VI 
MANAGEMENT AND PROCEDURES OF THE COMMISSION 
17. Functions of the Independent Commission 
18. Procedure of the Independent Commission 
19. Inquiry into complaints 
20. Powers relating to inquiries 
PART-VII 
MISCELLANEOUS 
21. Power to make Rules 
22. Indemnity Clause 
23. Application of the Act 
24. Removal of difficulties 
 
SCHEDULE-I 
 
 
Page 3 of 14 
 
 
Part A:      Obligation to ensure 
 
Part B:      Obligation to provide adequate and effective training 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Page 4 of 14 
 
 
THE PROTECTION OF JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA PROFESSIONALS 
ACT, 2021 
ACT NO. XXIII OF 2021 
[1st December, 2021] 
An Act to promote, protect and effectively ensure the independence, impartiality, safety and 
freedom of expression of journalists and media professionals. 
WHEREAS it is the responsibility of the State to safeguard the right to freedom of expression, 
as contained in Article 19 of the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973, as well as in Article 19 of the 
international Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which includes the freedom to seek, 
receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing 
or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media; 
AND WHEREAS it is the requirement of any democratic society to instill a  strong culture of 
safety and independence of journalists, taking into consideration specific attacks on journalists and 
media professionals; 
 
AND WHEREAS  it is expedient to establish a legal and institutional framework for the 
protection and promotion of the rights of journalists and media professionals; 
It is hereby enacted as follows:— 
PART-I 
PRELIMINARY 
1. Short title, extent and commencement.— (1) This Act may be called the Protection of 
Journalists and Media Professionals Act, 2021. 
(2) It shall extend to the whole of Pakistan. 
(3) It shall come into force at once. 
2. Definitions.— (1) In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or  
context,— 
(a) “Act” shall mean the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act, 
2021; 
(b) “Authority” means the Authority established under the Legal Aid and Justice 
Authority Act, 2020; 
(c) “Commission” means the Independent Commission for the Protection of 
Journalists and Media Professionals, constituted under Section 12 of this Act; 
(d) “Compensation” means grant/donation/compensatory relief in terms of money 
to be provided from federal and respective provincial funds/ programs/schemes, 
in case of a journalist’s accidental death/injury while performing his/her duties; 
 
Page 5 of 14 
 
(e) “Constitution” means the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan; 
(f) “Federal Ombudsman”  means the Ombudsman established under the 
Harassment Against Women at Workplace Act, 2012; 
(g) “Government” means the Federal Government; 
(h) “Harassment” means any unwelcome sexual advance, or request for sexual 
favours or other verbal or written communication, or physical conduct of a 
sexual nature or sexually demeaning attitudes, that causing interference with 
work performance or creating an intimidating , hostile or offensive work 
environment, or the attempt to punish the complainant for refusal to comply to 
such a request or is made a condition for employment; 
(i) “Intimidation” means threatening a person with any injury to his person, 
reputation or property, or to the person or reputation of any one in whom that 
person is interested, with intent to cause alarm to that person, or to cause that 
person to do any act which he is legally bound to do, or to omit to do any act 
which he is legally bound to do, as the means of avoiding the execution of such 
threat; 
(j) “Journalist” means any person who is professionally or regularly engaged by a 
newspaper, magazine, news website or other news broadcast medium (whether 
online or offline), or any person with a substantial t rack record of freelancing 
for at least three years for any newspaper, magazine, news website or other 
news broadcast medium; 
(k)   “Media professional”  includes any other person regularly or professionally 
engaged in the collection, processing and disseminati on of information to the 
public via any means of mass communication, including cameraperson and 
photographers, technical supporting staff, drivers and interpreters, editors, 
translators, publishers, broadcasters, printers and distributors; 
(l)  “Media owner” means the owner of a media house or agency which collects 
and disseminates consumers news, features, comments, photographs and 
graphics through any means of communications; 
(m) “Non-journalist” means a person who is employed mainly in a managerial or 
administrative capacity in a media organization, or is being employed there in 
a supervisory capacity, performs, either by the nature of the duties attached to 
his office or by reason of the powers vested in him, functions mainly of a 
managerial / administrative nature. 
(n) “Sources” mean any book, publication, person or organization that discloses 
information forming the substance/subject of work undertaken by any 
journalist, reporter or media professional; 
(o) “Schedule” means a Schedule to this Act; 
(p) “Torture” means an act committed by which severe pain or suffering, whether 
physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as 
obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him 
 
Page 6 of 14 
 
for an act he or a third person ha s committed or is suspected of having 
committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason 
based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by 
or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiesce nce of a public official 
or other person acting in an official capacity. It does not include pain or 
suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to lawful sanctions. 
 
(2)   All other words and expressions used but not defined in this Act shall h ave the same 
meanings as may be assigned to them under all applicable laws in Pakistan including the Pakistan 
Penal Code (Act XLV of 1860), Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898), and Qanoon -e-
Shahadat, 1984 (P.O. No. X of 1984). 
PART-II 
RIGHTS OF JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA PROFESSIONALS 
3. Right to life and protection against ill treatment.— (1) The Government shall ensure 
that every journalist and media professionals right to life and security of person, as contained in Article 
9 of the Constitution, is safeguarded, and that no such individual is subjected to ill-treatment. 
(2) No person or institution, whether private or public, shall engage in any act that violates 
the right to life and security of any journalist or media professional. 
(3) In order to maintain the independence, impartiality and freedom of journalists and media 
professionals, the Government shall take steps to ensure that existing or future counter - terrorism or 
national security laws are not utilized arbitrarily to hinder the work and safety of journalists and media 
professionals, including through arbitrary arrest or detention, or the threat thereof. 
(4) The Government shall ensure that effective measures are taken to protect journalists and 
media professionals against forced or inv oluntary disappearances, kidnapping, abduction or other 
methods of coercion. 
(5) The Government shall ensure that journalists and media professionals are allowed to 
carry out their journalistic work in conflict -affected areas within the country, without threat s, 
intimidation, harassment or fear of persecution or targeting. 
(6) If the Commission finds that any institution or organization is, directly or indirectly, 
involved in violating, or attempting to violate, the rights to life and protection against ill treatme nt 
safeguarded in sub -section (1) above, it shall report the same to the Federal Government and 
recommend appropriate course of action against the perpetrator(s) of these violations. 
4. Right to privacy and non -disclosure of sources. — (1) Each journalist and media 
professional shall have the right to privacy, which includes protection of the law against interference 
with his/her home, correspondence, and family. 
(2) The Government shall ensure that no person, officer, agency or institution unlawfully or 
arbitrarily interferes with the right to privacy of any journalist, reporter or media professional and 
his/her home, correspondence (including electronic correspondences) and family. 
(3) The Government shall ensure that no journalist, reporter or media professional is forced, 
induced, compelled, coerced or threatened for the disclosure of his/her sources of information by any 
person, officer, agency, authority or institution save without due process of the law. 
 
Page 7 of 14 
 
(4) The Government shall make efforts to safeguard the confident iality of sources, of 
journalists or media professionals. 
5. Independence in the performance of duties.— (1) No journalist or media professional 
shall be subjected to any unlawful or arbitrary restrictions on their ability to perform their work 
independently, and without undue interference. 
(2) Any restriction on the right to freedom of expression of journalists or media professionals 
must be in accordance with the existing laws, and must only be imposed if it is necessary for respect 
of the rights o r reputations of others, or if such restriction is levied against material that advocates 
national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence. 
(3) Any restriction imposed under Section 5(2) of this Act must: 
(i) be easily accessible to the public; 
(ii) comply with the principles of legality, necessity and proportionality; and 
                     (iii)     be formulated with sufficient precision to enable a journalist, reporter or media      
professional to adjust his or her conduct accordingly. 
6. Good faith obligation of journalists and media professionals. —(1) All journalists and 
media professionals must respect the rights or reputations of others and not produce material that 
advocates national, racial, ethnic, religious, sectarian, linguistic, cultural or gender -based hatred, 
which may constitute incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence. 
(2) All journalists and media professionals must not engage in the dissemination of material 
known by such an individual to be false or untrue. 
 
(3) The journalists who fail to fulfill obligations in sub -section (1) and  (2) will be tried in 
accordance with the relevant laws. 
7. Protection from abusive, violent and intolerant behaviour. —(1) The Government 
shall take all steps to protect journalists and media professionals from all forms of abuse, violence and 
exploitation through any medium (including electronic communications) at the hands of any person, 
institution (private or public) or authority. 
(2) Whenever any act of abuse, violence or intolerant behaviour is committed against any 
journalist, reporter or media professional, whether perpetrated by a private or public person, 
institution or authority, the aggrieved journalist or media professional shall file a complaint within a 
period of fourteen (14) days, against the same before the Commission created under section 12 of the 
Act. 
 
(3)   Upon receipt of information identified in Section 7(2) of this Act, the Commission shall, 
within a period of fourteen (14) days, take all necessary actions to investigate and prosecute such acts 
of abuse, violence or intolerant behaviour, and to take appropriate measures under law to provide 
protection to the concerned journalist, reporter or media professional in the manner pr escribed under 
this Act. 
8. Protection against harassment. —(1) The Government shall ensure that every 
journalist, reporter and media professional is protected against harassment, as defined in Section 2(h) 
of this Act. 
 
Page 8 of 14 
 
(2) Whenever any act of harassment is committed against any journalist or media 
professional, whether perpetrated by a private or public person, institution or authority, the aggrieved 
person may file a complaint against the same before the Federal Ombudsman within a period of 
fourteen (14) days. 
 
(3) Upon receipt of in formation identified in Section 8(2) of this Act, the Federal 
Ombudsman or the relevant authority shall, within a period of fourteen days, take all necessary actions 
to investigate and prosecute such acts of harassment, and to take a ppropriate measures under the law 
to provide protection to the concerned journalist, reporter or media professional. 
 
PART-III 
TRAINING AND INSURANCE 
9. Institution of the Journalists Welfare Scheme. — (1) The provision of adequate 
training and guarantee of insurance will be governed in accordance with this provision, under the 
“Journalists Welfare Scheme” 
(2) Compliance with the requirements of the Scheme, established pursuant to sub-section (1) 
of Section 9 of this Act, shall be the responsibility of each media owner. 
(3) The operation of the Journalists Welfare Scheme shall be governed under Schedule -I of 
this Act. 
(4) The Journalists Welfare Scheme requires each Media Owner to produce a 
comprehensive, written safety policy and protocols for journalists and media professionals. 
 
PART-IV 
INVESTIGATION AND REDRESS 
10. Obligation to investigate, prosecute and penalize threats, coercion, acts of violence 
and abuse of journalists, and media professionals. — (1) Where any person acts in a threatening, 
coercive, abusive or violent manner, or conspires to act in a threatening, coercive, abusive or violent 
manner, or aids and abets a threatening, coercive, abusive or violent act with the intent to undermine 
the integrity and independence of journalists and media professionals, such acts may be reported to 
the Commission. 
(2) The Commission shall take appropriate steps to ensure accountability for such acts by 
conducting impartial, prompt, thorough, independent and effective investigations into all such reports. 
The Commission may set up an advisory committee to determine whether the complaint should 
be taken up or not. 
(3) Following the required investigations under section 10(2) of the Act, the Commission 
shall ensure that all perpetrators are prosecuted an d simultaneously ensure that the aggrieved 
journalists have access to adequate and effective remedies: 
Provided that if a journalist cannot afford access to legal aid the Commission may refer the 
case of the aggrieved journalist to the Authority who shall ensure free of cost legal aid to the victim. 
11. Combating impunity.— (1) No threatening, coercive, abusive or violent Act, committed 
against journalists or media professionals, shall be exempt from immediate and effective investigation 
 
Page 9 of 14 
 
and prosecution. 
(2) The Go vernment shall develop and implement strategies for combating impunity for 
those engaging in conduct mentioned in section 11(1) of this Act, particularly with regard to the 
following: 
 
(i) Monitoring and conducting investigations into cases reported by journalists, media 
professionals, their families or civil society organizations working on journalists’ 
protection; 
(ii) Coordinating policy and action between relevant government authorities; 
(iii) Ensuring the participation of journalists, and media professionals, and/or their families, 
in processes aimed at guaranteeing their protection and safety. 
(3) The Government will implement best practices provided for in the United Nations Plan of 
Action on Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity. 
PART-V 
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION FOR THE PROTECTION 
OF JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA PROFESSIONALS 
12. Establishment of a Commission for the Protection of Journalists and Media 
Professionals.— (1) The Federal Government shall constitute an independent commission to be 
known as the Commission for the Protection of Journalist and Media Professionals (CPJMP) to 
exercise the powers and perform the functions under this Act. 
(2) The Commission shall consist of: 
(i) A Chairperson, who has demonstrable knowledge of, or practical experience of 
minimum twenty years in, matters relating to law, justice and human rights; 
(ii) A member of Pakistan Bar Council duly nominated by the Pakistan Bar Council; 
(iii)  Four journalists with over 25 years of experience nominated by the Pakistan Federal 
Union of Journalists (PFUJ), one nominated member from each Islamabad Union of 
Journalists, Karachi Union of Journalists, Lahore Union of Journalists, Quetta Union of 
Journalists and Peshawar Union of Journalists; 
(iv) One member who is a Secretary of the National Press Club (NPC); 
(v) One member who is Secretary of Parliamentary Reporters Association; and one member 
who is Secretary Supreme Court Reporters Association; 
 
(vi) One representative of the Ministry of Human Rights, as nominated by Ministry of 
Human Rights (ex-officio); and 
(vii) One representative of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting not less than the rank 
of Joint Secretary (ex-officio); 
(viii) Secretary of the Commission who shall not have a right to vote. 
 
Page 10 of 14 
 
(3) The Commission may co-opt any person having demonstrable knowledge of, or practical 
experience in, matters relating to journalism as a member. 
(4) The Secretary of the Commission shall be appointed by the Commission in the prescribed 
manner. 
(5) Provided that at least three members of the Commission shall be women. 
13. Appointment of Chairperson.— (1) The Ministry of Human Rights in consultation with 
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting shall, invite suggestions for appointment as Chairperson 
of the Commission and, after proper scrutiny, shall submit a list of three persons to the Federal 
Government. 
(2) The Federal Government shall appoint a Chairperson from the names submitted by the 
Ministry of Human Rights. 
14. Term of office of the Chairperson and members. — (1) A person appointed as 
Chairperson or a member s hall hold office initially for a term of two years from the date on which 
he/she enters upon his/her office extendable for another two years: 
Provided that the term of the office may be extended once. 
(2) The Chairperson or a member may resign from his/her office in writing under his/her hand 
addressed to the President and on acceptance of the resignation; such vacancy shall be filled within 
30 days. 
15. Removal of the Chairperson and members. — The Chairman and members may be 
removed from office by the Federal Government if they are found to be: 
(a) guilty of misconduct; or 
(b) guilty of unsatisfactory performance; or 
(c) unfit to continue in office by reason of being mentally or physically challenged and   
stands so declared by a competent medical authority; or 
(d)    convicted of any offence involving moral turpitude been sentenced to imprisonment for      
a term of not less than two years: 
Provided that the Federal Government may remove the Chairperson or members on any one 
of the grounds listed above. 
16. Terms and conditions of service of members including Chairperson.— The salary of 
the Chairperson and other administrative allowances payable to, and terms and conditions of service 
of the members, shall be such as may be prescribed by the Federal Governmen t in consultation with 
the Commission. 
(2) The salary of the Chairperson and other administrative expenses of the Commission shall 
be made from funds allocated by the Federal Government: 
 
 
 
 
 Provided that neither the salary of Chairperson and allowances n or the terms and 
conditions of service of a member shall be 'varied to his/her disadvantage after the appointment: 
 
Provided further that the members of the commission shall, based on their areas of competence 
and expertise, perform their functions in an h onorary capacity to assist the Chairperson of the 
 
Page 11 of 14 
 
Commission. 
PART-VI 
MANAGEMENT AND PROCEDURES OF THE COMMISSION 
17. Functions of the Independent Commission. — (1) The Commission shall perform all 
or any of the following functions, namely:— 
(a) On a petition presented to it by an aggrieved journalist, reporter or other media professional 
or any person on his/her behalf, or on its own motion inquire into complaints of — 
(i) Threats or acts of torture, killing, violent attacks, forced disappearance, arbitra ry 
arrest, arbitrary detention and harassment; or 
(ii) Negligence in the prevention of such violations, as listed in Part II of this Act, by a 
public servant. 
(b) Produce an annual report on the state of media freedom and safety to be tabled before the 
Parliament, through the Ministry of Human Rights, and submit any other independent 
reports, as and when considered necessary, to the Ministry of Human Rights. 
(c) Determine whether an affected journalist is eligible for compensation and recommend the 
case of compensation to a victim Journalist or their legal heirs in case of their having been 
killed to a notified officer under any provincial compensatory framework already 
established by the provincial and Federal Governments. 
(d) Facilitate the provision of legal aid to aggrieved journalists if the circumstances so require 
through the Authority. 
(e) Take such necessary measures to ensure that the laws governing the employment and 
welfare of journalists are being implemented in the letter and the spirit. 
(f) Such other functions a s it may consider necessary for the protection of the right of 
journalists protected under this Act. 
18. Procedure of the Independent Commission. — (1) The Commission shall regulate its 
own procedure. 
(2) All decisions, directions and orders of the Commission shall be duly authenticated by the 
Chairperson of the Commission or by any other member of the Commission duly authorized by the 
Chairperson in this behalf. 
(3) The quorum for a meeting of the Commission shall not be less than one-half of the total 
membership of the Commission. 
(4) The Commission shall take decisions in accordance with the views of the majority of its 
members present and, in case of a deadlock, the member presiding the meeting shall have a casting 
vote. 
19. Inquiry into complaints. — The Commission, while in quiring into complaints by a 
journalist, media professional or other duly authorized individual on behalf of such journalist or media 
professional, may call for information from the Federal Government, a Provincial Government, the 
intelligence agencies or any other authority or organization, subordinate thereto, within such time as 
may be specified by it: 
 
Page 12 of 14 
 
Provided that if the information or report is not received within the time stipulated by the 
Commission, it may proceed to inquire into the complaint on its own. 
 
20. Powers relating to inquiries. — (1) The Commission shall, while inquiring into 
complaints under this Act, have all the following powers of a civil court trying a suit under Code of 
Civil Procedure, 1908, in respect of the following matters namely:— 
(a) ordering an inquiry on a complaint or on its own motion; 
(b) calling for information report, document, data or any other evidence from ministry, 
department, authority of the Federal Government or Provincial Government or law 
enforcement agency, or any other authority or organization, subordinate thereto, within 
such time as may be specified by it. 
(c) summoning and enforcing the attendance of witnesses and examining them under oath; 
(d) discovery and production of documents; 
(e) receiving evidence on affidavits; 
(f) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents; and 
(g) any other matter which may be prescribed: 
Provided that upon receipt of direction from the Commission, the concerned ministry, 
department, authority or law enforcement agenc y shall, within a period of fourteen 
days, take all necessary actions to investigate and prosecute such acts of abuse, violence 
or intolerant behaviour, and to take appropriate measures under law to provide 
protection to the concerned journalist, reporter or media professional; 
Further provided that the ministry, department, authority or law enforcement agency to 
whom such direction has been passed shall inform the Commission of the progress of 
legal or disciplinary action, as the case may be, on a periodic ity as directed by the 
Commission. 
(2) The Commission shall be deemed to be a civil court to the extent that is described in 
sections 175, 178, 179, 180 and 228 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 (Act XLV of 1860). If any of 
the offences listed above are committed in the view or presence of the Commission, the Commission 
shall, after recording the facts constituting the offence and the statement of the accused as provided 
for in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898), forward the case to a Magistrate having 
jurisdiction to try the same and the  Magistrate to whom any such case is forwarded shall proceed to 
hear the complaint against the accused as if the case has been forwarded to him under section 346 of 
the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898). 
(3) Every proceeding before the Commission shall be deemed to be a judicial proceeding 
within the meaning of sections 193, 196 and 228 of the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 (Act XLV of 1860). 
(4) The Commission may establish such Committees from amongst its Members and officials 
as it deems fit and may refer to them any matter for consideration and report. The Commission may, 
if it considers necessary, coopt to a Committee any person possessing special knowledge and expertise 
on the relevant subject. 
 
 
Page 13 of 14 
 
PART-VII 
MISCELLANEOUS 
21. Power to make Rules. —The Commission may, by notification in the official Gazette 
make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act within six months of commencement of the Act. 
22. Indemnity Clause.—No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against the 
members of the Commission or its officers for anything done in his / her official capacity which is 
done in good faith or intended to be done under this Act or the rules, instructions or directions made 
or issued hereunder. 
23. Application of the Act. — The provisions of this Act shall be complied with and 
implemented equally in times of armed conflict, internal conflict and during peacetime. 
24. Removal of difficulties.— If any difficulty arises in giving effect to any of the provisions 
of this Act, the Government may, within a period of one year from the date of commencement of this 
Act make such order, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as may appear to be necessary, 
for the purpose of removing the difficulty. 
SCHEDULE-I 
Journalists Welfare Scheme 
Part A: Obligation to Ensure: 
(1) Media owners have a legal obligation to provide life and health insurance coverage to 
each journalist or media professional, provided the journalist or media professional satisfies any of the 
following criteria: 
(a) Has a long-term contract (for any period exceeding one year) with the media house; 
(b) Has entered into a short -term contract (for any period under one year) with the media 
house; or 
(c) Has been employed to work in a dangerous location even where no contract exists. 
(2) Media owners shall have a legal obligation to pay the Journalists on time and not 
unnecessarily withhold the remuneration of the journalists. 
(3) Media owners shall have a legal obligation to ensure that there is at leas t one female 
member in the management board or any governing body, as the case may be, of the media 
organization. 
 
Part B: Obligation to Provide Adequate and Effective Training: 
(1) Each journalist or media professional shall receive mandatory/compulsory safet y 
training, based on mandatory written policies and protocols, including safety protocols of the Media 
House: 
(a) Within the first month of recruitment; and 
(b)  Prior to engaging in any  reporting  or  journalistic work  in any location. 
(2) The safety training mentioned in Section (1) of Part B of this Schedule is to be provided 
free-of-cost by media owners. 
 
Page 14 of 14 
 
(3) For journalists and media professionals in dangerous locations, intensive training must 
be provided free-of-cost by media owners to ensure: 
(a) Awareness of risks associated with their profession in the particular location; 
(b) Understanding of the safety rules and procedures that must be observed; 
(c) Effective capacity building of journalists, and media prof essionals in the following 
areas: 
(i) Health and Environmental Hazards Training (HEHT); 
(ii) Avoidance, Deterrence and Escape Training (ADET); and 
(iii)  Kidnapping and Crises Responses Training (KCRT). 
 
___________________ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
RGN Date: 04-12-2025