News Broadcasters Federation has announced the launch of its special venture ‘Digital News Federation’ (DNF), an exclusive organization, with an aim to uphold the editorial freedom and ensure business interests of online news platforms.
DNF aims to stand for the collective interests of digital news publishers, as there has been a paradigm shift in the consumption of news media. The objective of DNF is to build transparent, dynamic and ethical self-regulated journalistic standards for the industry.
NBF had a sub-committee to cater the challenges faced by the Digital arms of existing TV News Broadcasters. Understanding the need and issues of the digital news media industry, NBF has expanded the scope of the sub-committee and has decided to include independent digital news publishers as well as their respected members.
DNF begins its journey with close to 100+ online platforms, with a combined audience of more than 200 million, both independent and extension and digital arms of NBF Member TV channels. The decision to launch DNF was taken at the NBF Governing Board meeting, chaired by the founding President Arnab Goswami.
Speaking on the new initiative, Sreekandan Nair, 24News, says “News Platforms in India can now work with ultimate freedom without entering into the unethical spread of misinformation or cyberbullying. Digital News Platforms, like Broadcast news networks, should work with self-restraint.”
Shankar B, CEO, Fourth Dimension Media says “I’m extremely delighted and thrilled with this announcement. NBF has always been ahead of the rest and will continue to charter greater heights.”
Anand Sankeshwar, VRL Media says, “I would like to Congratulate the Team at NBF in taking this NEWAGE Technology forward and forming a grouping that will be advantageous to its members – We at VRL welcome this initiative as we have always adopted Evolving Digital Technology and have approached this from tactical to strategic advantage. As a member, there would be a lot of learning and sharing of ideas and build a stronger future together.”
Shravan, iNews says- “Congratulations on this big move!! Sending you good vibes and best wishes!!”
DNF is structured as a joint venture between NBF and Webnyay, India’s leading grievance redressal and online dispute resolution ecosystem.
Webnyay is a proprietary technology platform for resolving grievances and disputes online through arbitration and mediation. It actively collaborates with industry associations to enable grievance redressal and dispute resolution and assists with drafting policies, guidelines and regulations.
“Webnyay is privileged to support the News Broadcasters Federation by providing technology and support to its members and the self-regulatory body for resolving grievances and disputes in an easy-to-use, automated and seamless manner,” said Vishwam Jindal, Co-founder- Webnyay.
The launch of DNF assumes significance with the reach of online news consumption estimated to reach 750 million by 2025, EY estimates, while the reach stood at 467 million in 2021, as per ranking agency, Comscore. “A majority of this news consumption is now in vernacular languages – as high as 95% – and we believe vernacular news portals will see increased penetration with the proposed launch of low-cost smartphones by telcos,” as per a joint industry report by FICCI-EY.
