The Press Information Bureau, commonly abbreviated as PIB, is a nodal agency of the Government of India under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Today we discuss the functions of Press Information of India
What does PIB (Press Information Bureau) Do?
The Press Information Bureau (PIB) is the central government organisation responsible for informing the print and electronic media about initiatives, programmes and accomplishments of the Indian government. It serves as a conduit between the government and the media and informs the government of the public’s opinion as expressed in the media.
The PIB disseminates information via a variety of media, including press releases, press notes, feature stories, backgrounders, pictures, and a database that is accessible on the Bureau’s website. To reach around 8,400 newspapers and media outlets across the nation, information is first issued in English, Hindi and Urdu before being translated into other Indian languages.
In addition, PIB organises Press Conferences, Press briefings, and Interviews of the Minister/Secretary and other senior officers to sensitise media persons on important policy initiatives of the Government. The Bureau also conducts Press Tours to successful project sites to enable the media to have first-hand accounts of developmental activities going on in the country.
Functions of Press Information of India: Organizational Set-Up
❖ PIB has its Headquarters in New Delhi. The Director General and eight Additional Director Generals at Headquarters work with the Principal Director General (Media & Communication) to run it.
❖ Additionally, according to the Departmental Publicity Officer’s position and the size, importance, and sensitivity of the Ministry to which they are assigned, the Bureau has Media & Communication Officers and Departmental Publicity Officers ranging in rank from Directors to Assistant Directors. various regions of the nation.
❖ PIB also runs a Control Room (News Room) at Headquarters to ensure dissemination of the information after normal working hours on weekdays
❖ From 6.00 pm to 9.00 pm and From 3.00 pm to 9.00 pm on weekends and holidays.
❖ PIB has eight Regional Offices headed by Additional Director Generals and 34 Branch Offices and Information Centers to cater to the information needs of the regional press and other media.
❖ When a significant event is planned by one of the Central Ministries or Public Sector Undertakings in a specific region, these Regional and Branch Offices of PIB issue original press releases, press notes, backgrounders, etc. in addition to the publicity materials released from the Headquarters in the local language.
❖ These Offices also take up the decisions of the Central Government which may be of special importance to a particular region for focused publicity through information dissemination on a sustained basis.
The PIB’s activities can be broadly divided into Three Categories
❖ Information, Education & Communication (PUBLICITY)
❖ Feedback
❖ Accreditation & Special Services
IEC (Publicity)
❖ For the purpose of distributing information to the media via press releases, press notes, backgrounders, etc. as well as by setting up press conferences, press tours, media briefings, etc., Departmental Publicity Officers (DPOs) have been attached to various Ministries and Departments.
❖ These Officers have continuously given their respective Ministries the support they require, as well as satisfying the media’s informational demands regarding such Ministries. Additionally, DPOs offer their respective Ministries advice on all issues relating to media information needs and ministry publicity needs.
❖ In addition to its regular publicity efforts, the Bureau also organizes press tours, Economic Editors’ Conference (EEC) PICs, and Editors Conference on Social and Infrastructure Issues.
Public Information Campaigns (PICs)
❖ (PICs) are informational camps set up in partnership with DAVP, DFP, S&DD, etc. to inform the general public about the many programmes of the Central Government.
❖ A PIC’s strategy entails delivering services to recipients at their doorsteps, especially in rural regions, while also disseminating information. It aims to equip citizens, particularly those from rural areas, with knowledge of the many social schemes offered by the Central Government under its flagship programmes. It envisions direct communication with the “Aam Aadmi“.
Press Tours
The Central Government identifies successful projects under its various programmes in isolated and underdeveloped areas of the nation, and national and local media are invited to tour these projects to learn first-hand about the contributions of people, groups, and government organisations and to report on these in the media.
Feedback, Feature, & Photo Services
❖ Officers from the Bureau who are connected to other Ministries and Departments also give input to such Ministries and Departments. The Feedback Cell in PIB creates Daily Digests and Special Digests for Ministries’ usage based on news articles and editorials from National as well as regional dailies and magazines as part of the Special Services.
❖ The Feature Unit of the Bureau issues backgrounders, updates, info-nuggets, features and graphics, which were also sent to the Regional/Branch offices for translation and circulation to the local media.
Accreditation & Other Services
The PIB provides accreditation to media representatives including foreign media at the Headquarters. This facilitates them to access information from Government sources. The number of media persons accredited is 1618 correspondents and 476 cameramen/photographers.
❖ Besides, 152 technicians and 84 editors and media critics have also been granted accreditation. The Bureau has adopted a fully online system of accreditation from the year 2009.
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