China's top legislature is mulling the country's first press law, with a draft is expected to be read by the 12th National People's Congress (NPC), a former senior official from China's press authorities said.

All of China's media outlets, including online news services, will be regulated within a legal framework, said Liu Binjie, a deputy to the NPC and former director of the defunct General Administration of Press and Publication, the Beijing Times reported on Sunday.

He added that individuals acting as media outlets have yet to be included.

Liu said that new media outlets have rapidly expanded their influence by combining eye-catching stories with relatively more independence, while traditional media outlets continue to be managed under strict rules. A law could help end unbalanced development and regulations, Liu said.

A press law would allow the media more discretion in their reporting, said Liu, China National Radio reported in December.

China began using draft laws to regulate its press and publications in the 1980s. During the two sessions in 1999, some CPPCC deputies urged the establishment of press laws to improve media supervision.

Song Jianwu, dean of the School of Journalism and Media at the China University of Political Science and Law, told the Global Times that fast-growing new media has created an urgent need for a new press law.

"Current regulations and administrative measures might work well in regulating traditional media as they were State-owned entities. But those measures cannot work in managing new media outlets, as many of them are private-owned and market-driven," Song said. 

New media outlets have more problems than traditional media, such as publishing unverified information, Cui Baoguo, director of the Center of Media Management and Economic Studies at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times. 

"Besides news reporting, the press law should regulate online information dissemination in general," Cui said.

Song echoed Cui, saying that the law should include individuals on social media as well. "Social networking platforms have allowed individuals to participate in mass communications but not all of them have the skills to verify the credibility of information."  

Experts also noted that the central government is promoting the rule of law, which also applies to the media industry.

"I hope the law will offer more room for industry development," said Wang Tianding, director of the journalism department of Xi'an International Studies University.

Song is not worried that a law may limit press freedom. "The establishment of any laws in China will balance duties and rights. Meanwhile, legislators' ability to draft laws is improving. A legal framework would benefit the industry's development," Song said.

Catherine Wong Tsoi-lai and Jiang Jie contributed to this story