Terming it as a 'sincere' measure of self-regulation, the News Broadcasters Association (NBA), an apex body representing over a dozen news broadcasters, today issued six-point guideline for telecast of news relating to emergency situations like armed conflict, hostage situations, internal disturbance, communal violence, public disorder among others.
However, these guidelines do not elaborate on what penalty or punitive action will the NBA take if any of its members did not adhere to these guidelines. "These are broad guidelines and are not mean to be exhaustive," a statement from NBA said.
The guidelines says no 'live' reporting should be made that facilitates publicity of any terrorist or militant outfit or glamorises them in any way whatsoever.
"Public interest should be at the top of once mind while reporting sensitive matters like hostage crisis or armed conflicts in emergency situations otherwise it may harm the public harmony," Justice (retd) J S Verma, chairman, News Broadcasting Standards Disputes Redressal Authority told reporters here.
The NBA has constituted this body to ensure that self-regulation is practiced by the news channels without any interferance from the government.
The move from NBA comes as a result of advisories issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) to over 40 news channels, NBA, and the Indian Broadcasting Foundations in response to the 60-hour live coverage of Mumbai terror attacks.
Terming it a 'coverage against the interest of the nation', the I&B advisory had said that the news broadcasters did not exercise restraint in airing visuals from the Mumbai attack and other reports related to the tragedy.
Sources say the I&B ministry is working on overhauling the current norms of programme code and guidelines and may be looking at putting out a clear "do's" and "don'ts" for the news channels along with the actions that may be taken by the government in case of reported violation, government sources told Business Standard.
The NBA guidelines also makes it clear that news channels should treat the dead with dignity and their visuals should not be shown.
It has also said that media should avoid live contact with victims or security personnel involved in action or the terrorists. It has requested broadcasters from unnecessary repeat or continous broadcast of archival footage, and if it is shown should be clearly indicated as being from file pictures.
Also while reporting of hostage situation no details of the identity, number and status of hostages should be telecast nor should the terrorists be glamorised in any form.
"We will submit these guidelines to the I&B ministry on Friday. We will also initiate some more work in the matter thereafter, the details of which can not be shared now," Annie Joseph, secretary general, NBA told Business Standard.
