Channels' creative teams to be sensitised on women depiction

Recognising the need to sensitise channels about issues related to depiction of women in TV programmes, the Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC) has decided to conduct interactive sessions with their creative and programming teams. In a recent meeting, BCCC member Shabana Azmi had agreed to be a part of such sessions where she would discuss the subject with creative teams of various channels, sources said. Sources said that the first such interactive session may be held in Mumbai sometime in March and the Indian Broadcasting Federation was also positively inclined towards the necessity of such a session. The BCCC, which is the self regulatory body of the broadcasting industry, considers it to be a part of its obligation to impart insights and interact with the creative and content teams to ensure that they are aware of their social responsibilities, a well placed source said. In its latest meeting held on January 23, council members held detailed discussions on the need to generate awareness among the creative teams about the need to create content which falls within acceptable levels of programming and is is in line with the Self Regulatory Content Guidelines. The sources said that in the meeting which was headed by Justice A P Shah, members also felt that the advisory issued by the BCCC last year should be followed in letter and spirit and there should be consequences for broadcasters who violate it. The council felt that, in some extraordinary cases, it could even pass stringent orders if the Advisory was violated, sources said. The BCCC had a year back issued an advisory expressing concern over the "tendency of some entertainment serials to use plotlines that focussed excessively on mistreatment of women." (More)