Imran Khan
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Indian panel for ‘reasonable restrictions’ on media
* Rajya Sabha committee says live feed of events like Mumbai attacks ‘directly endangers’ success of operations
By Iftikhar Gilani
NEW DELHI: An Indian parliamentary panel has asked for imposing ‘reasonable restrictions’ on media particularly on electronic news channels to curb ‘sensationalism’ and protect national interests.
The Rajya Sabha Committee on Petitions, headed by Bharatiya Janata Party leader M Venkaiah Naidu, in its report presented in the House on Friday observed that ‘sensationalisation’ by private news channels was an ever-increasing trend and the viewers deserved balanced news based on verified facts.
Live coverage: Favouring statutory regulations, the report said the live feed of events like commandoes being airdropped during the recent Mumbai strikes ‘directly endangers’ the success of operations and the lives of hostages as well as security forces personnel.
“News channels need to be more careful and responsible so as not to involve themselves in airing unverified information for ‘breaking news’ and subsequently amending it,” the report said.
The committee said the government should address all the issues raised by it while going ahead with the Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill and a new ‘Content Code’. The Bill would be introduced in parliament without further delay, it added.
“The committee apprehends that the live footage shown by TV channels to the viewers, could also have been used as free intelligence input by the perpetrators sitting far away from the place of incident who allegedly guided the attackers,” it said.
“The committee expects the media to treat information of sensitive nature carefully and endeavour to ensure that the interest of the nation and lives of security forces and hostages in such operations is not jeopardised by live telecast,” it said.
“Self-regulation is an ideal situation but it may not be effective to regulate the media particularly in the scenario of growing competition among the channels for supremacy in the business of ratings,” it said.
“The committee is, therefore, in favour of having statutory regulations in place covering the print and electronic media, in the larger interest of the society, on the model of the Press Council of India vested with more powers,” it said.
These observations were made by the committee in its report on a petition regarding the misuse of right to freedom of speech and expression by print and electronic media and the need to restrict it under Article 19(2) of India’s Constitution.
The committee also expressed concern over the repeated display in the media of corpses in case of natural calamities, accidents, incidents of bomb blasts and arson, which it said causes negative psychological impact on the viewers.
“News channels in many foreign countries do not telecast the footage of dead bodies. The committee desires that a similar approach may be adopted by news channels in our country,” said the report.
* Rajya Sabha committee says live feed of events like Mumbai attacks ‘directly endangers’ success of operations
By Iftikhar Gilani
NEW DELHI: An Indian parliamentary panel has asked for imposing ‘reasonable restrictions’ on media particularly on electronic news channels to curb ‘sensationalism’ and protect national interests.
The Rajya Sabha Committee on Petitions, headed by Bharatiya Janata Party leader M Venkaiah Naidu, in its report presented in the House on Friday observed that ‘sensationalisation’ by private news channels was an ever-increasing trend and the viewers deserved balanced news based on verified facts.
Live coverage: Favouring statutory regulations, the report said the live feed of events like commandoes being airdropped during the recent Mumbai strikes ‘directly endangers’ the success of operations and the lives of hostages as well as security forces personnel.
“News channels need to be more careful and responsible so as not to involve themselves in airing unverified information for ‘breaking news’ and subsequently amending it,” the report said.
The committee said the government should address all the issues raised by it while going ahead with the Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill and a new ‘Content Code’. The Bill would be introduced in parliament without further delay, it added.
“The committee apprehends that the live footage shown by TV channels to the viewers, could also have been used as free intelligence input by the perpetrators sitting far away from the place of incident who allegedly guided the attackers,” it said.
“The committee expects the media to treat information of sensitive nature carefully and endeavour to ensure that the interest of the nation and lives of security forces and hostages in such operations is not jeopardised by live telecast,” it said.
“Self-regulation is an ideal situation but it may not be effective to regulate the media particularly in the scenario of growing competition among the channels for supremacy in the business of ratings,” it said.
“The committee is, therefore, in favour of having statutory regulations in place covering the print and electronic media, in the larger interest of the society, on the model of the Press Council of India vested with more powers,” it said.
These observations were made by the committee in its report on a petition regarding the misuse of right to freedom of speech and expression by print and electronic media and the need to restrict it under Article 19(2) of India’s Constitution.
The committee also expressed concern over the repeated display in the media of corpses in case of natural calamities, accidents, incidents of bomb blasts and arson, which it said causes negative psychological impact on the viewers.
“News channels in many foreign countries do not telecast the footage of dead bodies. The committee desires that a similar approach may be adopted by news channels in our country,” said the report.
