TV channels, beware!

NEW DELHI: The News Broadcasters Association (NBA) announced self-regulatory guidelines on Thursday for reportage in emergency situations. The guidelines have been issued in the wake of all-round criticism of TV news channels for coverage of the Mumbai terror attack.

The guidelines are “broad”, not “exhaustive”, by NBA’s own admission. They are not very different from the proposed content code drafted by the information and broadcasting ministry earlier this year. They do not mention any penalty for violation.

According to the guidelines, all telecast of news relating to armed conflict, internal disturbance, communal violence, public disorder and crime should be tested on the touchstone of public interest.

The guidelines state that no live reporting facilitating publicity of any terrorist outfit or its ideology will be allowed. Also, no details of identity, number and status of hostages should be telecast. The number of security personnel involved in an operation and the methods employed by them should also not be revealed. In addition, media should avoid live contact with victims or security personnel, and refrain from unnecessary repeated or continuous broadcast of archival footage of the incident. Such footage should clearly indicate “file”. Visuals of the dead should not be shown, and special care
should be taken while airing visuals showing grief of victims.