Broadcasters agree to create emergency protocol

The Information 038; Broadcasting I038;B Ministry is learnt to have also mooted at the meeting a Standing Media Consultative Committee at the Centre, State and District level, besides a kind of orientation course for TV reporting on Defence and Home Ministry related issues. While the ministry is said to have proposed that the 8216;emergency protocol8217; should be set up under the chairmanship of any of the three service chiefs or any official from the I038;B ministry, the broadcasters rejected any such Government role in framing of the protocol which is likely to include proposals like delaying live coverage of sensitive incidents and to expunge information on operational details.

The protocol may be accomodated within the ambit of the proposed amendments to the existing Cable Television Network Regulation Act 1995.

The 90-minute meeting, chaired by Minister for State Information 038; Broadcasting I038;B Ministry Anand Sharma, was attended by representatives and editors of all broadcasters as well as a host of senior government officials.

A News Broadcasters Association NBA statement said 8220;the Secretary, Information 038; Broadcasting, reiterated the Government8217;s stand that the first level of regulation would always vest with the broadcasters8221;.

The Ministry sources, meanwhile, called the meeting a 8220;useful exchange of ideas, concerns and views8221;.

8220;The broadcasters on their part reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen the self-regulation guidelines in the light of dramatic events of 26/11 and its aftermath. The Authority, set up by the NBA under the Chairmanship of former Chief Justice of India J S Verma, would work towards creating an emergency protocol for all news channels in 26/11 like situations,8221; NBA secretary general Annie Joseph said.

8220;The broadcasters already have self-regulatory guidelines and a redressal mechanism headed by a former Chief Justice. While in the meeting there were some who asserted that this mechanism did not work well, we did not agree with that. The mechanism is working quite well. We have agreed to interact more often with the government to help build more consensus on handling media, proper briefing and so on,8221; said a person who attended the meeting.

The Indian Express had earlier reported how Minister for State for I038;B Anand Sharma had issued directions for setting up a Standing Media Consultative Committee under the I038;B Secretary to frame guidelines for coverage of emergency situations.

NBA sent advisory on Nov 27

The News Broadcasters Association secretary general Annie Joseph had sent an advisory to heads and editors of 30 news channels and 14 broadcasters as early November 27, the day after terrorists struck Mumbai. This is what the advisory said:

8220;As you are all aware, the Bombay terrorist strikes are a matter of grave concern to the entire nation bordering on a matter of national security. At the same time this unprecedented episode requires to be covered by all members as part of their bounden duty as news journalists.

However, considering the extremely precarious situation editors/members are advised that it is vital that no coverage be made which would in any way affect the operations being conducted by the security agencies to control this situation or that would endanger the safety of persons who are involved in the terror attacks.

Accordingly, as a measure of self-restraint and self regulation and to demonstrate our sense of responsibility all editors/members are requested to ensure not to cover this episode in any manner that may tend to interfere in the operations of the security agencies or impede the terrorists being brought to justice or endanger the lives of persons who are in the midst of the terror attacks.

We emphasise that this advisory be taken with the utmost seriousness since these are matters which are far above the other interests of any broadcaster.8221;