Terror coverage: how much is too much

United Kingdom

The British Broadcasting Corporation BBC has an exemplary set of reportage guidelines for 8216;War, Terror and Emergencies8217;. Calling for reportage to be quick, accurate and responsible, BBC guidelines call for proper terror lexicon, avoidance of the term 8216;terrorist8217; and use of words which specifically describe the perpetrator such as 8220;bomber8221;, 8220;attacker8221;, 8220;gunman8221;, 8220;kidnapper8221;, 8220;insurgent, and 8220;militant8221; instead. Since the attacks on the London Underground in July 2005, reporters are exhorted not to play with the emotions of the audiences by reporting on events in a sensational manner. Guidelines say that 8220;if we receive a bomb warning or other credible and specific threat, whether by phone, fax, email or text message, or even posted to a message board or received by tape, the first priority is to pass it on to the appropriate authorities. We must not reveal the current code words normally used by groups giving bomb warnings. We should not reveal security details or other sensitive information not widely in the public domain which might assist an attack8221; 8212; priority areas that the Indian media seems to have glossed over completely.

All UK broadcast services are under a duty not to broadcast anything that could incite or encourage crime. The 2003 Communications Act section 319.2b places the regulator, Ofcom, under a legal duty to ensure that 8220;material likely to encourage or incite the commission of crime or to lead to disorder is not included in television or radio services8221;.

United States of America

In a similar, but not as detailed fashion, US public broadcaster PBS Public Broadcasting Service defined a set of Editorial Standards and Policies in the 1970s. This was completely revised in June 2005 in the post 9/11 scenario to further increase transparency. Under the heading of 8216;Unacceptable Production Practices8217;, reporters and their camera crews are admonished to refrain from covering terrorist activities or similar states of emergency as soon as it becomes evident that their presence influences the outcome of the events themselves. The USA PATRIOT United and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act instituted after 9/11 gives overriding powers to the Government and its broad terms of this power mean that it can be used against practically anyone criticising the US Administration8217;s approach to combating terror.

Russia

The heads of several leading Russian media companies signed a convention recently that sets strict rules on coverage of terrorist acts and anti- terrorist operations, promising to police themselves, following criticism from the state after the hostage-taking raid by Chechen rebels at a Moscow theatre last fall. The convention emphasises that during terrorist acts or anti-terrorist operation, rescue efforts and 8220;the human right to live take priority over all other rights and freedoms8221;.

The media executives who signed the agreement pledged to obtain official authorisation before interviewing 8220;terrorists8221; on the air live, ban journalists from acting as independent mediators during a crisis situation, be mindful of the 8220;tone8221; of their coverage, and comply with a series of other restrictions. The Kremlin had scrambled to restrict media coverage of the October 2002 Nord-Ost hostage crisis in Moscow, during which 50 Chechen rebels and 120 hostages were killed. It began to draft the convention soon after the crisis as way to formalise restrictions on media coverage in future crises.

Sri Lanka

The Mahinda Rajapaksa government in Sri Lanka 8212; a nation that has faced the scourge of terrorism for years 8212; on October 10 this year notified a new set of norms to regulate all aspects of private television broadcasting, including classification of stations and services, issue, revocation, and duration of licences, fee structure, territorial coverage, ownership, duties and responsibilities of private television broadcasters, content of broadcasts, and extended powers of the ministry.

Australia

The Australian Government has set up guidelines related to the Broadcasting Services Anti terrorism requirements for Subscription Television Narrowcasting Service Standard 2006 and the Broadcasting Services anti-terrorism requirements for open narrowcasting television services standards 2006 under the Australian Communications and Media Authority ACMA Act 2005. The Authority8217;s purpose is to prevent broadcast of programmes that directly recruit people or encourage people to join terrorist organisations or solicit funds for a terrorist organisation. The standards are meant to send a strong message to broadcasters that they are accountable for the content of their programmes and contraventions may invite civil penalty and prosecution. While broadcasters are advised to vet programmes before airing them to minimise any breach of standards, ACMA can issue notices to broadcasters, demand undertakings from them to ensure no breach occurs again and also take the issue to the federal court.

Arab Nations

In February 2008, the Arab Charter for Satellite Television Broadcasting Charter was accepted by all Arab nations. The Charter seeks to develop the quality of Arab satellite programming by prohibiting yellow journalism, opinion pieces disguised as news, violations of intellectual property rights, programs that promote terrorism, violence, hatred, or superstition, and other substandard practices. By basing the Charter on the best practices of television broadcasting regulation in the West and adapting these regulations for Arab society, it is hoped that this Charter will provide a foundation for developing a vibrant, diverse satellite television environment that broadcasts programmes meeting world-class standards of journalism, entertainment, and public affairs. This charter was adopted after an extensive public debate by all Arab countries except Qatar. Qatar has not rejected the charter and has requested additional time to review the document

Canada

Canada8217;s Article Ten of the Radio and television News Directors Association RTNDA of Canada8217;s Code of Ethics says reporting of criminal activities, such as hostage takings, will be done in a fashion that does not knowingly endanger lives, hamper attempts by authorities to conclude the events, offer comfort and support or provide information to the perpetrators. RTNDA members will not contact either the victims or the perpetrator of a criminal activity during the course of the event, with the purpose of conducting an interview for broadcast. Canada8217;s national public broadcaster, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation CBC8217;s Journalistic Standards and Practices say that 8220;CBC journalists must ensure that any action they take will not further endanger the lives of hostages or interfere with efforts to secure the hostages release. They must guard against being used or manipulated by the terrorists/hostage takers8221;.

Belarus

An anti-terrorism law passed in December 2001 in Belarus imposes a number of wide-ranging restrictions on the media including by granting the authorities the power to take over media outlets in the area of conduct of an anti-terrorism operation.The law imposes broad content restrictions, for example on material that serves to justify terrorism or about staff involved in anti-terrorist activities.

Compiled by Anubhuti Vishnoi