Indian Govt Warns media:Curbs on Indian media

[Spring Onion]

Don't give undue coverage to terrorists: Govt to TV channels

NEW DELHI: Taking a serious view of some TV channels airing interviews of terrorists, the government issued a fresh advisory to the electronic media to exercise caution while covering incidents of terror attacks.

"This is in continuation of the directives issued by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry on November 27, 2008 and December 3, 2008, regarding the coverage of incidents by electronic media during terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

"In the said directive, TV channels were asked to exercise caution while providing coverage to the incidents to avoid any adverse consequences on the rescue operations," the advisory from the ministry said.

It said "... in the past some TV channels arranged and telecast interviews with terrorists/terrorist groups. In a particular case, a prominent TV channel telecast a phone interview with a dreaded terrorist who tried to internationalise the Kashmir issue using the electronic mass media. This kind of coverage can cause confusion among domestic and international audiences."

In this scenario, the advisory said "such undue coverage to terrorists and allowing them to air their views freely can jeopardise national security as well.

"This matter has been under examination in the I&B ministry and in the Ministry of Home Affairs and government has taken a very serious view regarding airing of interviews with terrorists/terrorist groups by TV channels".

The advisory said while the media has "generally played a constructive role in bringing out relevant issues regarding terrorism and has condemned terrorists for their brutal and ruthless ways, it must, however, be again emphasized that media must continue to cover terrorism and terrorist related issues with great responsibility and sensitivity".


Don't give undue coverage to terrorists: Govt to TV channels - India - The Times of India

 

[DavyJones]

hmm.. Wasn't it Pakistan who clamped down on TV channels when there was an attack on the GHQ ?
This is a welcome step - much overdue. Curbs on the media in times of crisis are correct. Terrorists should not be given an opportunity to air their views. Can you or me get on TV and talk about issues ? Why is someone who is killing innocents given the right to appear in front of billions ?

 

[notsuperstitious]

Exactly, terrorists thrive on publicity, their oxygen must be denied.

They need to be shot, but not with a camera.

 

[Awesome]

There should be no curbs on the media... If the TV channels are giving undue coverage to terrorists, the people can choose not to watch it.

If the people WANT to watch it (for whatever reasons - perhaps just to increase their knowledge) then in a democracy the government has to do what the people want to do.

 

[Spring Onion]

hmm.. Wasn't it Pakistan who clamped down on TV channels when there was an attack on the GHQ ?
This is a welcome step - much overdue. Curbs on the media in times of crisis are correct. Terrorists should not be given an opportunity to air their views. Can you or me get on TV and talk about issues ? Why is someone who is killing innocents given the right to appear in front of billions ?

NO there was no clamp down. All the News Channels were beaming news as much as they had the information.

The site of the attacks anywhere in the world is cordoned off by law enforcment agencies nothing new in that and this doesnt amount to curbs.


And Its all about freedom of expression. Your Indian government holds talks with fighters from Assam to Kashmir, hence there is no reason to stop media from airing point of view from both sides.

 

[Spring Onion]

There should be no curbs on the media... If the TV channels are giving undue coverage to terrorists, the people can choose not to watch it.

If the people WANT to watch it (for whatever reasons - perhaps just to increase their knowledge) then in a democracy the government has to do what the people want to do.

The Known media organisations from arround the world including BBC, Reuters, AFP and so on are airing interviews of Taliban and even al-Qaeda terrorists.

There is no reason other than panic due to which Indian government has put the curbs on Indian media not air the PoV of those fighting against Indian rule

 

[notsuperstitious]

There should be no curbs on the media... If the TV channels are giving undue coverage to terrorists, the people can choose not to watch it.

If the people WANT to watch it (for whatever reasons - perhaps just to increase their knowledge) then in a democracy the government has to do what the people want to do.

There's no curbs, just an advisory.

 

[Spring Onion]

There's no curbs, just an advisory.

The following is from the news

]"This is in continuation of the directives issued by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry on November 27, 2008 and December 3, 2008, regarding the coverage of incidents by electronic media during terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

"In the said directive, TV channels were asked to exercise caution while providing coverage to the incidents to avoid any adverse consequences on the rescue operations," the advisory from the ministry said.

 

[Spring Onion]

jana i hope have you seen the news what will be happen wiht news reporter of jio tv who show the kassab house

they got jail

in starting your govt was refussing but at last they accpt in front of all world

YLW

our Pakistani media is too powerful to let the curbs go on for long.

It is our strong stance that our Govt can not keep us chained.


Coming back to Indian govt's warning to Indian media, i feel Indian government lacks the guts to counter the opposite PoV.

 

[karan.1970]

There should be no curbs on the media... If the TV channels are giving undue coverage to terrorists, the people can choose not to watch it.

If the people WANT to watch it (for whatever reasons - perhaps just to increase their knowledge) then in a democracy the government has to do what the people want to do.

All media needs moderating.. There is a reason why you and rest of the management of this forum set ground rules, delete offending posts and ban members. In an abstracted form, the same needs to apply to TV channels too. Remember, its not a censor board, but a set of guidelines. Why should a national TV channel give air time to proven anti national terrorists?? Whether its in India or in Pakistan or anywhere else. Along with rights comes the responsibility as well.

 

[Abhiras]

The Indian media is one of the most free media in the world . . . .

The Indian media use the policy of self regulation instead of the state regulation . . . .

Although censorship is done is some field like:-
*showing of exit poll till voting end as if exit poll r earlier shown it could influence the people before voting
*showing live coverage in sensitive area(like live coverage of mumbai attacks helped the instructor of terrorist in pakistan)

I think indian media is matured now(except india tv which is stupid news channel) & government will never restrict it.

 

[booo]

IMO, instead of giving away an advisory, govt should sue the channels if they do that.

 

[Spring Onion]

There should be no curbs on media.

If you are right then why dont you counter the opposite view

 

[ek_indian]

Wll this was a much needed step. The need for such regulstion was felt particularly after Mumbai attacks. There was intense debate and discussion over it.

However media bosses itself created a self imposed guidelines. And I repeat it was "self regulation"....There was no curbing from Indian govt.

Post-Mumbai, self-regulation guidelines for media unveiled (Lead)

With visual media drawing the flak for coverage of the Mumbai mayhem and the government mulling an emergency protocol, India’s broadcasters association Thursday unveiled self-regulatory guidelines.

Lastly, why we are discussing 2008 article??

 

[Spring Onion]

.

Wll this was a much needed step. The need for such regulstion was felt particularly after Mumbai attacks. There was intense debate and discussion over it.

However media bosses itself created a self imposed guidelines. And I repeat it was "self regulation"....There was no curbing from Indian govt.

Post-Mumbai, self-regulation guidelines for media unveiled (Lead)

I think there should be no excuse to cover up own lack of commitment on the part of any law enforcement agencies by blaming the media that due to their coverage of any attack, the attackers got leverage.

All around the world live coverage is carried out by media houses nothing wrong with that.

As far as self-regulatory measures by Indian media well i must say that Indian media is 99% nationalistic and the decision is in line with this attitude.

Lastly, why we are discussing 2008 article??

????? read the link its not from 2008. Rather the Indian government has renewed the 2008 advisory for media