With the Allahabad High Court slated to deliver its verdict in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit on September 24, the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) has issued guidelines to television channels urging them to take extra care in the telecast of enws relating to sensitive matters.
"The powerful and wide impact of the information disseminated by the electronic media on formation of public opinion makes it incumbent on the broadcasters to take extra care in the telecast of news relating to sensitive matters," it said.
According to it, the title suit concerning the Ram Janmbhoomi-Babri Masjid at Ayodhya is one such matter in which extra care is necessary to ensure that the telecast of any news relating to it should not be sensational, inflammatory or be provocative.
In particular, the guidelines said no footage of the December 6, 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid should be shown in any news item relating to the judgement.
"The basic guideline to be adhered to is that all such news should conform strictly to
subserving the public interest of maintaining communal harmony and preservation of the
secular ethos of our plural society and it should influence the formation of the correct public opinion," the association said.
"In view of the ultra sensitive nature of the Ayodhya issue, the reporting of the High Court judgement on Ayodhya in this case requires adherence to the code of ethics and certain specific guidelines issued from time to time in addition to these. It is, therefore, necessary that all the broadcasters should not only ensure rigid compliance of the earlier guidelines as well as these guidelines but should also ensure that no occasion arises for any speculation about the accuracy of the content," it said.
Among the additional specific guidelines the association wanted broadcasters to observe was that all news relating to the High Court judgement in the case should be verbatim
reproduction of the relevant part of the said judgement uninfluenced by any opinion or interpretation.
"No broadcast should be made of any speculation of the judgement before it is pronounced; and of its likely consequence thereafter which may be sensational,
inflammatory or provocative," it said.
The NBA said no visuals needed to be shown depicting celebration or protest of the judgement.
"In view of the sensitivity of news reporting on this issue extra care should be taken to
ensure accuracy by vetting and clearance at the highest editorial level. It is expected that strict adherence to these guidelines would be ensured by all the Editors to avoid any violation which may attract strict action," the advisory said.
The association followed this up with another advisory today in which it said that the telecast of news relating to Ayodhya yesterday, including that about the High Court rejecting the application for deferment of the judgement, appeared not to be in total conformity with the earlier advisory of September 16.
"For clarity and adherence it is emphasized that such programmes/telecast should not speculate the likely Ayodhya judgement or its repercussion and have no contentiousdebate of its content. It is hoped that every channel will hereafter adhere strictly to the Advisory and give no occasion for the NBA to examine any allegation of violations by the Member channels.
"This occasion is a challenge, as well as an opportunity to the Member channels to
prove the efficacy of the self-regulatory mechanism. It is hoped that the opportunity would not be lost," the new advisory said.
It also advised all broadcasters to preserve all the programmes telecast in relation to the Ayodhya matter, including scripts, for examination, if necessary.
The NBA represents private television news and current affairs broadcasters in India and is funded by its members. It has 20 members at present.
http://netindian.in/news/2010/09/18...delines-broadcasters-coverage-ayodhya-verdict
