The News Broadcasters Association (NBA) has asked news channels to be “sensitive” while covering the release of the Srikrishna Committee report on the Telengana issue on December 31.
In an advisory to all editors, who are members of the NBA, the self-regulatory body said it is necessary to ensure that the telecast of any news relating to it should not be sensational, inflammatory or provocative.
“The basic guideline to be adhered to is that all news relating to this subject should conform strictly to subserving the public interest of maintaining parochial and communal harmony, of eschewing any divisive or fissiparous tendencies and of preserving the secular ethos of our plural society,” it said.
Asking the media houses to remember that information disseminated by them influences the formation of public opinion, the NBA said that the telecast of the Srikrishna Committee report requires adherence to the code of ethics and the specific guidelines issued from time to time.
It suggested certain guidelines like all news relating to the Srikrishna Committee report should strictly adhere to the contents of the report, not broadcasting any footage of violence, agitation, self-immolation if any, and not showing any visuals relating to protests or celebrations in relation to the report.
The NBA also asked broadcasters to preserve all the programmes telecast in relation to the Srikrishna report, including scripts, for examination if necessary.
