New Delhi, February 25: Taking a serious view of some TV channels airing interviews of terrorists, the government on Wednesday 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 emphasised that media must continue to cover terrorism and terrorist related issues with great responsibility and sensitivity”.
The advisory said, “in the interests of national security and on the advice of Ministry of Home Affairs, the media is, here by, advised to avoid giving undue coverage to terrorists and terrorist groups which may help them to advance their political agenda”.
It said, “such coverage would amount to gross violation of the provisions of the Programme Code contained in the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 and Rules framed thereunder”.
-PTI