Broadcasters watchdog flooded with complaints

The News Broadcasting Standards Disputes Redressal Authority set up six months ago as a self-regulation measure by private broadcasters....

The News Broadcasting Standards Disputes Redressal Authority set up six months ago as a self-regulation measure by private broadcasters has got a deluge of complaints about the handling of news events by the media.

Headed by former Chief Justice J S Verma,the Authority was formed in the face of growing pressure from the government to put in place a regulatory framework for broadcasters in the form of the Broadcast Bill.

The Authority is now grappling with complaints about the nature and content of TV reportage,the use of defamatory,incorrect or sensational language and violations of the self-regulatory code of ethics formulated by it. The Authority is learnt to be deliberating on at least four serious complaints on violation of the self-regulatory code for reportage.

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The coverage of the oil PSU workers strike was the latest event to have drawn the ire of a section of viewers. The use of terms like deshdrohi (traitor) for the PSU officers along with representations and depictions of their salary structures on TV led to a number of complaints.

Sources,however,claimed that the issue was amicably resolved at the first level between the complainant and the news channels with due apologies and clarifications as some of the information aired,channels argued,was provided by the Government and not aimed at defaming or hurting the sentiments of the PSU officials.

Annie Joseph,secretary general of News Broadcasters Association (NBA),which created the Authority in October 2008,said that the efficacy of the Authority was apparent in the general restraint being exercised by news channels.

The NBA has issued reportage-specific guidelines and the response of the broadcasters has been good. They are more conscious now and thats a good start, she said. On some sensitive news stories we are even having a discussion among ourselves before airing them.

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The NBA had also asked all 31 member channels not to air any news items involving the 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasabs court hearing after government requests.

The news channels,meanwhile,had

a tough fight on their hands with the I&B Ministry all set to come out with a set of rather stringent reportage guidelines for emergency situations along with the controversial proposal for a government-authorised feed of such situations.

It took considerable mobilisation of political support by the broadcasters to get the I&B ministry to drop their plans for the time being.