NBA: No footage of demolition, please
With the Ayodhya title verdict now less than a week away, the News Broadcasters Association comprising TV channels has come out with a set of guidelines for the electronic media not only asking them not to speculate on the order that the court might come up with but also not show footage of Babri Masjid’s demolition in 1992.
The NBA has said: “The basic guideline to be adhered to is that all such news should conform strictly to sub-serving 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.”
As per the guidelines, the Ayodhya issue in which the high court verdict is expected on September 24 is one that needs “extra care” and therefore it is necessary to ensure that the telecast of any news relating to it should not be sensational, provocative or inflammatory. Regarding visuals showing the Masjid’s demolition, the NBA has said: “No footage of the demolition of the Babri Masjid is to be shown in any new item relating to the judgement,” adding that no visuals need be shown depicting celebration or protest of the high court judgment when it is delivered.
The guidelines said in view of the “ultra sensitive nature” of the Ayodhya issue, the reporting of the judgment in this case requires adherence to the Code of Ethics and certain specific guidelines issued from time to time.
“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 said.
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