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NEW DELHI: Unhappy with the draft that has been prepared on content
regulation, information and broadcasting secretary SK Arora has
asked the panel responsible to rework it.
Though no specific reasons were cited, the ministry is apparently
unhappy with the way some of the issues have been dealt with as
also the length of the 65-page draft, which is seen as being too
unwieldy.
Earlier in the week, Arora, who heads a 30-member committee comprising
representatives from industry, trade and consumer bodies, conveyed
his observations to a sub-panel handling the content regulation
draft.
However, no time frame has
been set for the work to be redone, which is an indicator that the government
might bring in such a regulation through an existing piece of legislation instead
of waiting for the proposed Broadcast Bill 2006 to be enacted into law.
The
draft aims at regulating and setting parameters for content to be aired on TV
and radio networks, including broadcast of adult fare and sting ops done by news
channels.
A peek into a section of this draft also highlights that the proposed
legislation could not only hamper functioning of news channels, but
is also intrusive.
If okayed by lawmakers in its present state, it could
well be the end of sting operations and coverage of issues where high profile
politicians and personalities are involved.
Sample this part: TV channels must not use material relating to
persons personal or private affairs or which invades an individual's
privacy unless there is an identifiable public interest reason for
the material to be broadcast.
Who decides what constitutes an individual’s privacy? The government
or the regulator, of course.
Examples of public interest would include, according to the draft,
revealing or detecting crime, protecting public health or safety,
exposing misleading claims made by individuals or organizations
or disclosing incompetence that affects the public.
Nowhere does the proposed regulation dwell on misuse of official
power by a public personality --- an issue that’s increasingly
becoming rampant in India.
The draft then goes on to state that news should not jeopardize
any ongoing criminal investigations and (TV channels) should avoid
a trial by media since “a man is innocent till proven guilty
by law”.
Now this could also mean that if a politician’s son is being
tried by law for using drugs in the official residence, TV news
should not do extensive coverage of the incident. However, the draft
regulation is silent what should be done in case such accused themselves
go on air and 'use' the media to influence opinion making.
“Channels mounting sting operations with use of hidden cameras
and recording devices are required to strictly adhere to the rules
prescribed,” the draft states, going on to put the onus on
TV news channels of proving such a programme is in public interest.
Also Read:
Govt proposing to set up
separate disputes tribunal for broadcast content
Trai's TV Trials &
Tribulations
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