News Broadcasting
Delhi HC seeks responses from Republic TV, Times Now in Bollywood producers’ lawsuit
NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court has sought responses from Republic TV and Times Now to a plea filed by major Bollywood production houses against the massive “smear campaign against the industry” run by the news organisations while covering the Sushant Singh Rajput death case. The court has also asked the media outlets to not run any defamatory content on their channels or social media handles.
The court was hearing the lawsuit filed by four Bollywood industry associations and 34 leading producers, which also sought to restrain the two outlets from interfering with the right to privacy of people working in the Bollywood industry.
The suit also sought orders against unnamed defendants and social media platforms to refrain from making or publishing allegedly irresponsible, derogatory and defamatory remarks against Bollywood.
Senior advocate Akhil Sibal, appearing on behalf of the plaintiffs, submitted that a certain section of the news media seems to have abandoned journalistic principles. He asserted that yellow journalism is on the rise and judicial intervention is required in the matter.
"…the idea is not to attack the Fourth Estate. What we called yellow journalism – that fringe has become mainstream. So a signal has to come from the court," Bar and Bench quoted him as saying.
To this, justice Rajiv Shakdher responded: "Courts hesitate (in restraining media reports) because it is a constitutional right. But you are right, we expect fair reportage…"
With reference to the orders passed by the News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) warning against media trials, the court went on to ask: "What is that should be put in place to change the way the reporting is carried out?…There needs to be some toning down. There are orders of NBSA. But it seems that news channels are not following that. As an officer of the court, what is the next step here if you do not follow self-regulation?"
The case has further been adjourned to 14 December for hearing.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Fury in the Gulf conclave on West Asia crisis
Three-hour summit to unpack geopolitical fallout and impact on India
MUMBAI: CNN-News18 is set to host a special three-hour broadcast, Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave, on April 7, aiming to decode the escalating West Asia crisis and its far-reaching implications for India.
Scheduled from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, the conclave comes at a time when tensions between Iran and the United States are reshaping global geopolitics and triggering economic uncertainty. With India’s deep energy ties, trade links and large diaspora in the Gulf, the developments carry significant domestic relevance.
Built around the theme ‘Conflict, Consequences, and The Future,’ the programme will feature six curated sessions combining one-on-one interviews and panel discussions. The focus is to cut through the clutter and offer viewers a clearer understanding of the fast-evolving situation.
Key sessions include ‘Diplomacy in Times of War’ featuring Shashi Tharoor, and ‘World After the Iran Conflict’ with voices such as Ram Madhav, Reuven Azar, representatives from the European Union and the Iranian Deputy Envoy. Another session titled ‘Another Dunkirk?’ will bring together K. J. S. Dhillon and Jitin Prasada among others.
CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar said, “In times of war, clarity becomes the most powerful tool. Fury in the Gulf – War Conclave brings together credible voices to address the questions and confusion that arise amid an overwhelming influx of information.”
He added that the initiative is aimed at delivering “facts, perspective, and insight” at a time when misinformation can easily cloud public understanding.
Echoing the sentiment, CNN-News18 CEO– English and business news Smriti Mehra said the conflict marks a defining global moment, with consequences that extend well beyond the region. She noted that the conclave seeks to present the crisis with “depth, nuance and responsibility” so audiences can better grasp its real-world impact.
As geopolitical tensions continue to dominate headlines, the conclave positions itself as an attempt to bring order to the noise, offering viewers a structured, insight-led look at a complex and rapidly shifting global situation.
