Be restrained: I&B to TV

Following the call from the ministry,NBA re-issued an advisory to all its member channels,asking them to follow the code of ethics,particularly the emergency guidelines that it had issued at the time of 26/11 attacks. NBA advised its members to treat the “dead with dignity” and not to air their visuals. “Special care should be taken in the broadcast of any distressing visuals and graphics showing grief and emotional scenes of victims and relatives which could cause distress to children and families,” the advisory said.

Senior editors,however,are crediting NBA and BEA,instead of the ministry,for the efforts to rein in zealous channels. “There is a growing consciousness among channels to be more responsible in coverage of sensitive events such as blasts or communal tensions,” said Rajdeep Sardesai,editor-in-chief IBN18 that runs CNN-IBN,IBN7 and IBN-Lokmat.

NBA and BEA also asked members to avoid airing live interviews with victims or security personnel or any of the supposed perpetrators. The NBA advisory said channels should avoid “unnecessary repeated or continuous broadcast of archival footage that may tend to reagitate the mind of the viewers”.