The Hindu Business Line : NBA comes out with fresh set of guidelines for news telecast

NEW DELHI: Keeping in mind the fundamental standards for telecast of Mumbai terror attack-like situation, News Broadcasters Association (NBA) on Wednesday came out with a fresh set of specific guidelines focusing on impartiality, accuracy, fairness and n eutrality while covering such incidents.

The guidelines decided during a meeting of the NBA authority, conducted by its chairman, former Chief Justice Mr J S Verma, say news reporting should be done keeping the “public interest” in mind.

Broadcasters, the new guidelines say, should exercise discretion and sensitivity while reporting on distressing situations. “They should not disclose confidential information of operations involving national security. Broadcasters should also use discret ion in reporting on operational methods used by perpetrators of serious offences against the State during the occurrence of the event. Also live interviews with perpetrators should not be aired,” say the guidelines.

Stressing on accuracy, the new rules say information should be gathered first-hand from more than one source if possible. “Reports received from news agencies should be attributed and where possible be verified. Allegations should be reported as accurate ly as made. Errors of fact should be corrected at the earliest, giving sufficient prominence to the broadcast of the correct version of fact(s).” - PTI

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