ITV

Tag: NBSA

  • Reports on TV news channels in DSP murder case impartial, opines NBSA

    Reports on TV news channels in DSP murder case impartial, opines NBSA

    NEW DELHI: The News Broadcasting Standards Authority has rejected the complaint filed by Lucknow-based social activist Dr Nutan Thakur regarding news relayed by various News channels about the role of Raja Bhaiya in DSP Ziaul Haq’s murder.

     

    The Authority (NBSA) has concluded that no impropriety was done in broadcast of these news items.

     

    NBSA Secretary General Annie Joseph informed Thakur through letter dated 16 October that the NBSA in its meeting on 18 September considered the response of four broadcasters and concluded that no further action needs to be taken on this matter.

     

    Thakur had said that the news presented by various news channels in DSP murder case came as being some kind of Media trial. She presented various highlights like “Will Raja Bhaiya Be Arrested?”, “Who is saving Raja Bhaiya” “Why is Raja not being arrested” etc, broadcast between 9.00 am to 10.00 am on 5 March 2013 to state that these were not factual reporting but mere speculations which is against neutral and unbiased reporting.

  • Acting on its mandate

    Acting on its mandate

    The NBSA has been cracking the whip on certain complaints filed with the standards body. Here is a example of three cases which were censured by it. Several other examples can be found on the nbanewdelhi.com.

    1. Decision dated 20.12.2012 passed by NBSA regarding complaint dated 14 September 2011 filed by the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust against TV18 Broadcast Limited in respect of broadcast dated 1.8.2011 and subsequent broadcasts in relation to the RGCT – Channels: CNN IBN & IBN7

    The NBSA, accordingly, directed that the Broadcaster be visited with the following consequences:

    (a) The Broadcasters be directed to carry an apology by running the following text (static) on full screen in large font size with voice over (in slow speed) expressing regret for the said telecast on their channels for 5 consecutive days at 9.00 pm sharp on 24.12.202, 25.12.2012, 26.12.2012, 27.12.2012 & 28.12.2012 respectively (IBN7 will carry the apology in Hindi):

    (b) The Broadcaster is issued a “censure” by the NBSA for wilful violation of NBA Code of Ethics & Broadcasting Standards and norms of ethical journalism;

    (c) A fine of Rs one lakh is imposed upon the broadcaster, to be paid to NBA within one week of receipt of this order.

    2. Decision dated 25.10.2012 passed by NBSA regarding complaint dated 21.06.2012 filed by Dr. Kalind Prashar against broadcasts made on Aaj Tak (on 10.6.12) & on IBN7 (on 11.6.12) of a one sided story of a matrimonial dispute – Channels: Aaj Tak

    Insofar as Aaj Tak is concerned, the NBSA held that the channel was clearly in breach of the NBA Code of Ethics & Broadcasting Standards, Specific Guidelines and committed wilful violation of the NBSA Advisory on Reportage of Family/Matrimonial Matters dated 16.9.2011, for the reasons recorded above. The NBSA therefore directs that TV Today Network Ltd. / Aajtak be visited with the following consequences:

    (a)The channel must carry the unedited version of the complainant, prominently for a duration of three minutes at the same time that the first broadcast was made on 10.6.12 i.e. at 6.00 pm for three consecutive days i.e. on 30.10.12, 31.10.12 & 1.11.12 respectively. The complainant’s version must also be preceded by an apology to be tendered by the channel, by running the following text (static) on full screen in large font size with voice over (in slow speed) expressing regret for the said telecast on their channel Aaj Tak.

    (b) Directed the broadcaster to pay a fine of Rs 1,00,000 to the NBA within seven days of receipt of this Order for wilful violation of NBA Advisory dated 16.9.11 on reportage of family/matrimonial matters.

    3 . Decision dated 16.7.2009 passed by NBSA on complaint filed by Eye Bank Co-ordination & Research Centre & Arpan Eye Bank, Mumbai – Channel: NDTV India for breach of the principle of impartiality and objectivity in reporting and (ii) of not ensuring neutrality in reporting.

    Decision:

    a) To run an announcement, expressing regret for the said telecast prominently on their channel NDTV India prior to the commencement of the telecast of the program Mumbai Central stating the following (text to be translated in Hindi).

    b) To also run the apology text on NDTV India on following three consecutive days, an apology/regret as a scroll in legible font and at normal speed between 8.00 pm. and 9.00 pm, five times with a space of 12 minutes each.

    c) To grant to EBCRC and Arpan an opportunity to express their version on the subject matter of the said telecast, by broadcasting EBCRC’s and Arpan’s un-edited version on the subject matter of the said telecast of a duration not exceeding an aggregate of five minutes on the channel NDTV India in the program Mumbai Central.

    d) Proof of compliance of this Order by NDTV by submitting a Compact Disc containing the telecast/apology/regret with particulars of the time and date of the telecast be submitted to the News Broadcasters Association within 15 days of receipt the Order passed by the Authority.

    4. Decision dated 19.10.2011 passed by NBSA on suo motu action regarding telecast of a programme “Will Kanimozhi turn approver” – Channel: Times Now for “conjecture and speculation” in its Prime time debate show News Hour.

    The Authority issued to the said Broadcaster a “censure” for the breaches committed by it and made it clear that any further transgression by the said Broadcaster would be dealt with more severely. 13. The Authority further directed the NBA:

    (a) to send a copy of this Order to the said Broadcaster for noting and for future compliance;

    (b) to circulate this Order to all Members/Editors of NBA;

    (c) to host a summary of these proceedings and of the present Order on the NBA website and to include such summary in the NBA’s Annual Report.

  • Media’s independence needs to be zealously guarded: Narayan Rao Executive Vice Chairperson at NDTV

    Media’s independence needs to be zealously guarded: Narayan Rao Executive Vice Chairperson at NDTV

    Freedom of the media is a fundamental component of a vibrant democracy. It is what differentiates a democracy from a dictatorship and all forms of totalitarianism. Indeed a democracy cannot function without a free media while the latter can only exist in a democratic state.

    As Lord Northcliffe, owner of The Times during the First World War once said, “News is something someone somewhere wants to suppress”. As a free media in the world‘s largest democracy, it is our job to ensure that nothing ever gets suppressed. Also, dissemination of news is really the performance of a public service. We seek to inform and educate and to do it with independence….from Government and from revenue considerations. Our responsibility is not to the Governors but to the governed.

    While a free media is an absolute need, it is also necessary to stress that with freedom comes responsibility. Responsibility to ensure that one is always accurate and credible and respectful of the privacy of an individual.

    It is in this need for freedom with responsibility that talk of regulation comes up every now and then. I would like to state with all the emphasis at my command that the only regulation that is acceptable in a democracy is self regulation. And by this I do not mean that each news organization regulates itself by following its own editorial policy and standards which would naturally be of varying levels from channel to channel, but to have a structured self regulatory mechanism that watches over a common expectation of what constitutes good, responsible journalism.

    While a free media is an absolute need, it is also necessary to stress that with freedom comes responsibility. Responsibility to ensure that one is always accurate and credible and respectful of the privacy of an individual.
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    I honestly believe that the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) has made remarkable progress in this regard. We created a common code of ethics, a wonderful document of journalistic good practices and expectations, which is available for all to see on the NBA website. We then set up a News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) with a Chairperson and several eminent members to monitor and ensure that this code is followed by all our member channels. Our first Chairperson was the most ethical, learned and highly regarded, late Justice J S Verma. He ensured along with the eminent members, that the NBSA is truly independent. It also needs to be noted that the NBSA is the “standards authority” and not merely the complaints authority.

     

    The aim is to improve standards of news broadcasting over a period of time and we are well on the path to realizing that aim. In probably the only such example of its kind in the world, every member channel carries a scroll several times a day, exhorting viewers to approach the NBSA if they have any complaint against a channel. The decisions of the NBSA can be seen on the NBA website and over time action has been taken against several of our channels. We also have some Editors sitting on the NBSA for fixed terms and on a rotational basis as it is believed that self regulation flourishes and standards improve when it is known that, among others who will look at the quality of your content, will be your own peers.

    We will miss Justice Verma immensely. But the show must go on and I am honoured and delighted to announce that Justice R V Raveendran, former Judge of the Supreme Court of India, has very graciously accepted our invitation to be the next Chairperson of the News Broadcasting Standards Authority.

    Justice Raveendran brings with him incredible legal and judicial ability, a wealth of experience and outstanding reputation in upholding democratic institutions and values through strict and fair implementation of the law of the land. He very ably takes the baton from the late Justice Verma to chart out the next leg of our mission to establish that the media must function through structured self regulation.

    In such a robust system where is the need for a media council? With all due respect to our Parliamentarians in the Standing Committee and some others, very erudite people who have pushed for such a Council, my counter question to them is what for? When we have the NBSA which is doing such magnificent work in an independent and strict manner, what is it that a media council will do? Who will appoint such a media council? Government? How can that be acceptable?

    We will miss Justice Verma immensely. But the show must go on and I am honoured and delighted to announce that Justice R V Raveendran, former Judge of the Supreme Court of India, has very graciously accepted our invitation to be the next Chairperson of the News Broadcasting Standards Authority.
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    The media is the fourth estate, the fourth pillar of democracy, and has to be independent of the other three. And like the three zealously guard their independence of each other and safeguard their positions, as they must and should do, so should the media zealously guard its independence.

    That in part means, no Government appointed body to oversee the media. 
    Some complain that the NBSA does not have statutory powers. I would urge that they only take a look at the NBA website to look at the powers that the NBSA has been given. These range from censure to asking offending channels to carry apologies, retractions and corrections on the same slot where the offense was first carried (if, for example, the offending story was in the 9 pm news, the retraction/apology has to be carried in the 9 pm news as well), a fine that can be up to Rs one lakh, and finally, the power to recommend to the licensing authority that the license of a particular channel should be suspended, even cancelled. Isn‘t that power enough?

    (To take a dekko at some of the decisions that the NBSA has taken click here)

    Also, it needs to be noted that in the Cable Act, when it comes to the advertising code, the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has been mentioned as the standard under which advertising can take place. Similarly, for programming, why can‘t the same be the case with the NBSA for news and the BCCI for other categories of television? In fact this has been one of our long pending requests to the Ministry of I&B.

    What is necessary is to ensure that all laws are implemented strictly and speedily by our courts. We have laws against defamation and libel but the general feeling is that there will be no decision in most such cases for 20 years. That can sometimes make our journalists complacent about essential things like accuracy. If one knows that the law will be applied with effect and expeditiously, one will be far more conscious of the need for absolute accuracy. We have the laws. Please implement them.

    (The views expressed in the comment are in author‘s personal capacity and do not represent the corporate viewpoint)

  • NBSA Chairperson Justice J S Verma passes away

    NBSA Chairperson Justice J S Verma passes away

    New Delhi : The Indian news broadcast industry lost a guide and mentor late last evening in the passing away of 80 year old Justice (Retd.) J.S. Verma, chairperson of the News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA).

    Verma, a former chief justice of India and former chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), was appointed the first chairperson of the NBSA, a self-regulatory body set up by News Broadcasters Association (NBA), on 2 October 2008. He took over the role at a time when the government was making noises that the it would step in an censor the news TV industry if it did not get its self-censorship act together. His first major challenge had been to draw up guidelines for news channels, following the terrorist attacks in Mumbai a month or so into his appointment.

    The NBA has mourned his passing on. In a press note it said: “He believed that self-regulation in the broadcast media is the best way forward in achieving a balance between the media's duty to empower the participatory role of the people in governance. In his frequent interaction with members of NBA he would tell them that in a democracy, it was the media's duty to inform the people of everything of significance; but the right to inform did not include the right to mis-inform as the media's right is no greater than an individual's right, which was again subject to reasonable restrictions. He advised members that self-regulation was the best way so that there was no occasion for any outside intervention to regulate.”

    During the past four years of his association with NBSA, he took ‘pro-active steps to ensure that broadcasting standards improve. The entire electronic news broadcasting fraternity deeply mourns the passing away of this extra ordinary person who lived by his principles and convictions until the very end.’

    The Broadcast Editors' Association too condoled the passing away of Verma.

    In a condolence message, Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said, ‘Justice Verma was an iconic personality, who gave jurisprudence, a new perspective with the judgements that he pronounced. As a firm believer of judicial accountability and probity, Justice Verma will always remain etched in public memory. The entire country deeply mourns the passing away of this extra ordinary intellectual who lived by his principles and convictions till the very end.’

    Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Justice Verma was held in great respect as a public figure not only for his vast understanding and knowledge of law and the many path-breaking judgements he delivered as a Judge, but also for his deep sensitivity to the concerns of the common man and his fierce commitment to the public good. His service to the country continued even after his retirement as Chief Justice of India, and the positions he held included Chairman, National Human Rights Commission and Chairman News Broadcasters’ Standards Authority.

    Verma, born January 18 1933, was the 27th chief justice of India from 25 March 1997 until his retirement on 18 January 1998. After obtaining degrees of B.Sc. and LL.B. from Allahabad University, he joined the Bar in 1955; became a judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in 1972; its chief justice in 1985; the chief justice of Rajasthan in 1986; a judge of the Supreme Court of India in 1989; and then the chief justice of India. He was also the acting governor of Rajasthan, twice between 1987 and 1989.

    He headed the commission to inquire into the security lapses leading to Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination (1991-1992); and the Committee to suggest operationalisation of the Fundamental Duties (1998- 1999). He was the chairperson of the NHRC from 4 November 1999 to 18 January 2003. After demitting that office Verma engaged himself in pursuing matters of national and public concerns, and advocating measures for amelioration of the polity.

    In the aftermath of the gang rape in Delhi on 16 December 2012, the Indian government on 23 December 2012 appointed a three member committee consisting of J. S. Verma, justice Leila Seth and Gopal Subramanium as members to look into possible amendments of the criminal law to provide for quicker trial and enhanced punishment for criminals committing sexual assault of extreme nature against women. In view of the significance and urgency of the task, the committee undertook and performed the herculean task within 30 days.

    He is survived by his wife and two daughters who along with their families were with him at the time of his demise.

  • NBSA exonerates CNN-IBN & IBN7 in one case, indicts them in another

    NBSA exonerates CNN-IBN & IBN7 in one case, indicts them in another

    NEW DELHI: The News Broadcast Standards Authority (NBSA) has cleared the television channels CNN-IBN and IBN7 in a complaint relating to Home Minister P Chidambaram, while censuring the channels in another case relating to allotment of land to the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust in Gurgaon for a charitable eye hospital.

    The NBSA had received a complaint through Vice President M Hamid Ansari alleging that the channels had carried from 14 to 18 December last year alleging conflict of interest of Home Minister P Chidambaram in withdrawing some criminal cases against Sunair Hotels.

    While exonerating the channels, NBSA said: “It could be said that the broadcaster should have been more circumspect in reporting a matter where parties were involved in long-pending multifarious litigations and before dragging in the name of the Home Minister, thereby creating sensationalism”.

    Holding in the other case that the reports relating to the land allegedly allotted to the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust for its proposed charitable eye hospital in Gurgaon were “clearly biased”, the NBSA said “a broadcast has to be judged on the basis of the overall impression, perception and impact that a viewer gets on a plain viewing of the broadcast; and not on the basis of some elaborate and arcane submissions made subsequently before a jury.”

    Charging the channel with willful violation of NBA Code of Ethics & Broadcasting Standards and norms of ethical journalism, the NBSA imposed a fine of Rs 100,000 on the broadcaster, to be paid to News Broadcasters Association (NBA) within one week of receipt of the order.

    The NBSA directed the NBA to adequately publicise the judgment and show proof of compliance of telecast of the apology be submitted to NBA on compact disc within seven days of telecasts.

    The NBSA also said that some Tweets sent by the Editor-in-Chief Rajdeep Sardesai “clearly bear out the sensationalised build-up to the telecast of the story in relation to the Trust on 1 August 2011 and the subsequent follow-on stories. These tweets also tend to expose the motive for running the story, viz. to improve the image of the channels at the cost of accurate, fair and objective reporting, as also the reputation of the RGCT. It is also evident from the viewing of clippings of the various broadcasts that the entire version given by the RGCT was not duly carried in the subsequent broadcasts; and even the version carried in the very first broadcast was truncated. This was also admitted by the broadcaster at the hearing.”

    The NBSA directed the broadcasters to carry an apology by running the text (static) on full screen in large font size with voice over (in slow speed) expressing regret for the said telecast on their channels for 5 consecutive days at 9 pm sharp from 24 to 28 December (IBN7 will carry the apology in Hindi).

    The apology says: “CNN-IBN sincerely regrets that the story broadcast on 1 August 2011 and subsequently with regard to the land allotted to Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust at Village Ullawas, District Gurgaon, presented a wrong and misleading picture. CNN-IBN regrets that the version of Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust was not sought before airing the story. CNN-IBN regrets that they have not played Rajiv Charitable Trust’s version in all the follow on stories telecast on their channels in the month of August 2011. CNN IBN deeply regrets and apologise for the harm caused to the reputation of the Trust and its Trustees”.

    The complaint from the Trust through its chief executive officer Y S P Thorat related to news reports broadcast on CNN-IBN and IBN7 news channels alleging “Gandhi Trust flouting law?” & “Rules bent to aid Gandhis?” in relation to the land allegedly allotted to the RGCT for its proposed charitable eye hospital in Gurgaon. The first news report in this regard was broadcast on CNN-IBN and IBN7 on 1 August 2011 and subsequent reports were broadcast on various dates and time up to 5 August 2011 by both the channels.

    The grievance made in the complaint was that through these news reports, the channels had represented that the RGCT had flouted the law and that rules had been bent for the benefit of the Gandhis belonging to a prominent political family of the country.

    Prior to hearing the complaint by the Trust of 14 September 2011, the NBSA had asked the Trust to first approach the channel with its complaint. Accordingly, the Trust filed a complaint on 7 October 2011 before IBN18 Broadcast Limited, to which the Broadcaster responded in its letter dated 20 October denying violation of the Code of Ethics or any other related Guidelines of the NBSA. It replied that the “stories emanated from the fact that“all the inhabitants of village Ulhawas in Haryana had approached the High Court of Punjab & Haryana seeking to bring an end to the allegedly discriminatory approach adopted by the Government of Haryana with regard to the execution and implementation of the State’s land acquisition policy; these villagers had alleged before the Court that preferential treatment had been accorded by the Government of Haryana to a chosen few (including your Trust)”. The broadcaster also said it was prepared to broadcast the views of the Trust on the issue.

    However, the Trust declined to accept the Broadcaster’s offer and thereafter asked the NBSA to decide the complaint against the Broadcaster.

    A perusal of the materials submitted by the Complainant and the broadcaster showed that the High Court was seized of several matters challenging acquisition of land from various parties in a batch of writ petitions pending before that Court. The RGCT was a party to at least one of the writ petitions that was pending before the High Court, and so the NBSA on 23 November decided that RGCT be asked to confirm if the subject matter of its complaint before the NBSA was also pending before any court of law, and to place before the NBSA any relevant material. But the RGCT said it was not aware of any proceedings in any court of law pertaining to the subject matter of the complaint in which it is a party. However, the NBSA refused to hear the complaint as it was confirmed that the RGCT was a party in one case.

    However, the RGCT in August 2012 informed NBSA that the matter had been dismissed. The broadcaster reiterated that it was prepared to carry the viewpoint of the Trust. The Trust also said the RGCT had been granted a “lease” of land measuring 5 acres/3 marlas by the Gram Panchayat for setting up a charitable eye hospital, as opposed to the allegations on the channels which spoke of “acquisition of over 850 acres for the Trust” and “the Trust was given 8 acres of land.” The broadcaster on the other hand claimed that it had attempted to give the Trust’s viewpoint.

  • NBSA to examine complaints against Zee News Ltd channels relating to coal blocks

    NBSA to examine complaints against Zee News Ltd channels relating to coal blocks

    NEW DELHI: The News Broadcasting Standards Authority has taken suo moto cognizance of the complaint filed by Jindal Steel Ltd. regarding telecast of news with regard to allocation of coal blocks and other issues on Zee News, Zee Business and Zee UP (channels of Zee News Ltd.).

    The NBSA took the decision on the basis of the material placed before it and considering the seriousness of the complaint.

    The complaint had been forwarded by the Press Council of India (PCI) as the complaint does not fall within the ambit of the Council as it relates to electronic media.

    Meanwhile, the NBSA set up by the News Broadcasters Association has been reconstituted, though former Chief Justice and National Human Rights Commission Chairman J S Verma remains the Chairperson.

    After the reconstitution on 2 October, the other members are:

    Members representing eminent persons category:

    1. Nitin Desai, Economist and former Under Secretary General of United Nations

    2. Dipankar Gupta, former Professor of Sociology, Jawaharlal Nehru University

    3. Mrs Chokila Iyer, former Foreign Secretary, Government of India

    4. Dr. S Y Quraishi, former Chief Election Commissioner of India, and former Director General of Doordarshan

    Members representing Editors’ category:

    1. Rahul Kanwal, Managing Editor – Headlines Today

    2. Vivek Law, Editor, Bloomberg TV India

    3. Ajit Anjum, Managing Editor – News 24

    4. Johny Lukose, Director, News – Manorama News