MASS MEDIA
Press Council of India: Norms of Journalistic Conduct, 1996 (Extracts)
Caste, Religion or Community References: General
In general, the caste identification of a person or a particular class should be avoided, particularly when in the context it conveys a sense of attributes a conduct or practice derogatory to that caste.
Newspapers are advised against the use of word 'Scheduled Caste' or 'harijan' which has been objected to by some persons. An accused or a victim shall not be described by his caste or community when the same does not have anything to do with the offence or the crime and plays no part either in the identification of any accused or proceeding, if there be any.
Newspapers should not publish any fictional literature distorting and portraying the religious characters in an adverse light transgression of the norms of literary taste and offending the religious susceptibilities of large sections of society who hold those characters in high esteem, invested with attributes of the virtuous and lofty.
Commercial exploitation of the name of prophets, seers or deities is repugnant to journalistic ethics and good taste.
Door Darshan's RSS Connections
The RSS infiltration with mass media is not confined to the print media alone. Government owned AIR and DD have also been infiltrated to the extent that the swearing in of Atal Behari Vajpayee was celebrated in the newsroom of DD.
Unfortunately, even after the UF government has taken over at the centre, the infiltration continues. A major political programme has been given to Major Raghuvanshi, whose pro-RSS credentials have never been in doubt. When Babari Masjid was demolished by Hindu fanatics, Raghuvanshi was perhaps the only journalist who did not make any attempt to hide his joy and went on proclaiming that the pride of Hindus had been restored.
But then Raghuvanshi is not the only Sanghi to have benefitted from the new found journalistic objectivity of DD bosses under UF regime. One Ms Ritu Dhavan is likely to bag a prestigious current affairs programme in DD.
Those who are aware of the closeness between Rajat Sharma and Ms. Dhavan would not hesitate even for a second in pinpointing the real man behind the enterprise and Rajat's political mentors are in the Sangh Parivar.
DD's largesse is likely to come in handy for him to continue to contribute his humble might for the cause of Hindu Rashtra.
(Source: The New Age Weekly, 1-7 September, 1996)
I-Guidelines for Observance by the Press Council in the Wake of Communal Disturbances, 1969
Recognizing that the Press which enjoys the utmost freedom of expression has a great and vital role to play in educating and moulding public opinion on correct lines in regard to the need for friendly and harmonious relations between the various communities and religious groups forming the fabric of Indian political life and in mirroring the conscience of the best minds of the country to achieve national solidarity, the PCI considers that this object would be defeated, communal peace and harmony disturbed and national unity disrupted if the Press does not strictly adhere to proper norms and standards in reporting on or commenting on matters which bear on communal relations Without attempting to be exhaustive, the Council considers the following as offending against journalistic properties and ethics:
1. Distortion or exaggeration of facts or incidents in relation to communal matters or giving currency to unverified rumors, suspicions or inferences as if they were facts and base their comments on them.
2. Employment of intemperate or unrestrained language in the presentation of news or views, even as a piece of literary flourish or for the purpose of rhetoric or emphasis.
3. Encouraging or condoning violence even in the face of provocation as a means of obtaining redress of grievances whether the same be genuine or not.
4. While it is the legitimate function of the Press to draw attention to the genuine and legitimate grievances of any community with a view to having the same redressed by all peaceful, legal and legitimate means, it is improper and a breach of journalistic ethics to invent grievances, or to exaggerate real grievances, as these tend to promote communal ill-feeling and accentuate discord.
5. Scurrilous and untrue attacks on communities, or individuals, particularly when this is accompanied by charges attributing misconduct to them as due to their being members of a particular community or caste.
6. Falsely giving a communal color to incidents which might occur in which members of different communities happen to be involved.
7. Emphasizing matters that are not to produce communal hatred or ill-will, or fostering feelings of distrust between communities:
8. Publishing alarming news which are in substance untrue or make provocative comments on such news or even otherwise calculated to embitter relations between different communities or regional or linguistic groups.
9. Exaggerating actual happenings to achieve sensationalism and publication of news which adversely affect communal harmony with banner headlines or in distinctive types.
10. Making disrespectful, derogatory or insulting remarks on or reference to the different religions or faiths or their founders.
II-Guidelines issued by the Press Council for
Observance by the State Governments & the Media in
relation to Communal Disturbances, 1990
1. The State Government should take upon themselves the responsibility of keeping a close watch on the communal writings that might spark off tension, destruction and death, and bring them to the notice of the Council.
2. The Government may have occasion to take action against erring papers or editors. But it must do so within the bounds of law. If newsmen are arrested, or search and seizure operations become necessary, it would be healthy convention if such developments could be reported to the Press Council within 24 to 48 hours followed by a detailed note within a week.
3. Under no circumstances must the authorities resort to vindictive measures like cut in advertisement, cancellation of accreditation, cut in newsprint quota and other facilities.
4. Provocative and sensational headlines should be avoided by the Press.
5. Headings must reflect and justify the matter printed under them.
6. Figures of casualties given in headlines should preferably be on the lower side in case or doubt about their exactness and where the numbers reported by various sources differ widely.
7. Headings containing allegations made in statements should either identify the person/body making the allegation or, at least, should carry quotation marks.
8. News reports should be devoid of comments and value judgement.
9. Presentation of news should not be motivated or guided by partisan feelings, nor should it appear to be so.
10. Language employed in writing the news should be temperate and such as may foster feelings or amity among communities.
11. Corrections should be promptly published with due prominence and regrets expressed in serious cases.
12. It will help a great deal if in-service training is giving to journalists for inculcation of all these principles.
III-Guidelines issued by the Press Council in the
wake of the Ram Janambhoomi-Babari Masjid
Dispute, 21-22 January, 1992
Guidelines for guarding against the commission of the following journalistic improprieties and unethicalities:
1. 1.Distortion or exaggeration of facts or incidents in relation to communal matters or giving currency to unverified rumours, suspicions or inferences as if they were facts and base their comments on them.
2. 2.Employment of intemperate or unrestrained language in the news or views, even as a piece of literary flourish or for the purpose of rhetoric or emphasis.
3. 3.Encouraging or condoning violence even in the face of provocation as a means of obtaining redress of grievance whether the same be genuine or not.
4. While it is the legitimate function of the Press to draw attention to the genuine and legitimate grievances of any community with a view to having, it is improper and a breach of journalistic ethics to invent grievances, or to exaggerate real grievances, as these tend to promote communal ill-feeling and accentuate discord.
5. Scurrilous and untrue attacks on communities, or individuals, particularly when this is accompanied by charges attributing misconduct to them as due to their being members of a particular community/caste.
6. 6.Falsely giving a communal colour to incidents which might occur in which members of different communities happen to be involved.
7. 7.Emphasising matters that are apt to produce communal hatred or ill-will, or fostering feelings of distrust between communities.
8. 8.Publishing alarming news which are in substance untrue or make provocative comments on such news or even otherwise calculated to embitter relations between different communities.
9. 9.Exaggerating actual happenings to achieve sensationalism and publication of news which. adversely affect communal harmony with banner headlines or in distinctive types.
10. 10.Making disrespectful, derogatory or insulting remarks on or reference to the different religions or faiths or their founders.
UK: Hindu Minority
A national survey by the National Statistics Office has confirmed that when it comes to education of children and home ownership, the Indian community is the best. The study looked at GCSE Examination passes, home ownership and unemployment. Even in unemployment statistics, it was discovered that after the host v-hite community, the Indians had the lowest unemployment. The statistics speak for themselves.
Almost all of the Indian community is actually Hindu which includes Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists. Some sociologists have suggested that it is normal to expect immigrants to perform better because they are more adventurous and harder working. By comparison Indians (Hindus) have done much better than those who have come from Pakistan and Bangladesh (all of whom are Muslims) All three so-called Asian' communities originate from same part of the world and experience same prejudices and problems in the host country. The credit must go to the Hindu way of life and thinking which is rooted deeply in the Hindu 'Sanskriti brought to the British Isle by the Hindus.
(Source: The Organizer, 13 October, 1996)
