NEW DELHI: In its effort to self-regulate, the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) has formed the 'News Broadcasting Standards (Disputes Redressal) Authority' to enforce NBA's code of ethics and broadcasting standards.

The authority will become operational from 2 October.

Says NBA president and TV Today Network CEO G Krishnan, “Self-regulation is the only and the best way of keeping a check on the content shown by news television channels. We have drafted one of the best self-regulation mechanisms. The government should not intervene in the business of press as it is against the fundamental right of the constitution which grants freedom of speech.”

Former chief justice and former NHRC chairperson Justice J S Verma will head a nine-member authority which comprises historian Ramachandra Guha, former Nasscom chief Kiran Karnik, JNU doyen Dipankar Gupta and economist and ex-under secretary general of UN, Nitin Desai, as the four members from non-news television background. The panel's editor-members are: India TV managing editor Vinod Kapri, Zee News group editor B V Rao, Star News managing editor Milind Khandekar and Times Now editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami.

When asked whether the mechanism is restricted to only English and Hindi news channels, Krishnan said, “The self-regulation mechanism is applicable to all the members of NBA and new members are also welcome to join us.”

As per the self-regulation mechanism, if any broadcaster, television journalist or news agency is found guilty of showing inappropriate content, the authority can warn, admonish, censure, express disapproval against or impose a fine upon the broadcaster, television journalist or news agency.

The authority can even recommend to the concerned authority for suspension, revocation of licence, accreditation of a broadcaster, television journalist or news agency.

“The broadcaster, television journalist or news agency is found showing content which is inappropriate will be asked to pay a fine of Rs 0.1 million. And then further action will be taken if the situation persists,” said Krishnan.

The summary of every enquiry would be available on NBA’s website, through press release and in the annual report of NBA which will be published in various newspapers.