MIB warns news channels against airing disturbing footage or images

Mumbai: The ministry of information and broadcasting has issued an advisory to all television channels against reporting incidents of accidents, deaths, and violence, including violence against women, children, and the elderly, in manners that grossly compromise "good taste and decency."

The advisory was issued after the ministry observed several instances of television channels' lack of discretion.

According to the ministry, television channels have shown dead bodies and images/videos of injured people with blood splattered around, people, including women, children, and the elderly, being mercilessly beaten in close shots, and the continuous cries and shrieks of a child being beaten by a teacher, shown repeatedly over several minutes, including circling the actions, making it even more ghastly, without taking the precaution of blurring the images or showing. It has also been stated that the manner in which such incidents are reported is distasteful and distressing to the audience.

The advisory emphasised the impact of such reporting on various audiences. It has been stated that such reports can have a negative psychological impact on children. The advisory also emphasises the critical issue of invasion of privacy, which could be potentially maligning and defamatory. Television, as a platform typically watched by families in households with people of all ages (old, middle-aged, small children, etc.) and from various socioeconomic backgrounds, instils a sense of responsibility and discipline in broadcasters, as enshrined in the programme code and the advertising code.

The ministry has observed that most videos are taken from social media and broadcast without editorial discretion or changes to ensure compliance and consistency with the programme code.