MEDIA AND

COMMUNAL RIOTS

The media is the conscience and voice of the society and should

adopt self control and self discipline in order to

perform its duties more efficiently and diligently

SOMETIMES MEDIA SENSATIONALIZES ISSUES WHICH IS HARMFUL TO THE

SOCIETY AS A WHOLE

It should be responsive to the SocietyThere should be a self imposed Code of Conduct

in the larger interest of the societyCensorship is harmful for the freedom of Press

and media should not create a situation in which censorship become inevitable

Self-imposed code of regulation is the need of the hour and anybody violating it should be dealt with stringently by the fraternity itself

Remember: Facts are sacred and comment-free

Get both sides of the story Check your facts before writing them

But they are not enough in reporting communal riots . . .

The guiding rules for reporters should be: Look for the backgroundDon't perpetuate the stereotypeFind residents who deal with both

communities; Corroborate victims' accounts as well

as police accounts Ascertain the role of the police, the

politicians and the media Highlight stories where communities

have helped each other

Do not to name the communities involved (to prevent readers from getting worked up)

Bland reports about two groups clashing and one place of worship being attacked are designed to leave readers of both communities in the dark, which is good in a way

Reporting a communal event is as sensitive, delicate and challenging as the event itself

When reported in the media, certain events assume and induce repercussion of national, and sometimes international, character

The media, which enjoys the utmost freedom of expression, has a great and vital role to play in moulding public opinion on correct lines in regard to the need of friendly and harmonious relations between various communities and religious groups and thus promote national solidarity

The media should not to distort, or exaggerate, should not employ intemperate, inciting and unrestrained language

The local papers particularly should strictly adhere to this norm

The role of media in such situations is to be peacemakers and not abettors, to be troubleshooters and not troublemakers

Let the media play their noble role of promoting peace and harmony among the people in times of crises

Any trend to disrupt the peace either directly or indirectly should be considered an anti-national act

The media consider its

reportage in the interest of the

nation as a whole

Any news report printed or published by the print media or relayed by the electronic media in contravention of ethical norms in reporting or commenting on matters pertaining to communal harmony is likely to invite penal action under the provisions of Section 295-A of the Indian Penal Code and allied provisions

The Press Council by the norms set out, ordained the media to avoid sensational, provocative and alarming headlines, avoid details that might hurt religious sentiments; as also the reports that could undermine the people’s confidence in the maintenance and restoration of peace and law and order

The importance of the media is in imparting to the citizens at large, information and analysis in a balanced and impartial manner

The media, as a chronicle of tomorrow’s history, owes an undeniable duty to the future to record events as simple untailored facts

In times crisis, facts unadorned and simply put, with due care and restraint, cannot be reasonably objected to in a democracy

However, a heavy responsibility devolves on the author of opinion articles

The journalist has to ensure that not only are his or her analysis free from any personal preferences, prejudices or notions, but also they are based on verified, accurate and established facts and do not tend to foment disharmony or enmity between castes, communities and races

The prime objective of Press Council of India (PCI) is to awaken the press to the need for conforming to the highest ethical standards

Even in its quasi-judicial role the Press Council does not don the mantle of a taskmaster

Its aims not to punish but to act as a conscience keeper and advisor to provoke the media to introspect on the ethicality of its reportage

This is possible, only if cooperation is extended from all quarters including the press in its own interest

A greater onus lies in times of crisis on the regional media rather than the

national media, in restoring the faith of the public in

the law and order situation and encouraging communal

harmony and amity

The media should be well advised to give due consideration to the implications and impact of its coverage of this and similar instances when truth and factual accuracy alone cannot be the criterion to determine the suitability of a publication that could as well foment passions as douse them

Norm 23 of the Guide to Journalistic Ethics, reproduced as follows: Photo-journalism is an important part of

the print media. While intrusion through photography into personal grief likely to hurt sentiments or arouse communal passions, should be avoided, publication of photographs serving the larger public interest can not be termed as unethical or in bad taste

At the same time, another norm (24 C of the Guide to Journalistic Ethics) advises the press to avoid mentioning the names of communities of the victims of the riots

The editor should be vigilant in allowing the publication of photographs with the captions appended

Actually, no hard and fast rules can be laid down in the matter and the editor has to allow his conscience to guide him up the path of ethical rectitude

Reports and / or photographs that may directly or indirectly give away the identity of the victims / attackers should be avoided

Cultural and religious symbols / images that may

give away the identity of the

victims or attackers should be avoided

References: http://www.hvk.org/specialrepo/pci/index.html

http://vibhutinarain.blogspot.com/2010/01/media-should-introspect-to-give-right.htmlhttp://infochangeindia.org/Agenda/Reporting-conflict/Reporting-communal-conflict.html

Thank You Saurabh Deshpande