Do not broadcast sensitive or provocative content !

Negligence in reporting the Delhi bomb blast : Union Government warns private news channels

New Delhi – The Union Government has issued a warning to private news channels, instructing them not to broadcast sensitive or provocative content while reporting on the Delhi blast. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting released an advisory stating that some media outlets presented the accused in a manner that appeared to justify acts of violence. Certain news channels also aired videos or information that could be interpreted as “methods of making explosive devices”. Such reporting, the advisory notes, can unintentionally incite violence, disturb public order, and endanger national security.

Editorial Perspective

The extent to which the media reports sensitive incidents such as bomb blasts, riots, and kidnappings without any sense of accountability has already been witnessed during the Kandahar plane hijacking and the Mumbai attacks. In such circumstances, instead of merely issuing warnings and hoping for improvement, the Government should impose a ban on such irresponsible media outlets.