What's new(s)? Govt 'kill Bill' set to muzzle media

GAGGING THE MEDIA? Panelists debate if the Bill will destroy the freedom of Press in India.

        

THE BROADCAST BILL

All TV and radio channels will be licensed.

Licenses can be revoked on non-compliance.

Sports signals will have to be shared with DD.

Government will contain cross-media.

On-air content to be minutely regulated.

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New Delhi: The Government's proposed Broadcasting Services Regulatory Bill and Draft Content Code has met with strong opposition from private news broadcasters with various media houses raising objections on cross-media restrictions and self-regulation guidelines.

But oblivious to these strong protests, the Government looks all set to introduce the Bill in the Monsoon Session of Parliament.

According to a new Content Code in the Bill, all Broadcast Service Providers or television news channels must abide by what the Government defines as “public order” and "national security".

The Bill, that many believe threatens to destroy the freedom of the Press, also says that a content auditor will report to the Government on the channel's news decisions.

But who decides what news is? Is the Bill a throwback to Emergency days? And should the government regulate the media? Senior Journalist Nalini Singh; Managing Editor, IBN7, Ashutosh participated in the big media debate on CNN-IBN show Face the Nation conducted by Sagarika Ghose.

Bill, a Farce?

The Bill says the public service providers shouldn’t report on matters of political or industrial controversy, should always bear in mind the security of the nation, should always operate according to public order, should take permission to do sting operations and all news channels should have an auditor who reports daily to the government on everything that goes on in a news channel.

When Nalini Singh was asked if the Bill is democratic or just farcical, she said, “I can understand if it applies to Doordarshan which is a government controlled channel. But it’s certainly not democratic.”

In an age when most people complain that the media is sensationalists, it’s violating privacy, and is turning out of control, shouldn’t there be some control on it?

“Absolutely. Media has made this a country where snakes get married and there are ghosts in every building. I agree when viewers say that and something has to happen,” said Singh.

However she added that the interest of the government and public might not always be co-terminus.

The Bill is absolutely farcical because according to it, the Press cannot report on cases of rioting and criminal investigations. Doesn’t that mean that the government is turning its back on the people of India?