Click to play videoNew Delhi: Indian news channels are unanimous in their demand for self-regulation over content after the Centre proposed a body to oversee on-air news content.
Media representatives across news networks batted for self regulation and reaffirmed their stand on the proposed regulatory body by the Union Government in a conference on Sunday.
So it's self regulation over a Federal Broadcasting Authority for broadcasters in the country as top media executives even the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting started wide ranging consultations with stakeholders to arrive at a consensus on the issue of regulating content of news channels.
While there are talks to create an independent autonomous body to look into all aspects of the broadcasting sector, there is unanimity on one aspect - self regulation.
"News Broadcasters Association's view is very clear that it believes in self-regulation. If you see what NBA has done in two years, it has made content, which is available on the website. Secondly NBA has formed an authority headed by ex-chief justice. If anybody has any complain, it can be sent to the authority which has power to take action and a channel can be penalised. So, we believe in self-regulation. If any viewer has any suggestion we will take measures to strengthen our self regulation, but our view is very clear that only self regulation will work we are following it," said News Broadcasters Association (NBA) President Sameer Manchanda.
Broadcasters reject wholly the formation of a federal regulatory body, which they feel will be against the tenets of democracy.
"Broadcast Editors' Association, which is the organisation of television editors, fully rejects any attempt taken by the government in the direction of forming a regulatory authority. There is a reason for this--in democracy media is the only medium through which public grievances are ventilated and they are directly converted into pubic opinion. So, it cannot be considered that government regulate media by a superstructure. We are ourselves self-regulating and for this we have formed a broadcast regulatory authority under News Broadcasters' Association," said NBA Secretary General NK Singh.
Union I&B Minister Ambika Sonia said that they have not reached a consensus on the issue yet.
"You know that is a matter of discussion whether broadcasting regulatory authority should be formed or there should be self-regulation. We have had interaction with several people and industry, so when we get to know each other's opinion it becomes easier to reach to a conclusion
Vo4: the media fraternity has been unanimously arguing against any government controlled regulation of news on the grounds it means government's attempt at muzzling media's independence and a desire to control," said Soni.
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