The Union government has asked television channels to exercise stricter editorial control over debates and panel discussions to prevent communal, anti-national, derogatory or inflammatory content from being aired, directing them to mute speakers, interrupt programmes or cut feeds where necessary.
In an advisory issued on Wednesday, the information and broadcasting ministry also cautioned broadcasters against live coverage of anti-terror operations and urged them to use verified facts, approved maps and artificial intelligence tools without compromising news accuracy.
Government asks TV channels to curb inflammatory debates
“Adequate editorial control (including, but not limited to careful selection and pre-sensitisation of the panellists/participants) should be exercised. On crime and violence, the ministry said reports must be based on verified facts and be balanced, so that false insinuations and half-truths are not aired.
“The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has observed instances of non-compliance with the provisions of the Programme Code prescribed under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994 by various private satellite television channels,” the advisory said. Channels were also told to show “due caution, responsibility and editorial discretion” while airing violent, graphic or disturbing visuals, so as not to offend good taste or decency or cause unnecessary distress to viewers. For natural calamities, disasters and major accidents, the ministry said visuals should be time-stamped where necessary to avoid unnecessary panic among viewers, and reporting should be based on verified facts.
Wherever necessary, immediate remedial measures such as muting, disclaimers, interruption or discontinuation of feed should be implemented in order to prevent airing of derogatory, abusive or inflammatory content,” the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s advisory released on Wednesday said.
