TV Editors set up a new body

New Delhi, 22nd August

The editors of broadcast media announce the setting up of a body to strengthen the values of objective and fair broadcast journalism and to protect and promote the freedom of expression. The editors of television channels feel there is a need to evolve healthy norms, promote training of professional journalists at all levels,

ensure dissemination of credible and constructive news content and to protect the right to freedom of expression, whenever threatened.

In pursuit of the above mentioned aims and objects we announce the setting up of a broadcast editors' organization under the name of Broadcast Editors' Association (BEA).

The office-bearers of the BEA are as follows:

1. Shazi Zaman                   (Star News)                         President

2. Arnab Goswami             (Times Now)                       Vice-President

3. Pankaj Pachauri             (NDTV)                                Vice-President

4. N K Singh                        (ETV)                                   General Secretary

5. Sudhir Chaudhary         (Live India)                         Treasurer

Members of Executive Committee:

Ashutosh (IBN-7), Vinay Tewari (CNN-IBN), Satish K Singh (ZEE TV), Ajit Anjum (News-24), Vinod Kapri (India TV), Sanjay Bragta (Sahara TV) and Pranjal Sharma (UTV).

The BEA will soon develop its own website so as to make direct media-public interaction possible. It will hold seminars and other modes of two-way interaction to receive feedback from civil society organizations and decision-makers in public domain.

Media gag proposal unlikely to be revived by UPA govt says TOI

It was Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's decisive intervention that put the proposed gags on media into cold storage as he over-ruled the views of junior ministers pushing for wide-ranging curbs on TV channels. Sources said the PM felt that the ministers had misread the post-Mumbai attacks "mood" and that while there was support for tough action against terrorism, it did not extend to sanitising or curtailing TV channels. With elections just round the corner, he did not want to raise a fresh controversy either. It is now unlikely that the proposal will be revived until the next government is in office despite the government having spoken of wide-ranging consultations with media organisations. And with it has gone, what officials see as an opportunity to arrive at an agreement on issues like televising operational details and conducting interviews with terrorists in hostage situations. more on this story
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/PMs_intervention_helped_channels_beat_gag_proposal/rssarticleshow/4003680.cms

Govt drops proposal to gag TV channels

The TIMES OF INDIA  reported today that government has dropped its plan to provide authorised video footage to TV channels during emergency situations.After Editors of TV Channels took up the issue with the Prime Minsiter Manmohan Singh the political establishment has blamed in on the babus. The TOI has quoted sources saying " It was only a suggestion by various agencies and did not have approval of the political establishment".  Editors had asked Prime Minister for the complete closure of the issue, though he did not promise to the editors on the closure of the issue, TOI report clearly indicates that government has given in.

Prime Minister assures TV Edtiors

Prime Minsiter Manmohan Singh has assured Editors of major TV Channels that government would not take any step that would compromise the freedom of media.The Editors said sprit of self regulation must prevail and hoped after today's meeting there would be a complete closure of the issue. Those who met PM on this evening behalf of TV jornalistsincluded Ajit Anjum (News 24), Ashutosh (IBN 7), Deepak Chourasia (Star News), N K Singh ( ETV), Pankaj Pachori (NDTV),Satish K Singh (Zee News),Shazi Zaman (Star News), Shailesh (Aaj Tak), Supriya Prasad (News 24),Rajdeep Sardesai ( IBN network) & Vinod Kapri (India TV).

TV Editors to meet Prime Minsiter today

Editors of TV Channels will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh this evening. Prime minister had put the proposed media bill on hold after editors wrote him on monday. Editors had welcomed government's decision, but had asked for complte clousure of the issue.

Statement by TV Editors

“TV Editors welcomed government’s response and said they look forward to complete closure of this issue so that such regulation never comes into force"

Freedom of the press should not be compromised:Sonia Gandhi

The editors of major news channels met UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi this evening. she assured to bring this issue to government's notice.Mrs Gandhi told editors "the Congress party believed that the freedom of the press should not be compromised." She assured that a via media should be found to solve the problem.