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).

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"

Letter to the Prime Minister from TV Editors

12th January 2009


Mr. Manmohan Singh,
The Prime Minister of India.

Dear Manmohan Singhji,

We are sure you are aware that the proposed measures to gag the electronic media have caused immense disquiet in the journalistic fraternity and amongst all those who believe in the freedom of expression.

As editors, we believe that the media is the watchdog to keep democracy and democratic principles alive. If instruments of the state begin to regulate us, the damage to democracy and all stakeholders in democracy would be irreparable. It is all the more surprising that this is happening when you are directly holding charge of the ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

We are aware that our right to keep a vigil also brings with it a responsibility to function according to the highest standards of ethics and national interest. We firmly believe that in a democracy media needs self-regulation and not regulation. The electronic media fraternity has already made significant movement in this direction. In view of this, we urge you to immediately suspend the proposed measures.

We would like to personally meet and impress upon you the historical blunder that these measures would be. They would for all times taint this government as one that tried to impose draconian measures on media and forever remind us that the emergency is not yet a closed chapter in this country.

Hoping for an appointment at the earliest.


Best regards
1. Ajit Anjum, News 24
2. Arnab Goswami, Times Now
3. Ashutosh, IBN 7
4. Barkha Dutt, NDTV 24X7
5. Deepak Chaurasia, Star News
6. Milind Khandekar, Star News
7. N K Singh, ETV
8. Pankaj Pachauri, NDTV India
9. QW Naqwi, Aaj Tak
10. Rajdeep Sardesai, CNN IBN
11. Satish K Singh, Zee News
12. Shazi Zaman, Star News
13. Supriya Prasad, News 24
14. Vinay Tiwari, CNN IBN
15. Vinod Kapri, India TV