Complaints received: NBDSA rules in favour of Zee News, News18 Rajasthan

The News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) gave its rulings on complaints received against one news programme each appearing on Zee News and News18 Rajasthan.

Zee News

Complainant Utkarsh Mishra stated that the anchor was hosting a show, titled Taal Thok Ke Live: 'नरसंहार' पर हहंदू-मुसलमान? on a critical issue of identity politics in Kashmir while condemning any attempts to downplay the violence against the Kashmiri Pandits demonstrated in the movie. In the programme, videos of certain politicians who had expressed their criticism against the movie ‘The Kashmir Files’ were broadcast.

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According to the complainant, the anchor has violated the following guidelines and must apologize for the same.

Fundamental principle number 4 which "broadcasters shall in particular  ensure that they do not select news for the purpose of either promoting or hindering either side of any controversial public issue. News shall not be selected or designed to promote any particular belief, opinion or desires of any interest group." 

Principles number 1,2 of Self Regulation regarding impartiality and objectivity in reporting and ensuring neutrality, respectively.

In its reply, news broadcaster Zee News stated that various false, misleading, frivolous, and motivated allegations had been levelled against the contents of the news programme, wherein it had fairly and objectively conducted a panel discussion and debate on the issues and controversy surrounding the movie ‘The Kashmir Files’.

Zee News asserted that the present complaint was not maintainable as the impugned programme did not violate any of the guidelines, Code of Ethics and principles of self-regulation.

After giving due consideration to the arguments of the complainant and the broadcaster and reviewing the footage of the broadcast, NBDSA observed that in the impugned programme, the anchor gave equal opportunity to each panellist to express their views on the topic of debate.

In the absence of any fault on the part of the anchor or the channel, NBDSA found no specific violation of the Code of Ethics & Broadcasting Standards and Guidelines in the broadcast, and decided to close the complaint.

News18 Rajasthan

The Election Commission of India [ECI], vide letter dated 15.3.2022, forwarded a report dated 26.4.2019 of confirmed cases of paid news related to electronic media mentioned at News18 Rajasthan and local channel Den Mewar, regarding the 2019 General Elections to the Lok Sabha in Rajasthan.

With regard to News18 Rajasthan, the report was about a programme aired on the channel on 20.4.2019 titled ‘रण में सबसे बड़ा खिलाड़ी - धुआधंार प्रचार, प्रहार जोरदार’, wherein ECI alleged that the broadcast was not neutral; it was one-sided and favoured one particular candidate.

In its reply, the broadcaster denied each and every averment that was made in the complaint. The broadcaster stated that News18 Rajasthan had covered the 2019 general elections extensively through its various programmes, which featured/ covered the campaign of different political parties and candidates at different places while also showing the mood of the voters, among other things. The broadcaster maintained that the said programme was not a case of paid news, which is clear from the fact that Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore was not the only candidate whose campaign was covered.

NBDSA, at its meeting held on 15.6.2022, considered the complaint, response from the broadcaster and also gave due consideration to the arguments of the broadcaster. On examination of the report of ECI, NBDSA found that the findings of the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee were given without giving the broadcaster an opportunity to be heard, nor was the broadcaster given an opportunity to give any response.

In the absence of any direct evidence of any payment of consideration to the broadcaster and the specific denials by the broadcaster that the telecasts were not for consideration, NBDSA was of the view that it was not possible to hold that there was any violation of its Norms and Guidelines on Paid News. NBDSA decided to inform the Election Commission of India accordingly and close the matter.