NBSA pulls up news channels for violating Code of Ethics in Sushant Singh Rajput coverage

In its order dated October 6, 2020, the News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) has pulled up several news channels with regard to the complaints received by NBSA in respect of telecasts relating to late actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

Complaints received by NBSA in respect of telecasts by member broadcasters of NBA relating to actor late Sushant Singh Rajput.

1. Orders on complaints dated 14/15/16/20.6.2020 by Mr. Saurav Das, Ms. Rutuja Patil, Mr Varun Singala, Mr. Pulkit Rathi, Mr. Nilesh Navalakha and Mr. Indrajeet Ghorpade regarding media coverage of the suicide case of Sushant Singh Rajput by TV channels Aaj Tak, Zee News and News 24 relating to Taglines/Tickers used by the channels aforementioned.

NBSA at its meeting held on 24.9.2020 considered the above complaints with respect to the news channels aforementioned.

In the complaints, the complainants stated that the media coverage of Sushant Singh Rajput suicide case was abhorrent, shameful, insensitive, anti-human rights, unprofessional and sensational. The press has been sensationalizing his suicide. This is not new and happens to every high-profile case. This is a clear violation of the fundamental right of “Death with Dignity”. All this proves that the vultures of the media fraternity can go up to any extent just for their mere TRP gains. Furthermore, the complainants submitted that the broadcasters seem to have forgotten all humanity just to get TRPs. The complainants also stated that the broadcasters need to think about all the coverage of Sushant Singh Rajput’s suicide case and if that was the level of journalism that the broadcasters wanted to engage in. The complainants also alleged that the channels are not only displaying such mean and derogatory headlines for the person who has already left, but also did not take into consideration how his father would have felt if he ever read those headlines which were clearly violative of Sushant's right to die with dignity. 

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The complainants stated that the broadcasters should follow the recommendations put forth by the WHO and the International Association for Suicide Prevention. The recommendations specify that the media should educate the people about the suicide. Media professionals must avoid the language which sensationalizes suicides; prominent placement and unnecessary stories about suicide; explicit description of the method and the suicide note used; and detailed information about the site of an attempted or complete suicide. Media houses should cautiously report such cases with appropriate language, graphics and photographs.

The channels purportedly in the attempt to garner TRPs in complete defiance of the journalistic ethics, demonstrated lack of empathy while covering/telecasting the celebrated actor late Mr. Sushant Singh Rajput's death by suicide and had reported insensitively contrary to good taste and the telecast was indecent in nature. The only object of the coverage seemed to be sensationalism of an unfortunate incident.

Another complainant observed that all channels speculated the cause of suicide without any verified information; all channels sensationalised the news with dramatic background music and high-pitched reporting using words like "shocking" and its synonyms; the news and the video footage were repeated on the channels several times; no information on where to seek help was provided, nor was any awareness spread about self-harm, suicide and mental health.

These complaints related to the Taglines used by Aaj Tak, Zee News and News24 which are reproduced below:

1. Aaj Tak displayed headlines while covering the story – like “Aise kaise hit-wicket ho gaye Sushant?”, “Sushant zindagi ki pitch par hit-wicket kaise ho gaye”, ‘Sushant itne ashant kaise’?
2. Zee News, another leading Hindi news channel flashed this headline while asking “7 questions on Sushant’s death”, “Patna ka Sushant, Mumbai me fail kyu?”
3. News 24 used the headlines “Hey, why didn’t you watch your own film Sushant?” (Referring to the actor’s film ‘Chhichhore’, which dealt with the topic of Mental Health). “What was you stood up for in your movie, you forgot in your real life” (again referring to the same movie).

NBSA considered the complaints, response and submissions made by the parties and viewed the footage of the said broadcast, and was of the view that the said broadcasters have violated the Specific Guideline Covering Reportage inter alia relating to:

1. Fundamental Standards - Clause B which states that “Reporting should not sensationalise or create panic, distress or undue fear among viewers.
2. Law & Order, Crime & Violence - Clause 3.6, which states that “the dead must be treated with respect. Close-ups of dead or mutilated bodies should not be shown.
3. Guidelines relating to Impartiality, Objectivity and Fairness
4. Privacy
5. Broadcasters should exercise discretion and sensitivity when reporting on distressing situations, on grief and bereavement.
6. Clause 3.1 of the Guidelines for telecast of news affecting Public Order which states that “Content should not glamorize or sensationalize crime or condone criminal actions, including suicide.”

Decision of NBSA

In view of the above, NBSA has decided that the broadcasters Aaj Tak, Zee News and News 24 be directed to air an apology. The text, date and time of the apology will be given to the three broadcasters. NBSA also censures the channel Aaj Tak for the three tag lines and also issues a warning to three broadcasters that such taglines should not be telecast in the future.

2. Orders on complaints dated 14/15/16/20.6.2020 by Mr. Saurav Das, Ms. Ratuja Patil, Mr. Pulkit Rathi, Ms. Priyanka Srivastava and Mr. Nilesh Navalakha regarding media coverage of suicide case of Sushant Singh Rajput by TV channels Aaj Tak and ABP News regarding interviewing grieving family and relatives and showing images of grieving relatives.

The complainants stated in the complaint that the media coverage of Sushant Singh Rajput suicide case was abhorrent, shameful, insensitive, anti-human rights, unprofessional and sensational. They also stated that there have been clear attempts to sensationalise the issue while ignoring the right to grief of the deceased person’s family members. The complainants further stated that, the media coverage on Mr. Rajput’s death is not only insulting but also denies him the right to dignity of the dead. Furthermore, the complainant stated that once the story about his suicide broke, media personnel from TV news channels hounded the family members of the deceased.

NBSA considered the complaints, response, submissions made by the parties and viewed the footage of the said broadcast. NBSA decided that while the media has the right of freedom of speech and expression under Article 19 (1) (a) of the Constitution, however, this right is restricted by Article 19 (2). However, the right of the media to conduct interviews is a limited right which is made subject to the willing consent of the person being interviewed. Therefore, media cannot thrust itself on a person and interview him/her against his/her wishes. Thus, media does not have an unrestricted right to information and there is no legal obligation on the part of citizens to supply that information.

3. Order on complaints dated 14 & 15.6.2020 of Mr. Saurav Das, Mr. Nilesh Navlakha and Mr. Indrajeet Ghorpade on media coverage of suicide case of Sushant Singh Rajput by TV channels [News Nation, Aaj Tak, ABP Majha and India TV] relating to showing the body of Sushant Singh Rajput.

These complaints related to showing the body of Sushant Singh Rajput by News Nation, Aaj Tak, ABP Majha and India TV. 

1. News Nation showed the corpse in its telecast.
2. Aaj Tak broadcast photographs of late Mr. Rajput’s corpse from his bedroom and it explicitly described the method used along with the colour of the cloth used for strangulation.
3. ABP Majha showed footage of the body covered in a cloth being carried out of the apartment by crisis responders.
4. India TV repeatedly described in detail the colour of the lips of the body and the marks on the neck. It also showed the body covered in a cloth being carried out of the apartment, repeatedly.

NBSA considered the complaints, response and footage of the said broadcasts and decided that while it is the duty of the news channel to report news, it is important that the dead must not be subjected to unnecessary media glare. NBSA, therefore, decided that the broadcasters by showing the images of the body of Sushant Singh Rajput had violated Guidelines for telecast of news affecting Public Order - Clause 6, which states, “The dead should be treated with dignity and their visuals should not be shown. Special care should be taken in the broadcast of any distressing visuals and graphics showing grief and emotional scenes of victims and relatives which could cause distress to children and families.” The broadcasters had also violated the Specific Guidelines Covering Reportage Clause 3.6 of Law & Order, Crime & Violence which states that “the dead must be treated with respect. Close-ups of dead or mutilated bodies should not be shown”.