Regulator issue norms for channels

After 23-year old victim of gang-rape succumbed to her injuries at a hospital in Singapore, the Broadcast Editor Association (BEA) on Saturday asked its member channels not to cover her funeral or take interview of her relatives in order to respect the dignity and privacy of the deceased.

The Editors Guild, however, did not endorse the BEA advisory, saying the funeral of the victim and other related developments must be covered by both print and electronic media as the nation had woken up to the crime against women. The Press Council of India too did not put any restriction on media coverage of the issue.

Issuing guidelines, the BEA has also asked member channels not to take shots of transportation of the victim’s body which was being brought to India by authorities. The reporters should not be allowed to chase the funeral van in order to make shots.

It said that information about arrival of the body and funeral could be reported. However, the location of the funeral must not be given to the viewers of the channels, the BEA made it clear in its guidelines, circulated to the member channels.