Code of Ethics & Broadcasting Standards Issued by the NBDA – An Overview

The News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA)

The News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA) is India’s leading organization representing private television news, current affairs, and digital broadcasters. It serves as the collective voice of over 100 channels, advocating for freedom of speech, ethical journalism, and accountability in broadcasting. Through its self-regulatory body – the News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) – the NBDA enforces a Code of Ethics and Broadcasting Standards that emphasizes objectivity, impartiality, privacy, and responsible reporting, especially on sensitive issues like crime, national security, and communal harmony.

Background

• The Constitution of India guarantees the right to free speech, including freedom of the press and citizens’ right to be informed.
• Democracy requires accountability of institutions to the people; corruption and abuse of power threaten it.
• News media, especially electronic media, plays a key role in exposing threats and ensuring governance reaches even those without access to print media.
• India’s diversity requires balancing press freedom with checks to prevent abuse without stifling journalistic freedom.
• Media must keep citizens informed about governance lapses; government regulation of media content would lack credibility.
• Journalists must evolve their own institutional checks and safeguards to uphold ethics.
• Models of self-governance in other countries rely on peer monitoring (“jury of its peers”).
• Self-governance may have limitations, but credibility of channels depends on it. Peer censure affects credibility and has legal implications (e.g., defense in defamation cases).
• Government interference would endanger independent journalism and investigations.
• Hence, it is necessary for news channels to adopt guidelines, safeguards, and create watchdog and grievance redressal mechanisms.

Section 1 – Fundamental Principles

• Journalists are trustees of the public, must seek truth, report fairly, with integrity and independence, and be accountable for their actions.
• Code documents broad practices and procedures for highest standards of public service and integrity.
• News channels have great influence on public opinion, thus must adhere to high journalistic standards.
• News must not be selected to promote or hinder any side of controversial issues or beliefs of interest groups.
• Purpose of news in democracy is to educate and inform people to form their own conclusions.
• Broadcasters must ensure full and fair presentation of news, giving fair time to all points of view in controversial matters.
• News selection must be guided by public interest and importance in a democracy.

Section 2 – Principles of Self-Regulation

• NBDA establishes content guidelines for self-regulation, consistent with freedom of speech, regulatory framework, and viewer sensibilities.
• Principles aim to avoid malicious, biased, inaccurate, misleading, or conflict-of-interest content.
• Goal is to empower journalism with lasting values to ensure balanced and comprehensive journalism that strengthens democracy.

Areas of Self-Regulation

1. Impartiality & Objectivity

   • Accuracy prioritized over speed; errors must be corrected transparently and promptly.
   • Avoid defamatory/libelous broadcasts.
   • Truth is a defense if public interest is involved.
   • Individuals, including public officials, cannot claim immunity from scrutiny.

2. Ensuring Neutrality

   • Equal opportunity for parties in disputes to present views.
   • Allegations must not be portrayed as facts; charges not conveyed as guilt.

3. Reporting Crime & Violence

   • No content that induces, glorifies, incites, or glamorizes violence.
   • Avoid prejudicial or inflammatory visuals.
   • Exercise care when showing pain, suffering, suicide methods, or self-harm.

4. Violence Against Women & Children

   • Conceal identity of women/juveniles in cases of sexual violence or trauma.
   • Do not broadcast names, pictures, or details of victims of sexual assault or child abuse.

5. Sex & Nudity

   • Do not show nudity without morphing.
   • Do not broadcast explicit sexual acts, rape, molestation, pornography, or sexually suggestive language.
   • Aim is not moral policing, but preventing explicit or regressive visuals.

6. Privacy

   • Avoid intruding into private lives unless justified by larger public interest.
   • Intrusion must not be for salacious interest.
   • For minors, seek parental/guardian consent where possible.
   • Privacy defense cannot deny legitimate access to public-interest information.

7. National Security

   • Use official maps/terminology as mandated by law.
   • Do not broadcast content encouraging secessionism or revealing sensitive information that endangers security.
   • Reporting breaches or loopholes in security is allowed in public interest.

8. Superstition & Occultism

   • Do not glorify or present superstition/occultism as fact.
   • Broadcasts must include disclaimers to prevent misleading viewers.

9. Sting Operations

   • To be used only as a last resort and only for larger public interest.
   • Not to involve sex, sleaze, drugs, violence, or discrimination as tools.
   • Must not misrepresent or alter footage.
   • Should provide conclusive evidence of wrongdoing.

10. Corrigendum

• Significant mistakes must be acknowledged and corrected on air immediately.
• Corrections must attract viewer attention, not be concealed.

11. Viewer Feedback

• All channels must provide for viewer feedback on their websites.
• Must respond fairly to complaints and acknowledge mistakes if found valid.

Conclusion – Upholding Trust and Strengthening Democracy

The Code of Ethics & Broadcasting Standards issued by the NBDA represents a vital commitment by the news media to self-governance and ethical practice. Born out of the constitutional guarantee of free speech and the essential role of electronic media in a diverse democracy, this framework serves to balance press freedom with public accountability. By adhering to fundamental principles like truth-seeking, impartiality, and integrity, and establishing clear rules across sensitive areas – from ensuring accuracy and neutrality to responsible reporting on crime, national security, and privacy – the NBDA aims to empower journalism with lasting values. Ultimately, this comprehensive set of guidelines is not about external control, but about reinforcing the credibility of news channels. Through robust self-regulation, transparent corrigenda, and effective viewer feedback mechanisms, the media can solidify its role as a trustee of the public, thereby strengthening the democratic process and ensuring citizens remain fully and fairly informed.