Agencies | New Delhi:
The Press Council of India (PCI) has issued guidelines for journalists covering protests and demonstrations, urging them to maintain objectivity and impartiality, visibly display their press identity cards and comply with lawful police instructions.
Adopted at a council meeting on October 14, the guidelines advise journalists against participating in demonstrations, taking sides or provoking confrontations. They also call on reporters to maintain a safe distance from clashes, remain alert to potential threats and prioritise their personal safety while carrying out their professional duties.
The guidelines come amid concerns over the detention of several journalists covering recent protests in New Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Press bodies had condemned the police action, alleging that some reporters were detained despite displaying their press identity cards and that their mobile phones and reporting equipment were seized.
“In view of the prevailing scenario and the need to facilitate the orderly and effective coverage of protests and demonstrations,” the council said, explaining the rationale behind the guidelines. It added that the measures were intended to promote journalists’ safety, responsible reporting and better coordination with law enforcement agencies.
The PCI has advised journalists to carry identity cards issued by their media organisations or accreditation from the Press Information Bureau or the Department of Information and Public Relations, as applicable, and keep them clearly visible while covering demonstrations.
It has also urged reporters to remain respectful, avoid arguments in tense situations and follow lawful police directions. Journalists should calmly assert their professional status when necessary, the guidelines state.
Emphasising preparedness, the council has advised journalists to monitor changes in crowd behaviour and identify possible escape routes in advance. Depending on the threat assessment, reporters may also carry emergency kits containing first-aid supplies, drinking water, snacks, flashlights, protective goggles, headgear and body armour.
Media organisations have been asked to maintain regular contact with journalists deployed on assignments and designate personnel to track their locations and respond promptly in emergencies.
For planned demonstrations, news organisations should coordinate with designated police officers or press liaison personnel to establish communication protocols and identify suitable media staging areas, the guidelines state.
On professional standards, the PCI has stressed the need to verify information through multiple sources and subject claims made by protesters and government authorities to equal scrutiny. It has also called for caution while identifying minors, injured persons and other vulnerable individuals in news reports.
The guidelines seek to balance journalists’ responsibility to report on public demonstrations with the need to protect their safety, uphold professional standards and facilitate effective communication with law enforcement authorities.
