The Hindu : `Press should play role of peacemaker'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 17, 2002

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National

`Press should play role of peacemaker'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI MAY 16. The Press Council of India today decided to send a delegation of its members, headed by the chairman, to Gujarat to take stock of the role of the media in the violence, and appraise the Fourth Estate in the State of its norms for covering such situations.

A resolution to this effect was passed at a meeting of the council here to discuss the role of the media vis-a-vis the Gujarat violence. In its resolution, the Council took the position that "freedom of speech and expression and preservation and protection of national interests are complementary to each other in a democratic society, and promotion of communal harmony and restoration of confidence of one community in the other can be achieved only through combined concerted efforts''. On coverage of the violence, the Council's resolution was: "while accuracy and truthfulness are an established yardstick, such reporting requires a much more mature and sensitive handling. Appreciating the impact of its words and visual representation on susceptible minds at such vulnerable times, the media may make its presentation in a manner that would douse rather than foment passions.

Restoring peace and harmony is the primary task of all citizens, including the media, in such situations.''

In an appeal to the media in general and the local media in particular, the Council said that news, views or comments relating to communal or religious clashes should be published and presented only after verification of facts "with due caution and restraint in a manner which is conducive to the creation of an atmosphere congenial to communal harmony, amity and peace.

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