The Hindu : Press Council takes paper to task

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 31, 2003

National

National

Press Council takes paper to task

NEW DELHI JAN. 30. Taking to task The Telegraph newspaper for showing the bare back of a woman, the Press Council of India today asked the media to ``realise'' its responsibilities in curbing commercial exploitation of women.

The Council, which initiated a suo motu inquiry, following the publication of the photo along with an article captioned `Desperately Seeking Susy', noted that the impugned picture had no relevance whatsoever to the write-up and ``its primary aim appeared to be attracting the attention of the readers''.

The Telegraph, in its written arguments, had said that the article and photograph were published on the basis of the discovery of ``Super Symmetry''...most beautiful theory of particle physics to substantiate the caption of the article ``Physicists have laid beauty bare'' and, ``if read together, the article would not be construed to be obscene.''

The Council felt that the ``media has to realise its responsibilities in curbing commercial exploitation of women which is most evident in the advertisement sector".

``The editorial staff did not pay adequate attention to the responsibility of the press to the society at large.''

While ``admonishing'' the paper for the lapse, the Council expressed confidence that it would exhibit more caution in future.

The Council also ``warned'' Vijetha, a Telugu newspaper, for ``misusing its columns in clear violation of all tenets of journalism and ethical conduct for publishing false, fabricated, motivated and defamatory news items'' against a Hyderabad-based firm, a competitor of the paper's sister firm. — PTI

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National