Despite free media, safety of journalists in India increasingly threatened SECOND HALF 2013 The killing of a television part time stringer while covering confrontations between Hindus and Muslims; a widening debate over regulation of the media caused by the rise of social media; the Indian Digital Media Awards for 2013; the spread of media into rural areas and the continued spread of the Internet all featured in the last six months of 2013 in India. Security In September part-time stringer Rajesh Verma, who worked for TV news channel IBN, was shot in the chest while covering confrontations between Hindu and Muslims in the small city of Muzaffarnagar. Police were still investigating the incident. According to the Indian newspaper The Hindu, 11 journalists were killed in India in 2013. Press, Broadcast The debate over regulation of India’s media continued with no single body, apart from the Press Council, existing to oversee the content and ethics of ownership of the growing media sector, including foreign ownership. The idea of raising the already high cap of 26 percent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the media has been indicated, but not acted upon. The Telecoms Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), in a consultation paper, called for rigorous regulation but this was resisted by Indian media on the grounds of freedom of expression and that self regulation was sufficient to protect the public interest. Misreporting, threats by elites and political interests, bribery for favourable coverage and also linking journalists, media houses and politicians plus sensationalist reporting of health scares and terror attacks are cited as problems within the Indian media. The Press Council is viewed as being inactive and toothless, but its new chairperson, Justice Markandey Katju, has called for greater oversight over electronic media, on and offline. Journalist and critic Geeta Seshu said self regulation may not work in India, citing a “penchant for opting out of codes of conduct or agreements which do not suit their (media company) economic interests.” Internet The number of Indian social media users was expected to grow 17 percent to reach 91 million in urban India by the end of 2013. Increased affordability of smart phones and more cost effective data plans are two major reasons. Facebook is accessed by 96 percent of all social media users. Non-working women are the next emerging demographic with almost 10 percent having access to social media. The 2013 Indian Digital Media Awards acknowledges this growth. Law No major developments during the past six months. Rating is based on archived country reports. - See more at: media-update.org/countries/india/#sthash.gNg0RLRy.dpuf
Posted on: Fri, 05 Sep 2014 17:25:01 +0000
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