What we need is not a law to put in place tight norms of media coverage of insurgency and terror-related operations, as propounded by Mr Arun Jaitley, finance and information and broadcasting minister, but a consensus evolved among the media, on its own, by including the widest range possible of media organisations, to draw up a plan that does not give away anything to terrorists while reporting live anti-terror operations.
The 26/11 attack on Mumbai was a first-of-its-kind experience and television channels may have erred in going overboard in their 24-hour coverage. Even 9/11 was an event entailing only post-devastation coverage as the aircraft had done the damage and perished along with the World Trade Center. The media does not, and should not, welcome government interference, but it can take the well-meaning advice behind the thought that terrorists should not be aided by blanket media coverage, as was the case so noticeably during the 26/11 attack.
It is in the national interest not to endanger citizens in one-upmanship battles between news channels; their right to life far greater than the right of the media to inform the public. Mr Jaitley, in a previous avatar as minister, was the advocate of arresting under Pota provisions those journalists with contacts in terror or militant organisations. Luckily, reason prevailed.
