What to show and not to show.

http://images.salon.com/ent/tv/feature/2003/04/08/stewart/story.jpg


Just a while back, I read this article on "what not to show on TV", amendments made by the News Broadcasters Association of India stating the guidelines for news channels. They are as follows:

The channels can have no live phone interviews with the terrorists

Or show any live interviews with the victims or security personnel, while the security operation is still going on

Also, the channels cannot show any footage that hinders the operation by security agencies in any way

No mention should be made of the identity, number and status of hostages, in an ongoing hostage situation

Any file footage that is aired must have a date and time clearly indicating when the footage was shot

Since I myself am pretty confused about these points that have been stated, as this is exactly what happens on every news channel, I think that most news channels might not have anything to show at all. For example; one point states that, there will be no live interviews broadcasted with the victims or their families. Is that really going to happen?

Another one states that, no information about the conditions of the hostages will be revealed. Are people really going to take that. Families might have their members held at an incident, is it fair not to inform them about their state?

I fail to understand as to what is really happening in a country which gained its freedom sixty one years back. There still are people who cannot afford three meals a day, they lack the basic amenities of life, many live in fear of terrorists, a girl cannot walk alone on a road in the night. Where is this heading? In an age when freedom is everything, India does not enjoy. One does not know who to blame. Is it the politicians who refuse to do anything in the interest of the nation as they are too busy fighting amongst their own selves, or is it us who have voted and elected them as our leaders? At the end of the day, like any other, it's just a blame game.