“Impartial Reporting” is a new concept. Many journalists consider this as their religion. But some journalists are often compelled by TV Channel Owners to broadcast BIASED reporting, particularly at times of election. Lot of Biased TV Reporting is bound to happen between 2012 to 2014. Do people have any remedy against such biased TV REPORTING?
My answer is: Yes. They have remedy. After going to Broadcasting Authority of India, they can also go to High Court and Supreme Court
THE PROCESS
You will find a lot of information on website of Broadcasting Authority. You will also find a number of decisions where actions have been taken on various grounds against TV Channels like Times Now, AajTak, Sakhi TV etc.
Time Limit
Within 7 Days of TV Broadcast, you must complain to Channel at their given address on the Website for such complaints. You have to give 7 days time to respond. Thereafter, within 14 days, complaint has to be presented in Office of Authority.
Who Can File Complaint?
Website says,”Aggrieved Person” can file complaint. In my view, when complaint is about “Impartiality” of a TV Channel or Programme, every viewer is an “aggrieved person” and every viewer can file complaint. The Authority has taken even SUO MOTU (On its own) complaints. So this should not be a problem. But you must write in your complaint that you are an “Aggrieved Person” and should show how and why you are aggrieved.
Is There Any Hope That The Authority will Take Action against Mega Channels?
People are very depressed. They are losing faith in every system. But here, on this website, decisions are reported that actions have been taken against mega channels. So one must have faith. Secondly, you can go to High Court and Supreme Court with better chances to succeed, if you have first approached this Authority. Thirdly, Chairman of Authority is Former Chief Justice Of India J.S.Verma. So the authority inspires confidence.
How To Prove “Impartiality”?
First understand how they do “Biased Reporting” which is more in favour of One Party and more against Second Party.
They select tit-bits of true information from here and there and present in such a way that overall information projection is Biased and Unfair to one party.
You can also do the same thing. Collect tit-bits of true broadcasts by Channel and present them in such a way that “In Overall View of matter, it looks that the Channel is Biased and Impartial. Then let the Authority decide.
This is only a short article. You need to go to and study website of Authority, when you are serious about filing complaint.
Haresh Raichura
11th May,2012
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