No intent to control TV news content: govt

The government today said it had at no point intended to control content of news on television channels and favoured self-regulation by media houses in live coverage of sensitive incidents.

"There is no intention to control content of news. At no point government contemplated such a move," Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Anand Sharma told the Lok Sabha during the Question Hour.

Sharma said there was no question on a blanket ban on the live coverage of sensitive incidents and self-regulation was the best option the telecast of such events.

He said in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attacks, government has held several rounds of meetings with representatives of the News Broadcasters Association (NBA), the Indian Broadcasters Federation (IBF), security agencies and defence forces.

Sharma said the NBA has drafted self-regulatory code of ethics and put in place emergency protocol to be followed during coverage of sensitive incidents.

A grievance redressal mechanism has also been put in place for redressing complaints relating to broadcast of such incidents, he said.

"The government has given a commitment that any initiative involving guidelines for electronic media would be taken only after the widest possible consultations with all concerned stakeholders," Sharma said.