India’s Norms of Journalistic Conduct
Obscenity end vulgarity to be eschewed
29. Newspapers/ journalists shall not publish anything which is obscene, vulgar or offensive to public good taste.
30. Newspapers shall not display advertisements which are vulgar or which, through depiction of a woman in nude or lewd posture, provoke lecherous attention of males as if she herself was a commercial commodity for sale.
31. Whether a picture is obscene or not, is to be judged in relation to three tests; namely
- 1. Is it vulgar and indecent?
2. Is it a piece of mere pornography
3. Is its publication meant merely to make money by titillating the sex feelings of adolescents and among whom it is intended to circulate? In other words, does it constitute an unwholesome exploitation for commercial gain.
Other relevant considerations are whether the picture is relevant to the subject matter of the magazine. That is to say, whether its publication serves any preponderating social or public purpose in relation to art, painting, medicine research or reform of sex.
Violence not to be glorified
32. Newspapers/journalists shall avoid presenting acts of violence armed robberies and terrorise activities in a manner that glorifies the perpetrators’ acts, declarations or death, in the eye’s of the public.
Glorification/ encouragement of social evils to be eschewed
33. Newspapers shall not allow their columns to be misused for writings which have a tendency to encourage or glorify social evils like Sati Pratha or ostentatious celebrations.
Covering communal disputes/ clashes
34. News, views or comments relating to communal or religious disputes/clashes shall be published after proper verification of facts and presented with due caution and restraint in a manner which is conducive to the creation of an atmosphere congenial to communal harmony, amity and peace. Sensational, provocative and alarming headlines are to be avoided. Acts of’ communal violence or vandalism shall be reported in a manner as may not undermine the people’s confidence in the law and order machinery of the State. Giving community-wise figures of the victims of communal riot, or writing about the incident in a style which is likely to inflame passions between the tension, or accentuate the strained relations between the communities/ religious groups concerned, or which has a potential to exacerbate the trouble, shall be avoided.
Headings not to be sensational/ provocative and must justify the matter printed under them
35. In general and particularly in the context of communal disputes or clashes;
- 1. provocative and sensational headlines are to be avoided;
2. Headings must reflect and justify the matter printed under them;
3. Headings containing allegations made in statements should either identify the source making it or at least carry quotation marks.
