Remarks by Vickram Bahl, Editor in
Chief ITMN, at the conference on whether media should report on
terrorist attacks independently as it may compromise the security
forces and their plans :
Sir, in my opinion the issue at
hand is really one of Command Decisions. The heads of both
organisations - the security force as well as the media organisation -
need to take command decisions based on the information available to
them at the time. In case they take a wrong decision, it could lead to
a loss of innocent lives in many cases. For example, if the security
chief decides to storm a hostage situation, his command decision is
based on the information available and his professional training.
However, we must not forget that he is
taking the decision on a balance of probabilities. Similarly, the
decision to transmit on TV a highjack or hostage story ,
especially in the live mode, can compromise an ongoing operation by
feeding sensitive information to the terrorists in case they have a television
tuned in or contact with some ally that does. Understanding the
effects of breaking a story is as important to an editor as
predicting the outcome of a storming is for the security chief.
However, they both have
independent jobs and are both answerable to the law in case of
professional negligence or misconduct. It is not desirable in a
democracy for the security forces to have the electronic media work on
their instructions. That would, in fact, make the security chief the
editor in chief !
In order to retain the fine
balance of a democracy this freedom is vital. However, accountability
is also important and in case of deliberate actions causing loss of
life or breech of national security or even gross negligence, the law
has provisions to bring action against the erring party, be it the
editor or the security chief.
While I am not saying that the
editor should not consult the security chief on ongoing operations if
he feels that his story may jeopardize an operation, I am opposed to
having that consultation as binding on the editor. His actions should
be independent and he should be responsible for them. I feel that the
security forces can be as secretive as they want and that is their
job; getting the news to the public domain is the job of a journalist
and he must do it, responsibly !
We, Sir, as media professionals
need to take these command decisions everyday.
