News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority

Context

• The News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA) has fined the Hindi TV channel News18 India for turning a news debate on hijab into a “communal issue” and not adhering to guidelines.

News Broadcasting & Digital Standards Authority

• About:
  • It  is an independent body set up by the News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA).
  • It serves as a representative of private television news, current affairs and digital broadcasters.
  • It is funded entirely by its members, the NBDA has 26 news and current affairs broadcasters (comprising 119 news and current affairs channels) as its members.
• Composition:
  • A Chairperson, being an eminent jurist;
  • Four eminent persons having special knowledge and/or practical experience in the field of law, education, medicine, science, literature, public administration, consumer affairs, environment, human psychology and/or culture; and
• Functions & Powers:
  • It carries out activities “to promote, protect and secure the interests including the right of freedom of speech and expression of the news broadcasters, digital news media and other related entities.
  • The Authority may initiate proceedings on its own and issue notice or take action in respect to any matter which falls within its regulations. This can also be through complaints referred to the Authority by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting or any other governmental body, or by anyone else via its website .
  • A “two-tier” procedure is in place for redressing grievances, where any person aggrieved by the content of any broadcast is required to first make a complaint to the concerned broadcaster and if they are not satisfied by the redress, a complaint can be filed before the Authority.

Source: IE