CNN-IBN, IBN7 to pay Rs 1 lakh for ‘biased’ report

New Delhi, Dec 23, 2012 [TOI] --- The News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) has imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh and asked two TV channels — CNN-IBN and IBN7 — to apologize for airing "biased, tendentious and factually incorrect" reports on the Haryana government flouting laws to allot land to the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust (RGCT). 

"The reportage is an example of sensationalization with the purpose of promoting and improving the image of the channels, which is unethical journalism," the order said. The NBSA has asked both channels that carried the story on August 1 and August 5, 2011, to telecast an apology. 

In a "censure" for willful violation of the NBSA code of ethics and broadcasting standards, the broadcaster has also been asked to pay a fine of Rs 1 lakh within a week. NBSA is a redressal authority set up by news broadcasters as a form of industry regulator. 

The story aired by the Hindi and English channels, belonging to the TV18 Network, had alleged that the trust had acquired 850 acres of land in Haryana and had sought exemptions regarding this. It has also alleged that there were 65 petitions filed by farmers in the Punjab & Haryana high court against the trust. 

NBSA chairman Justice J S Verma (retired) said in his order that the trust had leased 5 acres and 3 marlas of land from the gram panchayat for 33 years to establish a charitable eye hospital. The order also said that no exemption had been sought by the trust and there was only one petition, not 65, against the trust and it was not about any illegal acquisition of land. 

The NBSA also found that not enough effort had been made by the channels to include the trust's version of the story. "The broadcaster committed egregious violation of the NBA Code of Ethics & Broadcasting Standards, especially guidelines relating to accuracy, impartiality, neutrality, requirement of due diligence and verification of facts prior to telecast, as also the need to carry the version of the person affected," the order said. 

It found the reportage smacking of "clear bias and lack of objectivity". In this context, the NBSA observed that a broadcast has to be judged on the basis of the overall impression, perception and impact that the viewer gets on plain viewing of the broadcast.

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