Noticeable bias of news coverage in Manipur violence, adhere to journalism norms: Editors Guild of India

New Delhi: The Editors Guild of India issued a statement on Friday that it has been watching and reading with great concern the coverage of the Manipur violence by sections of the media, including local, regional, and national.

“It is a matter of regret that instead of objective and fact based reporting, there is a noticeable bias in the coverage that is contributing to divisiveness and violence,” cautioned EGi.

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Reminding the basic tenets to be followed in reporting conflict, stating that the media plays an extremely important role in such sensitive situations, EGI calls all journalists and media houses to exercise all professional standards of journalism in the coverage of this conflict tearing apart the state.

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“Coverage should avoid inciting conflict, hatred or enmity while bringing out all details of the violence and the situation on the ground. Provocative language has to be shunned and peace efforts supported. The basic tenets of good journalism have to be followed as it is imperative for the fourth pillar of democracy to end the violence and usher in peace through honest, restrained, ethical coverage,” Editors Guild of India added.

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EGi expects all editors and news rooms, as well as reporters to adhere to the following accepted norms of journalism in these difficult times:

• Report facts, not rumours. Check and cross check

• Do not become part of information wars

• Do not take sides, report factually

• Do not contribute to proliferation or escalation of the conflict

• Do not call for violence

• Avoid victimising language such as “devastated, defenceless’ or demonising adjectives such as brutal, vicious, barbaric

• Avoid using stereotypes, do not build images of the ‘enemy’

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