No grievances on editorial autonomy, functioning of public broadcasters received in last year: I&B Ministry
New Delhi, August 5
In the last one year, no grievances or formal representations were received from journalists, employees or media bodies concerning autonomy, appointments or editorial functioning of public broadcasters, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting told the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
However, the Ministry said a total of seven complaints regarding appointments were received from the applicants.
The information was provided by the Minister of State (MoS) for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs L Murugan in a written reply to a question asked by parliamentarians Priya Saroj and Pushpendra Saroj in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
The MoS further said Akashvani covers about 98 per cent of the population and about 90 per cent of the area of the country.
He said "DD Free Dish" is receivable anywhere in the country free of subscription charges.
The MoS further said that Prasar Bharati reviews viewership data, audience feedback, and social media analytics, and uses these insights to continuously improve the quality, content, and presentation of its news as part of its regular editorial process.
He also pointed out that the Central government has approved a Central Sector Scheme, namely the Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND) scheme, for development, modernisation and upgradation of broadcasting infrastructure of Prasar Bharati in the country for the years 2021-26.
As per the MoS, the BIND scheme has been extended till March 31, 2027. He said editorial matters are regularly reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief and senior editorial teams.
"When needed, guidance and corrective measures are taken to improve the quality, accuracy, balance, and presentation of news while ensuring compliance with Prasar Bharati's editorial policies and Programme Code. Viewer complaints or feedback, including those related to editorial content, are forwarded to the relevant editorial team for appropriate action as per established policy," he added.
— ANI
Reader Comments
"No grievances" doesn't necessarily mean everything is perfect, does it? Many journalists might not want to file formal complaints fearing consequences. The ministry's response feels a bit too neat. I hope the Editor-in-Chief's review process is as robust as claimed. Just saying... 🤷♀️
Proud of our public broadcasters! DD Free Dish has been a lifeline for millions who can't afford cable or satellite TV. The fact that it's free across the country is truly democratic. Keep up the good work, Prasar Bharati! 🇮🇳
Interesting to see the contrast here. While they say no complaints about editorial autonomy, the seven complaints about appointments do raise some eyebrows. Also, how exactly is "balance" in news measured? Is there a public metric? This could use more clarity.
The BIND scheme is great, but why does it keep getting extended instead of being completed on time? First 2021-26, now 2027. We need proper timelines for infrastructure development. Also, Akashvani covering 98% population is impressive, but let's also focus on content quality, especially for regional audiences! 😊
It's reassuring that viewer feedback is being taken seriously and forwarded to editorial teams. Transparency is key here, and I hope the ministry will publish some of these feedback trends annually. Public broadcasters belong to the people, so their voices should be heard more visibly.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.