Press Council of India issues protest-reporting guidelines on safety, neutrality and ethics

The Press Council of India (PCI) has issued guidelines for journalists covering protests, focusing on personal safety, professional neutrality, ethical reporting and coordination with newsrooms and law enforcement agencies.The statutory and quasi-judicial body, tasked with safeguarding press freedom, released the guidelines on Thursday to “facilitate orderly and effective media coverage of protests” while protecting journalists and promoting responsible reporting.Guidelines Issued Amid Protests In DelhiThe guidelines come against the backdrop of massive protests in Delhi, where tens of thousands of people took to the streets demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the scrapping of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll.Authorities ordered Metro closures and internet shutdowns, imposed prohibitory orders and deployed 40,000 security personnel, turning the national capital into a virtual fortress.Several protesters were dragged, manhandled and detained. On Sunday, at least 12 journalists covering the second day of demonstrations were also detained.Journalists Asked To Maintain Neutrality And Follow Safety ProtocolsThe PCI, whose jurisdiction is limited to print media under the Press Council Act of 1978, has advised journalists to carry valid identity cards issued by their media organisations or accreditation from the Press Information Bureau (PIB) or Directorate of Information and Publicity (DIP).Journalists have been asked to keep their press identification clearly visible while ensuring that identity cards and lanyards are securely fastened to prevent entanglement during crowd movements or confrontations.Emphasising professional neutrality, the council instructed journalists not to participate in demonstrations, take sides, provoke confrontations or interfere with protesters, counterprotesters or police personnel.It also urged media professionals to remain respectful, follow police orders and comply with lawful instructions issued for immediate safety, while calmly asserting their identity as journalists when necessary.PCI Recommends Emergency Kits And Escape PlansThe guidelines advise journalists to maintain a safe distance from confrontations, particularly when tensions rise or police action is expected. They should also avoid attaching cameras or recording equipment to police barricades, vehicles or other equipment if doing so could obstruct movement or cause damage.The council stressed the need for constant situational awareness, careful movement through crowds and advance planning of escape routes.Journalists have been advised to monitor changes in crowd behaviour, identify nearby exits, open streets and safe locations, and adjust their escape plans as conditions evolve.In areas affected by smoke or tear gas, they should rely on visible landmarks and safe routes to leave without moving further into the crowd.The PCI also recommended carrying an emergency kit containing basic first-aid supplies, essential personal medication, drinking water, high-protein snacks, a torch, a washcloth or hand towel, and protective eyewear or goggles.Depending on the level of risk, journalists may consider wearing protective headgear and body armour. The council cautioned them against touching or moving tear-gas canisters, flashbang devices or smoke grenades.37,000 Cannabis Plants Destroyed Across 25 Acres In Sepahijala District During Joint Anti-Drug OperationNewsrooms Urged To Monitor Journalists And Ensure Impartial ReportingThe PCI has asked news organisations to designate a contact person responsible for tracking journalists’ locations and responding to emergencies.Freelance journalists have been advised to keep a trusted editor or contact informed about their whereabouts, assignment plans and expected return time.On reporting standards, the council emphasised accuracy, objectivity and impartiality. It called for verification through multiple sources and equal scrutiny of statements and claims made by protesters, organisers, police and government authorities.Journalists have also been instructed to clearly distinguish verified facts from allegations and opinions, refrain from disclosing sensitive police movements in real time, and protect the privacy of minors, injured people and other vulnerable individuals.

In an advisory for journalists covering protests, police said media personnel should ensure that their presence or activities do not obstruct police operations or movement of law enforcement personnel

The guidelines, adopted days after journalists reported being detained or injured during the October 10 Delhi protests, cover identification, neutrality, personal safety and ethical reporting

Days after an unprecedented number of journalists were detained while covering protests in Delhi, the Press Council of India has issued guidelines for journalists covering demonstrations. The council adopted them at its meeting on Wednesday and made them public on Thursday.They cover six broad areas: identification and professional conduct, positioning and crowd safety, situational awareness and escape planning, personal protective measures and first aid, coordination and communication, and ethical and responsible reporting. The guidelines come days after weekend protests in Delhi, during which journalists were repeatedly obstructed from carrying out their duties, and police questioned many of them on whether they were accredited by the Press Information Bureau. They were also issued on the day the Narendra Modi government told the Supreme Court that it was becoming difficult to distinguish between a ‘reel maker” and an “independent journalist”.The courts are hearing multiple petitions by journalists and press associations over incidents linked to the ongoing protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision exercise.Here are the six areas covered by the council’s guidelines.Identification and professional conduct Journalists should carry a valid identity card issued by their media organisation or newspaper, and/or valid PIB or DIP accreditation, as applicable. The card should be visibly displayed at all times, and anyone using a lanyard should wear it and secure it carefully to reduce the risk of entanglement during crowd movement or confrontations. When approached by law enforcement personnel, journalists should identify themselves clearly and calmly. They are expected to stay neutral and professional, which means not taking part in demonstrations, taking sides, provoking confrontations, or interfering with protesters, counter-protesters or police. They should remain respectful, follow police orders, avoid arguments in tense situations, and comply with lawful instructions, particularly those issued for immediate safety reasons, while calmly asserting their press status when necessary.Positioning and crowd safetyJournalists should keep a reasonable and safe distance from confrontations, particularly when tensions escalate or police action is anticipated. Cameras and recording equipment should not be attached to police barricades, vehicles or other equipment in ways that obstruct movement or damage property. In crowds, journalists should move carefully and take short steps to reduce the risk of falling or being trampled, and they should continuously reassess their position in relation to protesters, counter-protesters, police and other potential sources of danger.Situational awareness and escape planning Journalists should continuously scan their surroundings for changes in crowd behaviour, approaching individuals, potential confrontations, changes in crowd noise, and emerging hazards. They should keep an escape route in mind and update it as conditions change, identifying nearby exits, open streets, sidewalks and safe locations. In smoke or tear gas, they should use visible landmarks and safe routes to leave the affected area without moving deeper into the crowd.Personal protective measures and first aidJournalists should carry a compact emergency kit containing a basic first-aid kit and essential personal medication, drinking water and high-protein snacks, a flashlight, a washcloth or hand towel, and eye protection or goggles. Depending on the assessed threat, they may consider suitable protective headgear and body armour, but such equipment must not encourage unnecessary risk-taking. They should learn basic first aid and practise using protective equipment before deployment. They should never touch, pick up or try to move tear-gas canisters, flash-bang devices or smoke grenades, which may remain hot, explode, or contain hazardous residue.Coordination and communication Journalists should stay in regular contact with their newsroom throughout an assignment, and newsrooms should designate a point of contact to monitor journalists’ locations and respond to emergencies. Freelancers should make sure a trusted editor or contact knows their location, assignment plan and expected return time. Journalists should also look out for fellow journalists, particularly those working alone, and keep in touch with colleagues whenever feasible. For planned demonstrations, media organisations should coordinate with designated police and public information officers or press liaisons where feasible, to clarify communication protocols and identify any designated media staging areas.Ethical and responsible reporting Journalists should report events accurately, objectively and impartially, distinguish verified facts from allegations, opinions and unconfirmed claims, and follow the applicable norms of journalistic conduct on accuracy and fairness, according to the guidelines. They should verify information through multiple sources wherever possible, asking witnesses how they obtained their information and assessing their proximity to the event, visibility, reliability and potential biases. Statements from protesters, event organisers, police and government authorities should get equal journalistic scrutiny, with claims clearly attributed and corroboration sought. Real-time police positions, tactical movements and escape routes should not be broadcast or published when doing so could compromise safety or operational security. Journalists should describe observable actions rather than assume people’s motives, intentions or emotions, and take particular care when filming or identifying minors, vulnerable individuals, injured people and private citizens in distress, considering whether publication could expose them to retaliation, harassment or other harm, or violate their right to privacy. Equipment, live-broadcast commitments and pressure to obtain exclusive footage should not override safety considerations.