PCI issues protest coverage guidelines, cautions against airing sensitive police movements
New Delhi, Oct 16 (UNI) The Press Council of India (PCI) has issued guidelines for journalists covering protests and demonstrations, urging them to maintain professional neutrality, follow lawful police instructions and avoid disclosing real-time police positions or tactical movements when doing so could compromise safety or operational security.
The guidelines, adopted at the Council's meeting on October 14 and released on October 15, set out measures for journalists and news organisations to ensure safe, accurate and responsible coverage of potentially volatile public gatherings. The Council said the guidelines were framed in view of the prevailing situation and the need to facilitate orderly and effective coverage of protests while protecting media personnel and improving coordination with law enforcement agencies.
According to the Council, the guidelines seek to facilitate the effective discharge of journalistic duties while promoting the safety of media personnel, responsible reporting and better coordination among journalists, media organisations and law enforcement authorities. Under the guidelines, journalists have been advised to carry valid identity cards issued by their media organisations or newspapers, or valid accreditation from the Press Information Bureau (PIB) or Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIP), as applicable. Journalists should keep their press identification cards visibly displayed throughout assignments. Those using lanyards have been advised to ensure that they are securely worn to minimise the risk of entanglement during crowd movements or confrontations.
The Council has emphasised that journalists must maintain neutrality and professionalism while covering protests. They have been advised not to participate in demonstrations, take sides, provoke confrontations or interfere with protesters, counter-protesters or police personnel. Journalists should identify themselves clearly and calmly when approached by law enforcement personnel. The guidelines further advise media personnel to remain respectful, avoid arguments during tense situations and comply with lawful police instructions, particularly those issued for immediate safety reasons, while calmly asserting their press status whenever necessary.
The Council has advised journalists to maintain a reasonable and safe distance from confrontations, particularly when tensions escalate or police action is anticipated. It has cautioned journalists against attaching cameras or recording equipment to police barricades, vehicles or other equipment in ways that could obstruct movement or damage property. Journalists have also been advised to move carefully through crowds, taking short steps to reduce the risk of falling or being trampled. The guidelines call for continuous reassessment of journalists' positions in relation to protesters, counter-protesters, police personnel and other potential sources of danger.
The Council has placed considerable emphasis on situational awareness during protest coverage. Journalists have been advised to continuously monitor their surroundings for changes in crowd behaviour, approaching individuals, potential confrontations, unusual crowd noises and emerging hazards. The guidelines recommend that reporters identify escape routes before entering crowded locations and update those routes as conditions change.
They should remain aware of nearby exits, open streets, sidewalks and other safe locations that could provide shelter or facilitate evacuation. In situations involving smoke or tear gas, journalists have been advised to use visible landmarks and safe routes to leave affected areas without moving deeper into crowds. The Council has recommended that journalists covering demonstrations carry compact emergency kits containing basic first-aid supplies, essential personal medication, drinking water, high-protein snacks, a flashlight, a washcloth or hand towel and protective eyewear or goggles. Depending on the assessed threat, journalists should consider suitable protective headgear and body armour.
However, the guidelines caution that protective equipment should not encourage unnecessary risk-taking. Media personnel have also been advised to learn basic first aid and practise using protective equipment before deployment. The Council has specifically warned journalists against touching, picking up or attempting to move tear-gas canisters, flash-bang devices or smoke grenades. Such devices may remain hot, explode or contain hazardous residue, posing serious risks to those handling them. In a significant emphasis on newsroom responsibility, the Council has advised journalists to maintain regular contact with their editorial offices throughout assignments.
Newsrooms should designate a point of contact to monitor journalists' locations and respond to emergencies. Freelance journalists have been advised to ensure that a trusted editor or contact knows their location, assignment plan and expected return time. The guidelines also encourage journalists to look out for colleagues, particularly those working alone, and maintain communication with fellow media personnel whenever feasible. For planned demonstrations, media organisations should coordinate with designated police officers, public information officers or press liaison personnel wherever possible. Such coordination should help clarify communication procedures and identify designated media staging areas.
The Council has advised journalists against broadcasting or publishing real-time police positions, tactical movements or escape routes when such disclosures could compromise safety or operational security. The provision is specifically linked to potential security risks and does not amount to a blanket prohibition on reporting police activities. The guidelines also emphasise the importance of accuracy, objectivity and impartiality in reporting protests and demonstrations. Journalists have been advised to clearly distinguish verified facts from allegations, opinions and unconfirmed claims.
The Council has called for verification of information through multiple sources wherever possible, including assessing witnesses' proximity to events, visibility, reliability and potential biases. Statements made by protesters, event organisers, police and government authorities should be subjected to equal journalistic scrutiny. Claims should be clearly attributed and corroborated wherever possible. Journalists have also been advised to describe observable actions rather than assume individuals' motives, intentions or emotions.
The Council has called for particular care when filming or identifying minors, vulnerable individuals, injured persons and private citizens in distress. Journalists should consider whether publication of identifying information or footage could expose individuals to retaliation, harassment, other harm or violations of privacy. The guidelines also caution against allowing pressure to obtain exclusive footage, fulfil live-broadcast commitments or capture dramatic visuals to override safety considerations. Media personnel have been advised to follow the applicable Norms of Journalistic Conduct relating to accuracy and fairness. The Council has organised the guidelines into six categories: 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 measures address responsibilities at both the individual journalist and newsroom levels, covering preparations before assignments, conduct during demonstrations and editorial decisions involving sensitive information.
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