CJI against pervasive media coverage of terror attacks

New Delhi, Nov 21 (PTI) "Pervasive" media coverage of
terror attacks came in for sharp criticism by Chief Justice of
India Justice K G Balakrishnan who said it could provoke a
disproportionate level of anger and irrational desire for
retribution.
A two-day International Conference of Jurists on
Terrorism, which began here Saturday, also witnessed some
drama when the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to India staged a walk
out when former Union Minister Ram Jethmalani accused the
Wahabi sect of being responsible for terrorism.
"While it is fair for the media to criticise the
inadequacies in the security and law enforcement apparatus,
there is also a possibility that the resentment fuelled by
media coverage can turn into an irrational desire for
retribution," Justice Balakrishnan said.
He said one must take note of the fact that the
symbolic impact of terrorist attacks on the minds of ordinary
citizens has also been considerably amplified by pervasive
media coverage.
"The proliferation of 24-hour news channels and the
digital medium has ensured that quite often some disturbing
images and statements reach a wide audience within a short
span of time," the CJI said. (More) PTI