Media commission says callers must be told when conversations are broadcast live
STELCO employee who answered the call was subsequently suspended over remarks made during the conversation.
The Media Commission said on Sunday that broadcasters must inform people when their telephone conversations are being aired live and establish that they do not object to the broadcast.
The statement followed a Raajje TV programme in which a call to the State Electric Company’s (STELCO) human resources department was broadcast. The employee who answered the call was subsequently suspended over remarks made during the conversation.
During Thursday’s live programme, Raajje TV’s head of programmes and coordination, Aamir Saleem, called the department’s landline. He also showed the number to the camera to confirm which line he had dialled.
Aamir asked where he should send a screenshot from the Elections Commission portal showing that he had joined a political party.
“Just to the STELCO HR number. You would have received a message from that number earlier, wouldn’t you?” the employee replied.
When Aamir asked again whether he should send the image showing his party membership on the portal, the employee answered: “Yes.”
In its statement, the Media Commission urged media organisations, journalists and other media workers to comply with laws, regulations, ethical standards and professional requirements when broadcasting telephone calls, interviews and live programmes.
It said broadcasters must establish that anyone answering a call has no objection to the conversation being aired. If the call is broadcast live, the person must be clearly informed.
The commission said the framework governing media ethics required information to be gathered in the public interest, used only for the purpose for which it was obtained and checked for accuracy. It also required the protection of personal information and sources, including their confidentiality.
Professional responsibilities applied to interviews, recordings and the collection and use of information, the commission said. Broadcasters must also follow standards on consent, privacy, dignity and fair treatment.
It called for particular care when handling recordings or information obtained without a person’s knowledge or permission, and urged all media outlets to help protect individuals’ privacy, dignity and rights.
