New Delhi: In a bid to prevent misinformation and panic among viewers, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued a directive to all private satellite TV channels to prominently display a ‘date and time’ stamp on disaster footage.
The advisory comes in response to concerns over the repeated airing of old footage during ongoing disaster coverage. The government has observed that this practice often leads to confusion and unnecessary alarm among the public.
The ministry has emphasized that the timestamp will help viewers differentiate between live footage and older clips. It has also urged TV channels to adhere to the Programme Code while covering such incidents.
ALSO READ: Assam Celebrates Lachit Borphukan with Upcoming 52-Episode TV Series
“We have noticed that continuous coverage of disasters often involves the repeated airing of old footage, which can be misleading,” said a government official. “The timestamp will ensure that viewers are aware of the age of the footage and can better understand the situation.”
The directive has been issued with immediate effect and non-compliance may lead to action against the erring channels.
