The Editors Guild of India has issued a statement on the FIR against Republic TV and its journalists accused in the TRP scam. While reprimanding the channel, the Editors Guild said that the right to expression does not get a license to promote the hate speech. The guild said that the channel behaves responsibly and not compromise the saftey of its journalist. Also, the Editors Guild also said that targeting journalists should be stopped.
In its statement, the Editors Guild said that it is sad to see hundreds of FIRs against Republic TV journalists.
“Arbitrary rule has never been in the interest of working journalists. This dispute between Mumbai Police and TV channel is unprecedented, but it is necessary to maintain a balance between freedom of media and living within the law.”
“Channels Be Responsible”
The Editors Guild also reprimanded Republic TV for reporting on the death case of Sushant Singh Rajput. The guild said that apart from the TRP scam, Republic TV’s conduct during Sushant Singh Rajput’s death also raised issues of media credibility and reporting limitations. The statement also referred to the Bombay High Court’s comment in which the court questioned the channel about reporting Sushant’s death, “Is this part of investigative journalism? Asking people who should be arrested?”
“The time has come for the channel to behave responsibly and not endanger the safety of its journalists, nor harm the credibility of the media.”
The Editors Guild also appealed to the police to ensure that the investigation does not harm journalists, and that the investigation does not become a means to suppress the rights of the media.
Three channels, including Republic, accused in TRP scam
On the evening of 8 October 2020, the Mumbai Police Commissioner told the press conference that some channels have come under scrutiny in the TRP manipulation case. Also, the commissioner also claimed that these people were working to buy TRP by paying money, but the most important was the name of three channels.
In this case, the Mumbai Police Commissioner named three channels, of which the biggest name was Republic TV. Apart from this, Fakt Marathi and Box Cinema were accused of TRP scam.
