Community Radio Pledge (pdf) - amarc

himself are clear examples of it.Public life: Journalism should expose any act of highhandedness comingfrom public figures in the wake of the belief that the same throws up hardshipfor society. This is a big truth. But what should not be forgotten under thecircumstances is journalist himself is a public figure. He is part and parcel ofthe public every now and then. What this means is the wrong act emanatingfrom journalists also throws up hardship for the people. This is the reasonwhy we have to scrutinize whether the item which we are broadcasting canthrow up problems for someone or the other. No act of any journalist shouldend up encroaching on the private domain of any one whatsoever. Societysuffers if that happens.Journalists should draw up line separating public and private life. Publicfigures occupy special place in society, but what is true is we must respecttheir right to lead their private life. Let us moot an issue for further debatehere. A certain minister is a subject of our discussion. We have to differentiatebetween his private and public engagements.Scene One: It is Saturday. The minister drives towards a lodge inGodavari with a woman who is not his relative.Scene Two: Minister is involved in a drinking binge at 8 pm in theevening along with his guard. His official car is waiting outside witha national flag fluttering away. Scene Three: Minister sets off on vacation in private car dressed innational dress with someone in tow.Scene first and second has minister going by his official status. Riding theofficial car and taking the guard along is the amenity extended by the state.On the occasion the minister has gone by his official status never mind thepublic holiday or day off. The situation cannot be conceded as his privateactivity. But the third scene is little different. He has not made use of anyamenities extended to the minister. And he is on leave. This situation shouldbe conceded as his private life. Seen in this light, there are three elementswhich outline the case for personal privacy:Public interest : Any act that affects public interest does not fall in thedomain of the private affairs.Personal behavior : Just in case behavior of any person is of criminal typeor anti-social the same cannot be claimed to be a private affair.Place : Just in case a man makes love to his wife inside his home the samecannot be an issue of public concern. But the same act cannot beconceded as a personal affair if he makes love with his wife ina publicplace. This shows that things committed in public place cannot beissues of private concern at all.53