Broadcast editors expresses concern over court order against Times Now

NEW DELHI: Members of the Broadcast Editors’ Association re-elected an 11-member Executive Committee including President Shazi Zaman ( Star News), General Secretary NK Singh (Sadhna News), Treasurer Sudhir Chaudhary (Live India), two vice-presidents Arnab Goswami and Pankaj Pachaury at the Annual General Meeting held on Friday.

The members of the Executive Committee include Qamar Vahid Naqvi (Aaj Tak), Ashutosh (IBN-7), Ajit Anjum (News-24), Satish K Singh (Zee News), Vinod Kapri (India TV) and Vinay Tewary (CNN-IBN). The members expressed concern over the court order imposing a fine of Rs 100 crore against Times Now in a defamation case.

The BEA will discuss the matter as it thinks that such an order may have a stifling effect on the right to seek and impart information guaranteed under the Freedom of Expression. The meeting also resolved to organise an international seminar on the role of media in a healthy democracy titled “Shooting the Messenger” in the second week of next month.

The BEA general body also resolved to espouse public issues more vigorously so as to make the Indian electronic media more people-oriented. Treasurer Sudhir Chaudhary presented details of accounts, which were ratified by the general body. The general body meeting , chaired by President Shazi Zaman, also endorsed the decisions taken by the executive body. Mr Naqvi proposed the vote of thanks.