Manipur Govt Issues Advisory Urging Responsible Media Reporting Amid Law and Order Concerns

The Manipur Home Department has issued a comprehensive advisory to media houses across the state, calling for responsible reporting and strict adherence to established norms of journalistic conduct in light of the prevailing law and order situation.

In its statement, the department emphasized that maintaining public order, communal harmony, and national security remains a top priority. It expressed concern over the circulation of unverified news items, press releases, and announcements attributed to banned or unauthorized organizations, warning that such reporting can spread misinformation, create panic, and potentially trigger unrest among the public.

The advisory lays down a set of guidelines for strict compliance by all media organizations, editors, journalists, and publishers:

• Verification and Due Diligence: Media outlets are required to thoroughly verify the authenticity of information, particularly regarding bandhs, strikes, threats, or directives issued by unrecognized groups. Publication without confirmation from credible or official sources is prohibited.
• Ban on Unauthorized Content: Statements or press releases from banned or unlawful organizations must not be published or promoted. If reported in the public interest, such content must be responsibly contextualized without amplifying or legitimizing these entities.
• No Sensationalism: The department has urged media houses to avoid sensational or provocative headlines and content that could incite fear, unrest, or communal tensions. Reporting should remain balanced, factual, and non-inflammatory.
• Curbing Misinformation: Dissemination of unverified or speculative information likely to create panic is strictly discouraged. Reports on disruptions or threats must not be presented as confirmed without proper authentication.
• No Glorification of Unlawful Acts: Coverage that portrays violence or anti-social elements in a favorable light, including interviews that may glorify such activities, is prohibited.
• Ethical Journalism Standards: Media organizations must uphold accuracy, fairness, and responsibility. Any misuse of media platforms for coercion, extortion, or unlawful dissemination will be treated as serious professional misconduct.
• Role in Public Order: The advisory underscores the responsibility of media as a key stakeholder in maintaining peace and stability, urging reporting that supports communal harmony rather than aggravating tensions.

The department further directed all media organizations to comply with the norms set by the Press Council of India. It warned that violations of these guidelines would invite legal action under applicable laws.

The move comes amid heightened sensitivity in the state, with authorities seeking to ensure that information dissemination contributes to stability rather than unrest.