Terrorist blackout

IN Media Watch Briefs | 30/07/2016

Several French news organisations, including the daily Le Monde, Catholic newspaper La Croix and television station BFM-TV, have decided not to carry pictures of those responsible for terror attacks in order to avoid “the potential effects of posthumous glorification”. Le Monde took the decision after the terror attack in Nice on July 14 killed 84 people. However, there are sections in the French media which feel that this self-censorship is neither justified nor desirable. Michel Field, executive director of news, France Télévisions, issued a statement saying that it would continue to publish photos of the perpetrators of terrorism. “Our duty is to inform, it’s the right of citizens to be informed,” the statement said. In a country that has been brought to its knees by deadly terrorist strikes in recent months, this debate will clearly not go away anytime soon.

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Amazon resisting voluntary censorship

The new term for self censorship is voluntary censorship, as proposed by companies like Netflix and Hotstar. ET reports that streaming video service Amazon Prime is opposing a move by its peers to adopt a voluntary censorship code in anticipation of the Indian government coming up with its own rules. Amazon is resisting because it fears that it may alienate paying subscribers.

Let the games begin

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