The first of its kind, the much hyped Abhishek – Aiswarya’s off spring gets the honours of getting the entire media tight lipped and to follow a preset guidelines if they have to wag their tongues at all. The internal memo dated 05 November 2011 was circulated to the media.
Days before the delivery of the first child of Aishwarya, due later this week, the Broadcast Editors Association (BEA) has issued a 10-point-guideline for responsible coverage without hurting any sentiments of any body. It was rather a surprising act of restraint by the BEA, hoping to avert the inevitable media circus around celebrities in India. The channels have also been directed to not run astrology shows or any show related to the date 11.11.11 related to the birth. "This is not the first time that we have ensured responsible coverage. After the tragic death of cricketer Mohammed Azharuddin's son we ensured that all TV crews leave the spot after only fifteen minutes as it was a happening in the private domain," said N K Singh, the General Secretary of BEA.
The preset Ten Commandments are as follows:
•No pre-coverage of the event.
•Story of birth of the baby to be run only after, and on basis of, official announcement.
•Story not to run on breaking news band.
•No camera or OB vans at hospital or any other location related to the story.
•Go for photo-op or press conference if invited.
•Do not carry any MMS or photo of the child.
•No astrology show to be done on this issue.
•No 11.11.11 astro show to be done.
•The duration of story to be around a minute/ninety seconds.
•Unauthorized entry into hospital not permitted.
Bollywood celebrity couples are expecting to have their first child in November, and the Indian media has followed AIswarya’s pregnancy obsessively ever since father-in-law and actor Amitabh Bachchan announced it in June. Incidentally the new chairman of the Press Council, a quasi-judicial body which acts as a press watchdog, recently criticized the media, saying it was acting against the interests of the people. May be by this step atleast the embarrassment faced by the mother to be will be eliminated. After all Aiswarya is also a normal human being, like any one of us, in these circumstances.
