I&B Ministry Mandates Timestamps on Disaster Footage

On August 12, 2024, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting directed private news channels to include date and timestamp on visuals of disasters and major accidents.

The advisory aims to prevent confusion and panic by ensuring viewers are aware of when footage was recorded, given that footage shown days after an incident may not reflect the current ground situation. The directive seeks to enhance transparency and adherence to the Programme Code, following recent extensive media coverage of landslides in Wayanad and Himachal Pradesh.