Report conflict in West Asia with utmost caution, says Pinarayi Vijayan

In an online meeting with senior editors of media houses on Thursday, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has urged them to exercise utmost caution in reporting news pertaining to the ongoing conflict in West Asia. 

Mr. Vijayan said most families in the State were connected to the Gulf in some way or the other and the media played a key role in calming the sentiments of the people who were worried about their friends or relatives in West Asia. 

“It is a time for the media to exercise restraint and demonstrate a sense of deep responsibility in covering the unfolding crisis as news relating to the conflict could induce fear and anxiety among the relatives of Keralite expatriates. Primacy should be accorded to facts and information received through official channels. Even a small degree of hyperbole or sensationalism would adversely impact the kin of expatriates. It is important to ensure the credibility of information and, under no circumstances, should unverified information or speculation be circulated as news,” he said. 

Reports should not give the impression that all countries in the region were under the threat of war. There should be equanimity in reporting, with the inclusion of opinions by subject experts and veteran diplomats, he said.

Mr. Vijayan urged the media to give utmost importance to the security and safety of the expatriate population. Needless details such as expatriate’s personal information—including his or her place of work, address and the like—were best avoided unless essential. He also urged the media to place added emphasis on security guidelines, other timely announcements and information about emergency numbers at Indian missions, MEA’s assistance centres, NORKA’s services, Kerala government’s help desks and so on.

The media could focus on drawing official attention to expatriates’ problems such as labour issues, travel restrictions, security anxieties and so on. He said the State government would bring the issue of skyrocketing airfare to the attention of the Centre.