Itanagar, Nov 2: The Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) and the Arunachal Press Club (APC) have issued a strong joint condemnation of a media house for its “highly irresponsible and unethical act” of conducting and publishing an interview video involving a child victim related to the recent alleged child abuse incident in Mebo, East Siang district.
The media organizations stated that such coverage is a "blatant violation of journalistic ethics, child protection laws, and media guidelines" which strictly prohibit exposing the identity or involvement of minors in sensitive cases, particularly those concerning sexual or physical abuse.
Both the APUWJ and APC emphasized that journalism must uphold sensitivity, responsibility, and respect for victims, especially children. They stressed that the "exploitation of a child’s trauma for public content or sensationalism is unacceptable" and damages the credibility of the entire media fraternity.
The organizations urged all media houses, journalists, and digital content creators to strictly comply with the Press Council of India (PCI) guidelines and the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, which clearly mandate the protection of a minor’s identity and privacy in such cases.
“Responsible journalism is not only about informing the public but also about safeguarding the dignity and rights of those involved,” the organizations jointly reiterated.