Days after an unprecedented number of journalists were detained while covering protests in Delhi, the Press Council of India has issued guidelines for journalists covering demonstrations. The council adopted them at its meeting on Wednesday and made them public on Thursday.

They cover six broad areas: identification and professional conduct, positioning and crowd safety, situational awareness and escape planning, personal protective measures and first aid, coordination and communication, and ethical and responsible reporting. 

The guidelines come days after weekend protests in Delhi, during which journalists were repeatedly obstructed from carrying out their duties, and police questioned many of them on whether they were accredited by the Press Information Bureau. They were also issued on the day the Narendra Modi government told the Supreme Court that it was becoming difficult to distinguish between a ‘reel maker” and an “independent journalist”.

The courts are hearing multiple petitions by journalists and press associations over incidents linked to the ongoing protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision exercise.

Here are the six areas covered by the council’s guidelines.

Identification and professional conduct 

Journalists should carry a valid identity card issued by their media organisation or newspaper, and/or valid PIB or DIP accreditation, as applicable. The card should be visibly displayed at all times, and anyone using a lanyard should wear it and secure it carefully to reduce the risk of entanglement during crowd movement or confrontations. When approached by law enforcement personnel, journalists should identify themselves clearly and calmly. 

They are expected to stay neutral and professional, which means not taking part in demonstrations, taking sides, provoking confrontations, or interfering with protesters, counter-protesters or police. They should remain respectful, follow police orders, avoid arguments in tense situations, and comply with lawful instructions, particularly those issued for immediate safety reasons, while calmly asserting their press status when necessary.

Positioning and crowd safety

Journalists should keep a reasonable and safe distance from confrontations, particularly when tensions escalate or police action is anticipated. Cameras and recording equipment should not be attached to police barricades, vehicles or other equipment in ways that obstruct movement or damage property. 

In crowds, journalists should move carefully and take short steps to reduce the risk of falling or being trampled, and they should continuously reassess their position in relation to protesters, counter-protesters, police and other potential sources of danger.

Situational awareness and escape planning 

Journalists should continuously scan their surroundings for changes in crowd behaviour, approaching individuals, potential confrontations, changes in crowd noise, and emerging hazards. 

They should keep an escape route in mind and update it as conditions change, identifying nearby exits, open streets, sidewalks and safe locations. In smoke or tear gas, they should use visible landmarks and safe routes to leave the affected area without moving deeper into the crowd.

Personal protective measures and first aid

Journalists should carry a compact emergency kit containing a basic first-aid kit and essential personal medication, drinking water and high-protein snacks, a flashlight, a washcloth or hand towel, and eye protection or goggles. Depending on the assessed threat, they may consider suitable protective headgear and body armour, but such equipment must not encourage unnecessary risk-taking. 

They should learn basic first aid and practise using protective equipment before deployment. They should never touch, pick up or try to move tear-gas canisters, flash-bang devices or smoke grenades, which may remain hot, explode, or contain hazardous residue.

Coordination and communication 

Journalists should stay in regular contact with their newsroom throughout an assignment, and newsrooms should designate a point of contact to monitor journalists’ locations and respond to emergencies. Freelancers should make sure a trusted editor or contact knows their location, assignment plan and expected return time. 

Journalists should also look out for fellow journalists, particularly those working alone, and keep in touch with colleagues whenever feasible. For planned demonstrations, media organisations should coordinate with designated police and public information officers or press liaisons where feasible, to clarify communication protocols and identify any designated media staging areas.

Ethical and responsible reporting 

Journalists should report events accurately, objectively and impartially, distinguish verified facts from allegations, opinions and unconfirmed claims, and follow the applicable norms of journalistic conduct on accuracy and fairness, according to the guidelines. 

They should verify information through multiple sources wherever possible, asking witnesses how they obtained their information and assessing their proximity to the event, visibility, reliability and potential biases. Statements from protesters, event organisers, police and government authorities should get equal journalistic scrutiny, with claims clearly attributed and corroboration sought. 

Real-time police positions, tactical movements and escape routes should not be broadcast or published when doing so could compromise safety or operational security. 

Journalists should describe observable actions rather than assume people’s motives, intentions or emotions, and take particular care when filming or identifying minors, vulnerable individuals, injured people and private citizens in distress, considering whether publication could expose them to retaliation, harassment or other harm, or violate their right to privacy. 

Equipment, live-broadcast commitments and pressure to obtain exclusive footage should not override safety considerations.