Mumbai: The New entrant and the dominant player in the English News Broadcasting space, RepublicTV, had taken the initiative to clean up the practices prevailing in News Broadcasters Association (NBA). The channel had submitted a letter of representation for democratic and inclusive reforms in the prevailing practices of body that represents the News Channels across India.
In its letter dated 15th September 2017, addressed to the Secretary General of NBA, Ms Annie Joseph, RepublicTV has pointed out the fact that the prevailing practices of NBA in various aspects are undemocratic and called for a collective brainstorming to address and find solutions to meet out various concerns of News Broadcasters in the country.
The letter also highlighted that the existing set of governing practices allowed by the charter document, vitiates the spirit of a collective brainstorming and an inclusive arrangement and requested for steps be taken to remove any kind of permanence in nominations and board positions and demanded adaptation of democratic and inclusive process to ensure equal opportunity for each and every member of NBA.
In its letter,RepublicTV contested that the preferential status assured to 7 permanent members of NBA as undemocratic and unjustified. It also termed the power of board to induct 2 permanent directors with the affirmative vote of all the permanent directors and the rule mandating 6 months Membership eligibility to nominate a representative for board election as arbitrary in nature and asked scrapping the same with immediate effect.
It also vehemently opposed the undemocratic practice of electing the office bearers and president of NBA through a process of consensus among permanent members.
RepublicTV became the member of NBA on 16th August 2017 and its call for change is due to the fact that the prevailing set of rules are feudalin nature and it literally doesn’t give any representation powers to a new member irrespective of its reach, Market Share and popularity among the audience.
