Media should be careful in reporting terror attacks: Antony

Joining the chorus demanding that the media exercise restraint in covering terror attacks like that in Mumbai Nov 26 last year, Defence Minister A.K. Antony Friday urged the media to be a “little careful” in all aspects.

“During the recent Mumbai terror attacks, the armed forces had to work under extreme pressure. On such occasions, it will be of help if the media performs its role without endangering national security and is a little careful while reporting the events,” Antony said while speaking at the centenary celebrations of the armed forces journal 'Sainik Samachar' here.

“In such crisis situations (Mumbai terror attack), the defence forces and the security agencies must be allowed to work without exerting any pressure. We must ensure that good work is done without endangering national security,” Antony added.

'Sainik Samachar' had started as 'Fauji Akhbar', an Urdu weekly on Jan 2, 1909. Its aim was to provide army personnel with "a summary of news with a military bias". It was re-christened Sainik Samachar on April 4, 1954.

Unveiling a Coffee Table Book 'Soldiering On...' on the centenary celebrations of Sainik Samachar, Antony called upon the editorial team of the publication not to use the magazine only as a chronicler of prominent events and incidents taking place in the armed forces but also to “reflect the hopes and aspirations of jawans”.

“Through the use of journalistic tools such as analytical articles and features, including photo features in Sainik Samachar, your effort must be to further boost the morale of our jawans,” said Antony.

He also asked them to bring out the magazine both in print and its online version in all the Indian languages.

“This is imperative to broad base the overall reach of the publication to cover all corners of the country. The distribution mechanism of Sainik Samachar may also be further toned up, so that it reaches out to our jawans in the remotest corners of the country and even to those engaged in UN peacekeeping missions,” he said.

The book “Soldiering On…” is an anthology of articles, rare photographs and documents relating to the history of the Indian armed forces, spanning the last 100 years.

Air force chief Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major, army chief General Deepak Kapoor, defence secretary Vijay Singh, Navy's vice chief Vice Admiral R.P. Suthan and Deputy NSA Shekhar Dutt were present on the occasion.