Television Media to Follow Guidelines on coverage of Aiswarya Bachchan Delivery

An internal memo circulated by the Broadcast Editors' Association to TV journalists lists ten points that will govern their coverage of Aishwarya giving birth to her first child.

Typically, such a story would be great grist for the channels. In the past anything concerning the Bachchans, whether it was Amitabh's illness, the Aiswarya-Abhishek wedding or Aishwarya Rai's Karva Chauth, all generated a great media scrum. But now, in a bid to tone down their celebrity coverage channels have decided upon the following guideline while covering the birth of Amitabh Bachchan's grandchild:

- No pre-coverage of the event.

- Story of the birth of the baby to run only after, and on the basis of, official announcement.

- Story not to run on breaking news band.

- No camera or OB vans at hospital or any other location (like the Bachchans' homes Pratiksha or Jalsa) related to the story.

- Channels will only go for photo-op or press conference if invited.

- Channels will not carry any MMS or photo of the child. We can carry if issued by the family

- No astrology show to be done on this issue.

- No 11.11.11 astro shows to be done.

- The duration of story to be around a minute/ninety seconds.

- Obviously, unauthorized entry into hospital not permitted.

While Amitabh Bachchan in his tweets has expressed ignorance about these rules, it is believed that one of his blog postings of a few days ago forced this rethink in the broadcast media. In his post, dated November 1, Bachchan wrote:

The entire day and afternoon has been spent in laughing among ourselves and ROTF (Rolling On the Floor) on the ridiculous time and attention being given in the electronic media on the birthday of Aishwarya...all of which is completely and entirely made up," before going on to detail his not-so-complimentary thoughts on the media.

Cut to the quick the Broadcast Editors' Association that has over three hundred channels as its members, came up with the above mentioned guidelines. NK Singh, general secretary of the BEA refused to discuss the media move, only saying:

"The main purpose (of the guideline) is to make Indian electronic news media more value-based and purposeful for broader public cause. I cannot respond to your email per se but I can only tell you about the sublime purpose which the BEA is seeking to achieve."

Another broadcaster who did not wish to be named, said with some asperity, "Is this self regulation or censorship? And why only for this story? Isn't it ironic that a move which seeks to curb publicity will find a mention in all the newspapers tomorrow?"

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Being Salman Khan

I know for a fact that those who are staunch critics of Salman Khan wouldn’t appreciate this blog of mine, yet I have decided to pen my thoughts on him – as an actor, a human being and a public personality.



I don’t know him in person and have never even seen him in real life, but I wonder why every time people slam him, I stand tall defending him as if I were related to him. Now does that mean there’s some cosmic connection!

Whatever the reasons maybe, my heart convinces me to believe that he is one of the finest persons on earth with a heart of gold. He might have been projected as brash, headstrong and cranky by media, yet there is something about him that makes his fans go mad about him.

As an actor, he comes across as someone who doesn’t know how to act! Perhaps it comes so naturally to him that his detractors feel he is expressionless or misfi
Salman Khan follows Shah Rukh’s ‘Don 2’!



t to be an actor. But I love the way he portrays his characters on screen, for he makes you forget everything else in the world but him. For me, he is a thorough entertainer who doesn’t work in films to display awards in his drawing room and consider them his prized possessions.

And I do admit that most of his films make no sense, but don’t they take you to a different world altogether! His films are not ‘NRI oriented stories’ or a magnificent piece of art that attains perfections at all levels. He is neither a ‘serial kisser’ nor a diehard romantic. He is what he is - a happy-go-lucky chap. The fact that he is a super entertainer can be ascertained by looking at this year’s Box Office collection.

Now, coming to the series of controversies this hunk has been carrying along for long, he is still fighting a case that holds him guilty of having poached a black buck. He is also held responsible for killing footpath dwellers in the wake of drunk driving.

The culprit must be punished at all cost and no one on earth can escape God’s verdict. But before pointing fingers at others shouldn’t we look at all the misdeeds we have committed in life? So rather being judgmental about someone without knowing what the truth is, one must give the so called accused a benefit of doubt.

No one on earth is a saint and for those who don’t know, Valmiki (one who wrote Ramayana), whom we all know as saint, was once a dacoit. When a hardened criminal can turn into saint, let’s be fair to Salman Khan.

This man has helped many aspiring actresses find a mention among the ‘A’ listers in Bollywood by bringing them under his umbrella. He has played godfather, mentor and guide to them in real and the women who have sought help from him know it for sure and wouldn’t ever deny admitting it.

His NGO `Being Human` lends a helping hand to the impoverished and the underprivileged by raising money through sales of merchandise - the most famous ones being the `Being Human` T-Shirts and watches. This man has been responsible for bringing about smiles on the faces of people who earlier felt hopeless.

His family is a classic example of cosmopolitanism and his upbringing truly humble.

Many find him grumpy and snobbish. He might look like one from outside but from within he is a simpleton and that’s what I believe. For me he is a like a coconut that’s hard to crack, but once you break it open you get its sweet water and tender pulp.

His name alone sells and his presence can draw the biggest of crowds. For me he is a lion-hearted human who loves being the way he is.

And make no mistake; I haven’t been paid to write good things about him as every single word has come straight from the heart.

Here’s wishing Salman Khan a very happy birthday.

(Salman Khan celebrates his birthday on 27th December)

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Hazel Keech - Salman Khan's Upcoming New Bollywood Heroine Picture

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Bollywood Today - Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Arrested for Foreign Currency

***) Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, who was arrested at the Delhi airport for carrying undeclared foreign currency.

***)Director Kabir Khan (director of New York) is coming up with another Bollywood film and has decided to cast Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif in the lead.

***) Priyanka Chopra and Shahid Kapoor have split-up again. The couple has been stopped following each other on the community site Twitter.

***)Aamir Khan is one actor in Bollywood, who has always experimented with his films and always tried new and different things.

***)Director Aanand Rai has shot down reports that, Salman Khan cameo in his upcoming rom-com 'Tanu Weds Manu' has been deleted.

***)According to some reliable sources, Rohit Sippys next film, 'Dum Maro Dum' , is about the drug racket in Goa.

***)Bollywood bombshell, Bipasha Basu , and her beau John Abraham have been seen endorsing various products.

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