With the passing of Justice Verma we have lost one of the greatest of our jurists and a firm friend of responsible media. The NBSA was truly fortunate to have him as its first chair, says NITIN DESAI

A robust methodology would ensure the reliability of the ratings provided by the rating agencies whereas a poor methodology would distort the measurement results, adversely affecting the sector as a whole. TRAI now tackles TV audience rating methodology.

Prasar Bharati has become an end in itself, though not all good things need to be done by a government-created vehicle. Meanwhile a vast population's information needs are not met, says SEVANTI NINAN

Both self-regulation and the I and B ministry's Inter Ministerial Committee for broadcasting complaints have proved to be a farce. EDARA GOPI CHAND cites information obtained through RTI to prove his point.

Journalists will be competent and incompetent, rascals and angels, regardless of which institutions they come out of. A HOOT comment. Pix: Markandey Katju

The regulator is not giving up in its efforts to push regulation of cross media holdings. Excerpts from its latest consultation paper. Pix- Rahul Khullar, Chairman, TRAI

What breaches “law and order” would not necessarily affect society or a particular community as a whole. SAURAV DATTA revisits what courts have said about ‘reasonable restrictions.'

TV channels had a field day attacking conservative comments on rape, women's dress and behaviour. R JAGADEESWARA RAO thinks they went a bit overboard with an eye on ratings instead of sticking to reasoned debate.

The regulator wants to keep government out of the business of TV broadcasting and distribution. PADMAJA SHAW asks what damage state-run channels can do that the private channels are not already doing.

Recent instances of impropriety in the Indian press make it useful to study how the British inquiry into the ethics and practices of the fourth estate can apply to the Indian scenario, says ARADHANA SHARMA Pix: Lord Justice Leveson