Display press IDs, avoid confrontations: PCI issues guidelines for journalists covering protests after Delhi detentions

Several journalists covering protests in Delhi were detained even after displaying press identification cards, according to videos circulated on social media. The detentions happened during demonstrations called by the Cockroach Janta Party, when more than 200 protesters were also detained. The episode raised concerns about journalists’ safety and their ability to report from public gatherings.

The Press Council of India responded by adopting Guidelines for Journalists Covering Protests and Demonstrations on October 15. The guidelines ask journalists to carry visible identification, identify themselves calmly, follow lawful safety instructions, and avoid confrontations. They also recommend emergency kits, exit planning, first-aid knowledge, and coordination with police and media organisations.

The guidelines aim to protect journalists while preserving responsible, independent coverage. They stress accuracy, balanced reporting, equal scrutiny of competing claims, and caution around live information that could endanger people. News organisations must also track reporters and coordinate assistance during emergencies.

The Press Council of India, or PCI, is India’s statutory, autonomous press oversight body, established under the Press Council Act, 1978. Its role is to preserve press freedom while maintaining and improving standards in newspapers and news agencies. It can consider complaints about journalistic conduct and issues affecting the press, although it does not control every news organisation.

In this article, the PCI adopted Guidelines for Journalists Covering Protests and Demonstrations. The guidance covers identification, personal safety, emergency preparation, coordination with police, and accurate reporting. It asks journalists to distinguish verified information from allegations and unconfirmed claims, and to examine statements from protesters, police, organisers, and authorities with equal scrutiny.

The Council’s role matters because protests can change quickly and create risks for both reporters and the public. Its recommendations do not replace independent journalism. Instead, they provide a framework for journalists to work safely while reporting impartially and for media organisations and law enforcement agencies to coordinate more effectively.

The demonstrations took place in Delhi on October 11 and involved more than 200 detained protesters. They had raised slogans and marched towards Jantar Mantar. Heavy security was deployed across the national capital, and videos showed demonstrators being dragged into police buses. The scale of the detention operation created a difficult environment for everyone covering or participating in the protest.

The article does not give a precise number of detained journalists. It says several journalists were detained while reporting, even though videos showed some presenting press cards to police personnel. This distinction matters because “several” indicates more than one but does not establish a verified total.

The figures therefore show a large protest response but an incomplete count for journalists. The PCI’s later guidelines address this uncertainty by requiring visible identification, newsroom contact systems, safety planning, and cooperation with police. They also emphasise accurate reporting, so claims about arrests or detentions should be checked and clearly attributed.

The PCI’s safety advice focuses on preparation, awareness, and movement. Journalists should keep identification visible, stay alert to crowd behaviour, avoid confrontations, and identify exit routes before conditions worsen. They should update escape plans as tensions, noise, or crowd movement change. In dense gatherings, short steps can reduce the risk of falling or being trampled.

The guidance also recommends a small emergency kit with first-aid supplies, water, snacks, a flashlight, a washcloth, and eye protection. Protective helmets and body armour may be appropriate for particular risks. Journalists should know basic first aid, avoid handling tear-gas canisters and other devices, and use visible landmarks to leave areas affected by smoke or tear gas.

Practical coordination is another safeguard. News organisations should appoint someone to track reporters and arrange help during emergencies. Freelancers should share their location, coverage plan, and expected return time with a trusted contact. These measures put safety before exclusive footage or live-broadcast pressure.

The PCI’s guidance separates safety compliance from editorial independence. Journalists should follow lawful police instructions, especially those meant to protect people, while maintaining an impartial approach. Compliance with an evacuation order or movement restriction does not require accepting a police account as true. It means responding to a lawful safety measure while continuing responsible reporting.

For example, a journalist should calmly identify themselves to police, avoid provoking a confrontation, and leave a dangerous zone if instructed. Later, the journalist should cross-check statements from protesters, organisers, police, and government authorities. The report should distinguish verified information, allegations, and unconfirmed claims, with each claim properly attributed.

This balance protects both people and journalism. The guidelines say journalists should describe what they witness rather than speculate about intentions. They also caution against sharing operational details that could create danger. Independent reporting therefore continues through careful verification, equal scrutiny, and clear explanation of what is known and unknown.

Real-time information can change the risks inside a protest. Publishing the location of police units may reveal where force is concentrated or where movement is being restricted. Broadcasting escape routes may also draw large numbers of people toward a narrow or unsafe passage. In a fast-moving crowd, information that appears helpful can quickly become outdated or create a new bottleneck.

The PCI’s guidelines specifically caution against sharing police deployment details or escape routes when doing so could put people at risk. They instead ask journalists to remain aware of changing conditions and keep updating their own escape plans. In smoke or tear gas, reporters should use visible landmarks to find safe routes out and avoid moving deeper into the crowd.

This is a safety limit, not a general ban on reporting police activity. Journalists should still describe what they witness, verify claims, and attribute information clearly. The key is timing and potential harm: operational details may be reported later or with care when immediate publication could endanger protesters, bystanders, or media workers.

Independent reporting matters most when protesters, police, and authorities present different accounts. It gives the public a way to examine what happened rather than relying solely on the most powerful or loudest voice. Press freedom also allows journalists to question official claims and document the experiences of protesters, bystanders, and injured people. This supports informed public debate during conflict.

The PCI’s guidance identifies the practical method. Journalists should cross-check information with multiple sources and examine statements from protesters, organisers, police, and government authorities with equal scrutiny. They should clearly separate verified information, allegations, and unconfirmed claims. They should also describe what they witnessed instead of guessing about people’s intentions.

Independent does not mean reckless or partisan. Journalists must protect their safety, avoid provoking confrontations, and avoid publishing operational details that could put people at risk. When reporting remains accurate, balanced, and impartial, it can preserve public accountability while reducing confusion during tense demonstrations.