Seven ways to make sting operations work again

The number of scams reported by media in the last year or so may have gone up but the number of stings has come down. Instead of hidden cameras the media is now relying more on the Right to Information Act (RTI) to break stories.

In this, it is assisted by RTI activists who diligently dredge information out of government files, and pass them on to the media. The Pranab Mukherjee-Chidambaram face off was the result of one such RTI "sting". The reporters too have started using this weapon to obtain facts that were earlier walled up by the officials.

In fact, this single act of Parliament has given more legal teeth to media than it ever had. The media does not have to violate the country's laws by deploying undercover reporters to obtain information by questionable means. It can now demand the same information legally, and get it.

But this does not mean that the media should discard "sting operations". They are still a very powerful weapon in the media armoury, and should be used to get stories that cannot be obtained otherwise. A good example of such a sting was the Tehelka story on defence purchases.

There was virtually no other way to show how money changes hands in defence deals. Of course, some of the tactics employed by Tehelka, especially the use of call girls, were questionable and it took some of the sheen off the sting.

But what gave stings a real bad name was the framing of a Delhi school teacher by two reporters. It cast a huge shadow on the working of media, and the need for stings.

The media has come out of that shadow but it needs to lay down clear guidelines on sting operations if it wants stings to be accepted as a legitimate form of investigative journalism. These should include:

Public interest: The editor should be convinced that the sting is in public interest, and that there is no other way to conclusively establish the complicity of individuals or organisations in acts that are damaging or hurtful to the nation. Ideally, the editor should involve senior editors in arriving at this decision. This way the editor will ensure that no hasty decisions are taken, but the sting is authorized after a careful study.

Proper monitoring: A committee of two or three senior editors should carefully monitor the progress of the sting. These editors should not only lay down the guidelines as to what the reporters can do to obtain information, but should ensure that these guidelines are adhered to. The organizations should also consider drawing up a code of conduct, and making it mandatory for their reporters to follow it. The sting should be called off, if at any stage it is felt that the reporters are transgressing the laws of the country.

Clear ban on inducement: The reporters should not bribe or try to bribe officials or politicians and then capture them on camera. The tactics used should be fair and above board. There should be no entrapment in the name of getting a story.

Maintain independence: The sting operation should not be influenced by a third party, which may happen to have a vested interest in the outcome of the sting. It must be conducted on the basis of information obtained independently. There should be complete objectivity, and all decisions must be based on the merit of the story.

Share methodology: The report when published or telecast must include the methods employed by the reporters to conduct the sting. The audience must also be educated as to why the sting was conducted, and the safeguards that were put in place to avoid reporters breaking the law. This will increase the credibility of the media, and give more respect to stings.

Don't forget the other side: A good practice will be to provide an opportunity to the individual or organization against whom the sting has been conducted to give its point of view. This will make the sting more fair and balanced.

Stick to facts: There should be no attempt to sensationalise the findings. The report should stick to facts, and should use documents or images obtained during the sting to establish the story.
Such an approach will restore the faith of the common man in stings, and also give the media an extra tool to expose corruption and any acts of wrongdoing in and outside the government.

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This is a weekly column looking at news coverage in India. The author Sunil Saxena is a career journalist and author with over three decades of experience in Print, New Media, Social Media, Mobile Journalism, Media Education and Media Research. He also writes a media blog that can be accessed at www.easymedia.in