Is this the same city for which people say "CITY NEVER SLEEPS". That was the first feeling in my mind when I landed in Mumbai on November 27th morning almost 12 hours after the biggest terrorist attack on Mumbai and India. In the full daylight, the city was sleeping in coma. Normally overcrowded roads had a deserted look. There was hardly anyone walking on footpaths known jostling crowds. But as a TV journalist my worry was different. More than 12 hours were passed, wasn't it too late to reach Mumbai to cover NSG operation against terrorist? My experience of Akshardham terrorist attack coverage reminded me that it was over by 12 hours. But I didn't know at that moment that terrorists from Pakistan will prove everyone wrong including me. 
  
Almost nine days after 26/11 when I narrate this experience to you, I don't see any point to give my diary that what I saw at Taj on the first day and what I experienced at Oberoi on the second night nor do I need to describe how I got first ever exclusive CCTV footage of terrorist attack on CST food plaza as I was on one spot and you were watching more than one channels, you certainly have more exposure than me though indirect. 
  
26/11 is the biggest ever terrorist attack on Mumbai and on India. As far as the terror coverage is concerned this is not the first terror coverage and unfortunately will not be the last also. As a media person I am getting tons of kudos for uninterrupted live coverage of our TV channels for more than sixty hours, from the ground zero- Hotel Taj, Oberoi and Nariman House, without any bullet proof jackets or security cover. After an exercise in self patting on this back, we will have to admit some bitter truths. 
  
Terror reporting is not just simple TV reporting like recording events and taking bytes. It requires special skills and professional training. After covering Akshardham terror attack, Ahmedabad blasts and Mumbai terror attack I feel that even after almost 15 years of terror attacks, we as media have not thought of terror reporting as a new specialized branch of journalism which is the call of the hour. 

The blunders or goof ups we made as media persons during these 60 hour stint with the terror, were mainly due to lack of specialization. A viewer can quote with anger and frustration more than one example of this.

 

The height was NSG chief J K Dutta's media briefing to announce that operation Taj was over. It was just chaos. All were literally jumping on NSG chief and on each other, using four letter words which even went on air. Result is known. None could cover this important briefing live. NSG chief was also visibly disturbed. Forget professional approach or dignity to our national heroes, there was not even basic discipline or civic sense. 

Second and most important point is the need for the code of conduct for media. We had a channel that provided platform to the terrorists by doing phone interview with them. During the most crucial period of NSG operation against terrorist at Taj and Oberoi and Nariman house we saw channels showing and describing commando and army position and movements outside operation spots. There are few exceptions as far as national TV news channels are concerned. If we can't have self regulation, we should be ready for GAG orders, Ban and strict restrictions by government.

 

To me, it will be as bad as terrorist attack, as far as free and independent media, society and democratic country like India is concerned. TRP is important but certainly not the first and last word in life. Nation comes first. We are not operating from the Moon. If India survives then and then we will be able to do our breaking news business, there should not be any doubt it. This is the last chance for us to mend our ways and become responsible media. The politicians may have more chances but we have not. And then will not be even air pour feelings "we deserve this" on our own.