Move over polite PR requests, here comes a censorship undertaking. At a Whistling Woods International event featuring Gulzar and Subhash Ghai on October 8, journalists were handed an NOC (No Objection Certificate) with strict terms. It required them to portray the institute and its guests positively and avoid anything that could “harm their reputation.” The publicist called it a formality due to past “out of context” reports, claiming other media outlets had agreed. mid-day refused to sign, maintaining that a simple press release would have been more appropriate than such censorship-like conditions for attending a media interaction.
Move over polite PR requests, here comes a censorship undertaking. On Wednesday evening, as we arrived Subhash Ghai`s Whistling Woods International to attend a session featuring the filmmaker and iconic poet-lyricist Gulzar and moderated by lyricist Kausar Munir, we were handed what was described as an NOC (Non Objection Certificate). The white sheet of paper had a series of terms and conditions for the journalist, who must sign it if he/she intended to attend the panel.
As ridiculous as it sounded, we were intrigued to go through the diktats. “The delegation shall ensure Whistling Woods International and their guests are portrayed positively in all material published online/in print. The delegation shall refrain from any content or depiction that may harm the reputation or image of WWI and their guests,” read excerpts of the NOC. Towards the end, it was mentioned this “Noc is issued solely for the purpose of attending the panel at WWI campus and not confer any other rights or claims.” Seeing the shock on our face, the publicist asked us not to take offence as it`s “just a formality and a request because in the past, things have been reported out of context.” For the next half an hour, we were met with repeatedly requests to attend the event, but not without signing the NOC. A press release about the session would have been more appropriate, we maintained.
