They could always get jobs blowing up trucks for NBC.

AsiaMedia: Journalists accused of goading man into fiery death

New Delhi --- Indian TV journalists keen on getting a story encouraged a protester to burn himself to death, giving him matches and fuel, a report quoting police said yesterday.

The journalists in the eastern state of Bihar kept the cameras rolling as Mr Manoj Mishra, who was demanding back pay, suffered 90 per cent burns to his body, the Indian Express reported.

Police later filed a case against the journalists, accusing them of abetting suicide, the daily said.

The newspaper report did not name the journalists or say how many people were involved.

The television crew coaxed Mr Mishra into setting himself on fire and even supplied him with matches and diesel fuel, Gaya district police chief Amit Jain said.

"The media people fully knew the intention of the man and still allowed him to proceed with his plan to commit suicide and went on shooting the scene," he was quoted as saying.

Mr Mishra was protesting outside a state-run dairy to press for 200,000 rupees (S$6,800) in wages that he said the company owed him.

However, the dairy was closed for India's Independence Day.

"By the time a security guard rushed in to save him, it was too late," a police officer said.

Mr Mishra was pronounced dead on arrival at a hospital.