CHANDIGARH, SEPT 4
Chief Electoral Officer, Haryana, Mr. Shrikant Walgad today expressed his concern over the issue of ‘paid news’, which he said is acquiring serious dimensions. He said that during the last Lok Sabha Elections in all 41 cases of paid news were reported and out of these 25 were confirmed and forwarded to Election Commission of India for further action at its end.
Mr. Walgad, who was addressing a media workshop on paid news here today, said that the issue of paid news was undermining the democracy in the country. Those candidates who do not go along with such practices on the part of media organizations might be denied coverage, he added.
While defining the paid news, he said that according to Press Council of India, any news or analysis appearing in any media, print and electronic for a price in cash or kind as consideration is paid news. He said that paid news appears in the form of identical articles with photographs and headlines appearing in competing publications carrying by-lines of different authors around the same time. Also, on the same page of specific newspapers, articles are printed praising competing candidates claiming that both are likely to win the same elections.
He said that paid news appears in the form of disproportionate coverage to the speech or activities of a candidate on a television or radio channels, which is likely to influence the voters and yield electoral benefit to a particular candidate, and the same coverage appears in several channels. The cases of ‘Paid News’ generally manifest in the forms of news articles or reports published about a particular candidate or a party eulogizing them, or similar news articles or reports denigrating the opponents, both intended at unduly influencing the voters.
According to the News Broadcasting Standards Authority “Paid News” mean and include news whether political, business, sports, entertainment or news relating to any other field reported or omitted to be reported whether by way of news bulletins, current affairs programmes, special programmes or any other programmes by whatever name called, in consideration of, or as quid pro quo for, any financial or non-financial benefit or reward whatsoever.
While referring to the criteria of certification, he said that according to the Supreme Court’s orders dated April 13, 2004 , no cable operator or TV channel shall telecast any advertisement, which does not conform to the law of the country and which offends the morality, decency and susceptibility of view or which is shocking, disgusting and revolting. Moreover, no advertisement shall be permitted which derides any race, caste, colour, creed and nationality, is against any provision of the Constitution of India and tends to incite the people to crime, cause disorder or violence or breach of law or glorifies violence or obscenity in any way.
While referring to the issue of Short Message Service (SMS), violating the provisions of Election Law, MCC and ECI’s directions,he said that the Police should advertise special mobile numbers on which such SMS could be forwarded by the receiver for further investigation and action. Also, in case of bulk SMS, their cost would be included in the expenditure. There should be no bulk SMS of political nature during 48 hours ending with the hours fixed for conclusion of poll. For SMS the rates of DIPR and DAVP would be applied, he added.
He said that there is a Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) to check paid news. Its composition is as per the guidelines of the Election Commission of India (ECI). The Committee functions at district as well as state level. The Committee plays an important role in prevention and certification of political advertisements, monitoring of paid news and action on receipt of complaint or suo-motu.
He said that according to the guidelines issued by Press Council of India, newspapers are not expected to indulge in unhealthy election campaigns, exaggerated reports about any candidate or party or incident during the elections. While reporting on actual campaign, a newspaper may not leave out any important point raised by candidate and make an attack on his or her opponent. Press is not expected to indulge in canvassing of a particular candidate or party. If it does, it shall allow the right of reply to the other candidate or party. Any departure from these guidelines should make a case for prima facie investigation of paid news.
He said that paid news also falls in the category of other documents liable to be included in ‘election pamphlet and poster’ and election taken accordingly.
While referring to the code of conduct for TV broadcast issued by the National Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA), he said that there should be no coverage of any election speech or other material that incites violence, one religion against another, one caste against another, and one language group against another. In any constituency only one candidate should not be projected. While it is not necessary to cover every single candidate, as some constituencies may have several candidates, at least the more important should be covered in any report from a constituency. He said among the major political parties, no single political party should be given substantially more coverage than others. This balance need to be achieved in any single day or in a single story, but over a reasonable period of time, says one week. All producers must record a copy of their programme off air for use as reference in case of any dispute and the Election Commission would be final arbiter.
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