Imphal, Jan. 14: Additional chief electoral officer of Manipur, Rajkumar Dinesh on Saturday appealed the media fraternity here to give “equal coverage” to avoid paid news phenomenon in the context of free and fair elections in Manipur.
Paid news, according to the Press Council of India, is any news or analysis appearing in any media (print or electronic) for a price in cash or kind as consideration.
Dinesh was briefing editors and reporters of both print and electronic media functioning in Manipur at a day-long training-cum-workshop on Media Certification and Monitoring for the ensuing assembly elections at the hall of State Academy of Training, Takyelpat on Saturday.
Though there is no hard and fast rule in paid news, he expressed that the media should resist from political pressure and financial considerations offered.
So clear distinction should be maintained between editorials and expert opinion, between news and paid advertisement, he added. Media must not broadcast or publish any form of ‘hate speech’ or ‘obnoxious content’ that many incite unwanted acts. He said it must extend possible help to carry out voters’ education programme.
The day’s workshop was organized with a view to sensitize the media personnel and political parties on various provisions of the Media Certification & Monitoring Committee (MCMC) issued by the Election Commission of lndia from time to time and also to seek cooperation for elimination of paid news and unethical advertisements during campaigns.
Another round of media workshop will also be organized at Hotel Classic Grande in Imphal followed by a dinner on January 20. Except for Assam, none of the north eastern states including Manipur reported any instance of paid news and there were no cases registered in the last assembly elections, according to reports.
However, more than 1,400 cases of alleged paid news have been detected by the Election Commission in the last four years during Assembly polls held in 17 states.
