- Election commission has sent a notice seeking explanation on paid news case of Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan , this is a serious concern for the commission related to media
- Press Council of India (PCI) has a detailed report in a letter half of 2009 and the EC has initiated steps against it in 2010
- Commission accepted PCI definition of “paid news” that appears in any media for price and to appoint Media Certification and Mounting Committee (MCMC) at district and State-levels for certification of advertisements and keeping a check on violations
- After several hearings in HC and SC the commission was convinced during Maharashtra elections in 2009, news items were marked advertorials and advertisements when appeared in media
- The spending on media however did not affect the poll campaign expenses, the EC further asked for explanation from four news papers – Lokmat , Pudhari , Maharashtra Timesand Deshonnati
- The news papers have denied allegations of payment of “paid news” and in fact, news or editorials or supplements published by them gratuitously as they had either links with, or leanings towards, the Congress and Mr. Chavan
- On the conflict with news paper Lokmat strongly felt that Congress was the party which offered secular option to the electorate and the Ec said it was no excuse to pass paid news
- But every media house is entitled to its own philosophy and similar to political party and is sought to be published as news should affected by such philosophy and should be different
- The news should show a clarity and genuine information should be provided by which the reader makes his\her choice
- During elections the journalists’ responsibility becomes more to give the fact and greater significant news
- Read at: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/ec-notice-raises-question-on-media-responsibility/article6207642.ece