MCMC to keep hawk’s eye on paid news by candidates
Ferozepur, January 22, 2022: The Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) has been formed in Ferozepur district as per the guidelines of the Election Commission and is all set to keep a vigil on election expenses of candidates and check paid news problems in the run-up during Assembly elections.
The Election Commission has made it mandatory to scrutinize the media, following complaints of rampant paid news during the Assembly polls. The approval of the committee is required before placing advertisements on electronic, social, etc. media and it has started its work with the announcement of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
Disclosing this here today District Electoral Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner, Girish Dayalan said that the entire team of MCMC will be keeping an eye on the media including newspapers, radio, TV, e-papers, and social media, and if any candidate's advertisement is received, the same will be immediately informed to the concerned Returning Officer for inclusion in the election expenses.
He said that for the advertisement in electronic media including e-paper and social media, it was necessary to get the approval of MCMC and for this, the room number in the District Public Relations Officer (DPRO) office has been established at the District Administrative Complex number 023.
The committee will look into the script and make a decision after considering the cost of creating and installing the advertisement. He said that it was also important to pay all the expenses by cheque and if any institution puts up an advertisement without the written approval of the committee then a case can be registered against him under the 171H Indian Penal Code.
Apart from this, the advertisements in the print media must also be got approved by the committee two days before the elections.
He said that if any candidate gets the news published in any media, then while the cost of this news will be included in the election expenses of the said candidate, the name of the said candidate will also be posted on the website of the Election Commission among the candidates, under the category of paid news besides a letter would also be written to Press Council of India and National Broadcasting Standards Authority for action against the said agency.