‘Declare paid news a corrupt practice’
The Press Council of India on Friday recommended amendment to election laws to declare any payment for publication of news as a corrupt practice. The PCI has also asked the Election Commission of India to set up a special cell to receive complaints about “paid news”.
The report of the drafting committee, headed by H.N. Cama, former president of INS, stated that the Representation of People Act, 1951 be amended to curb the prevalence of paid news.
“It is recommended that the Representation of People Act, 1951 be suitably amended so as to declare any payment for the publication of news as a corrupt practice or an electoral malpractice,” the recommendation stated. The report was adopted unanimously at a meeting of the 23-member council. The council said that in its guidelines that news should be clearly demarcated from advertisements by printing disclaimers.
should be strictly enforced by all publications.
In the run-up to the conduct of elections, the PCI has also asked the EC to set up a special cell to receive complaints about “paid news”. It has also been asked to initiate a process through which expeditious action could be taken on the basis of such complaints.
It further said that the press should also not accept or publish any advertisement at the cost of public exchequer regarding achievements of a party or government in power.
The committee suggested that the Working Journalists Act should be strengthened to ensure job security and independence of journalists as an anti-dote to the paid news phenomenon. “The EC should nominate independent journalists or citizens in consultation with the Press Council to various states and districts,” the recommendation stated.
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