EC to Monitor Paid News Across Media Platforms for Lok Sabha Polls: CEO
SIBIN C HOLDS STATE LEVEL VIRTUAL MEETING WITH THE DPROs
Chandigarh, March 14: During a virtual meeting with District Public Relations Officers (DPROs), Punjab’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Mr. Sibin C stressed the Election Commission’s commitment to closely monitoring paid news across Print, Electronic, and Social Media platforms during the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in the state.
He underscored the issuance of strict instructions to monitor candidate advertisements, publicity, and cases of paid news. Moreover, district-level Media Certification and Monitoring Committees, with DPROs as nodal officers, will be tasked with vigilant monitoring of news content across news channels, social media platforms, and newspapers.
Electoral Committees to Monitor Media for Poll Integrity
The Chief Electoral Officer asked all the DPROs to perform their duty diligently to check such news content and subsequently report the paid news, if any, to the concerned Returning Officers (ROs).
He envisioned that the committee will keep watch on poll-related news, features and advertisements appearing in print, electronic and social media during the run up of polls.
Mr. Sibin C said that the committee will be responsible for certification of advertisements, monitoring of news in print, social and electronic media along with keeping records of all election-related news of candidates in the fray.
Emphasizes Committee Role in Monitoring Campaign Expenditure
CEO Urges DPROs to Tackle Social Media Ads in Elections
The Chief Electoral Officer urged the DPROs to deftly combat the new challenge of advertisement on social media platforms and leave no stone unturned for it. He emphasized that in today’s era, social media has transformed into a major tool for information dissemination, necessitating special thrust on the scrutiny of these platforms.
Mr. Sibin C expressed hope that the DPROs will smoothly discharge their duty and play a pivotal role in the smooth and hassle-free conduct of the polls.
CEO Urges Increased Voter Participation in General Elections
The Chief Electoral Officer also urged the DPROs to maximise publicity and awareness about the SVEEP activities, encouraging more and more voters, especially first-time voters, to cast their votes. He emphasised that ensuring maximum participation of voters during the upcoming general elections is the need of the hour. The CEO stated that elections are a festival of democracy, and the commission is duty-bound to ensure that the maximum number of voters exercise their franchise during these polls.
Joint CEO Sakkatar Singh Bal, Deputy Director (Social Media) of the Information and Public Relations Department Manvinder Singh, and Social Media experts from the office of the CEO attended the meeting.
