Media in India have long
argued for self
regulation; against government control and censorship. The
Press
Council of India was set up to help the objective of
self-regulation. Though the Council did succeed in
laying down
ground rules and building up case laws on journalistic ethics,
it could
not control wayward journalists and publishers.
Now the Editors Guild of India has thrown in the towel. It has
asked
the Election Commission to take strong action against
politicians and
media persons for paid news used for election publicity.
Paid news or packaging of advertisements as news has existed
for some
time now. It assumed more serious proportions when it was used
for
campaigning in the Lok Sabha polls in 2006 and Maharastra
Assembly
elections in 2009.
Paid news undermines the basic precincts of journalism. It
adulterates
news, abandoning the separation between news and
advertisements. Thus,
it cheats the readers.
However, tackling it is easier said than done. There are a
number of
ways in which business houses and politicians influence
journalists and
publishers. Paid news is only one. The difference now is that
a section
of the media is now directly demanding payment for publication
of news.
The Election Commission can deal with publication of campaign
advertisements in the form of news under Section 10A of the
Representation of People Act. However, its powers are limited
and
confined to matters connected to election campaign and
coverage.
Besides, identification of advertisements masquerading as news
is not
always easy. Besides, frivolous complaints cannot be ruled out
once the
Commission starts taking action.
During campaigns, candidates may file complaints against
media, which
carry
adverse comments or reports about them, saying that they were
paid for.
Moreover, there are complaints that newspapers refused
coverage because
the candidates refused to pay money. This is not always easy
to prove
though
that would always happen in a market where news is being paid
for.
Many cases could be clinched only if it is proved that money
had
changed hands. This would often require police investigation.
So, it is not surprising that the Commission has asked the
Press
Council to draw up broad guidelines to identify
advertisements, news
items and paid news masquerading as advertisement. The
Guild has
also been asked to come up with concrete suggestions on how to
deal
with the problem.
It is evident that the Commission alone would not be able to
tackle the
problem which is not confined to election coverage and
publicity.
If the Press Council and Editor’s organizations fail to tackle
the
issue, legislation might be the only answer.
Cyberjournalist.org.in/February 2010
Related links (Updated):
Report
of
the Subcommittee of Press Council of India on paid news
Report
of
Press Council of India
Statement
of
Editors
Guild
of India
Copy of Election Commission of
India's
instructions on 'Paid News'
