Chennai: News channels promoted by political parties are now under scanner. A media monitoring committee had been formed to check paid news masquerading the political campaign of R K Nagar.
“A few news channels and Tamil evening dailies are under scanner for periodically promoting campaigns and we have got details confirming the nexus between the media and political parties,” a senior official on poll duty told DC.
The issue was taken up with the Election Commission last month and a detailed report from TN is getting ready. Government staff is now on duty monitoring the campaign news printed in magazines and newspapers. Similarly, the new channels are also monitored with the timings of visual clips and the same will be tabulated.
As of now the election commission has instructed the local poll officials to add the paid advertisement costs to the election expenditure account of candidates. Candidates should get prior information from the media monitoring committee and if there is a violation, notices will be served to candidates and also to the media houses seeking explanation, the official said.
“Current advertisement rates fixed by newspapers and DIPR rates will be studied to evaluate paid advertisements and the commercial rates of channels for prime time and non-prime time is also calculated. Radio channels will also come under this system, said a state official attached to information department said. After a show cause notice, two days' time will be given to candidates to submit their reply and if there is a violation the matter will be taken up to the expenditure observer for further action under representation of people act 1951, section 127 A, he added.
Corporation Commissioner and District Election Officer D. Karthikeyan conducted a meeting with managers of media houses and representatives of political parties.
