Press Council issues advisory on ‘paid news’

Press Council issues advisory on ‘paid news’

Subject : Polity

Section: National Body

Context: The Press Council of India (PCI) on Wednesday advised the print media to follow the norms of Journalistic Conduct-2022 on ‘paid news’ during the elections in various States.

Direction of PCI:

• Newspapers should not misconstrue or misquote the statements given by any leader, the PCI said the statements quoted in editorial should project the true spirit of what was being tried to be conveyed by them.

What constitutes paid news?

• Columns of news items which largely indicate names of voters on caste basis and supporters of the candidate of particular political party, such tenor and manner of presentation of news establish the report to be paid news
• While covering news on election, the newspapers are advised to ensure balance in publishing report/interview of candidates. During the course of election, subject to conditions laid down by the Election Commission of India, newspapers are free to make an honest assessment of prospects of candidates or the parties and its publication would not be paid news so long it is not established that consideration passed on for such publication
• Newspapers have also been told not to publish any news survey predicting the victory of any political party without verification of it.
• An attempt to influence the voters by projecting the contesting candidate with all virtues during the election is paid news. A news item giving negative aspect of a candidate and at the same time the positive aspect of candidate of other political party without any basis clearly shows that it is paid news.

PCI

• The Press Council of India was first set up in the year 1966 by the Parliament on the recommendations of the First Press Commission.
• Aim: To preserve the freedom of the press and maintain and improve the standards of the press in India.
• The present Council functions under the Press Council Act, 1978. It is a statutory, quasi-judicial authority functioning as a watchdog of the press, for the press and by the press.
• Composition: The PCI consists of a chairman and 28 other members.
  • The Chairman is selected by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and a member elected by the PCI.
• Powers: It adjudicates the complaints against and by the press for violation of ethics and for violation of the freedom of the press, respectively.
  • The Press Council of India is responsible for enquiring into complaints received.
  • It may summon witnesses and take evidence under oath, demand copies of public records to be submitted, even issue warnings and admonish the newspaper, news agency, editor or journalist.
  • Decisions of the PCI are final and cannot be appealed before a court of law.
• Limitations of PCI: 
  • They cannot penalize newspapers, news agencies, editors and journalists for violation of the guidelines.
  • The PCI only overviews the functioning of print media. It can enforce standards upon newspapers, journals, magazines and other forms of print media.
    • It does not have the power to review the functioning of electronic media like radio, television and internet media.