Holding that poll officials in Karnataka were not qualified to determine what was or was not paid news during the 2013 elections in the state, a Press Council of India (PCI) committee has suggested that the Election Commission improve its mechanism to monitor such items.
It also expressed concern that some publications could have been "unfairly targeted" for "extraneous reasons" during the Karnataka Assembly polls, according to a PCI release.
An Inquiry Committee assessed complaints of paid news raised by the Karnataka government's Officer on Special Duty (Expenditure and Monitoring) following the 2013 Assembly elections in the state, it said.
"The Inquiry Committee is of the view that state election authorities have little appreciation of the nuances of journalism and appear singularly unqualified to pass judgement on what is news and what may be paid news," it said, adding that the panel had met here between February 15 and 17.
In many cases, mere publication of a news report or interview of a candidate or coverage of a public meeting or press conference by a candidate was "erroneously" held by state authorities to be paid news, it said.
The release also raised questions on Media Certification and Monitoring Committees (MCMCs), saying they appear to have been improperly constituted and, in many cases, did not have any representatives from the media.
"These MCMCs were thus unqualified to assess news items and, as alleged by some of the respondent newspapers, may even have unfairly targeted some publications for extraneous reasons," it said.
The Inquiry Committee recommended that PCI approach the Election Commission seeking significant improvements in its apparatus for monitoring paid news, it said.
Improper monitoring "not only vilifies the press as an institution but also allows space to the real culprits to indulge in the practice of paid news with impunity", it added.
The release said that details of MCMCs were sought by its Inquiry Committee but neither the Chief Election Commissioner nor Chief Electoral Officer gave due attention to the issue.
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In another statement today, PCI also said that during the sittings in Belgaum, the Inquiry Committee considered 76 cases, including those against and by the press.
A majority of the cases were references of paid news received from district election officers in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry.
Out of 19 cases against the press and by the press, the Inquiry Committee recommended censure of three newspapers for violation of Norms of Journalistic Conduct and disposed of or dismissed 12 cases. The four remaining cases it adjourned, the statement added.
The panel recommended that four cases of paid news be upheld and suggested disposal of the remaining matters, observing that in several cases, although the writing may constitute bad journalism, it did not amount to paid news.
The Inquiry Committee also asked the Tamil Nadu government to ensure medical treatment of a journalist who was injured during alleged action by police, the statement said.
