Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) and Paid News:
There shall be a Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) in cach district. For detailed instructions and guidelines "Compendium of Instruction on Media Related Matters, January, 2020" may be referred to.
If the MCMC finds any advertisement or advertorial published in print media, it shall bring it to the notice of Expenditure Observer and a copy of the same will be placed in the Folder of Evidence. The expenditure on this advertisement will be mentioned in the Shadow Observation Register and intimated to the candidate during inspection of his register. As per section 127 A of the R.P. Act, 1951, no person shall print or publish or cause to be printed or published any election pamphlet or poster, handbill or other document without mentioning the name and address of the printer and the publisher, and without obtaining declaration from the publisher which is attested by two persons. It is the responsibility of such press to deliver a copy of the declaration along with copy of the document to the DEO/CEO. within a reasonable time after printing the document.
Paid News:
The "Paid News" has been defined by the Press Council of India as any news or analysis appearing in any media (print and electronic) for a price in cash or kind as consideration. The Commission has decided to go by this definition. The MCMC shall see all the newspapers, print media, electronic media, cable network, mobile network and other modes of mass communication, like bulk SMSS etc.. and keep record of the advertisements, advertorials, messages, discussions and interviews relating to the candidates and parties. This committee will submit a Daily Report with respect to each candidate in a prescribed format to the accounting team with copy to RO and Expenditure Observer with respect to expenditure incurred by the candidate on election advertising including the assessed cases of Paid News. along with supportive paper cuttings/clippings, recordings of relevant TV and radio advertisements, which will also be included in the Shadow Observation Register. The RO will issue notice to the candidate with regard to the incidents of Paid News in consultation with the Expenditure Observer for not showing the expenditure on such publication The Expenditure Observer shall send a report of Paid News along with copy thereof to the Election Commission within 24 hours.
The CEO shall obtain standard rate cards from the TV channels/Radio Channels/ News Papers. broadcasting/circulated in the State/UT, six months before due date of expiry of Lok Sabha/State/ UT assembly. Such rate cards will be given to the Accounting Team for calculation of rates of advertisements. The Accounting Team will calculate the expenditure involved at the DAVP/DIPR rate, whichever is lower, and will mention it in the Shadow Observation Register. The Expenditure Observer will bring such discrepancies to the notice of the candidate/his election agent at the time of inspection and mention the discrepancies in the expenditure on account of Paid News in the remarks column of the Register of Election Expenses of the candidate.
The copies of all such notices along with the paid news should be displayed on the notice board of RO and the District Election Website/ CEO Website. The copies of the same can be given to any member of public on payment of Rs. 1/- per page.
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