Kohima, March 16 (DIPR): Guidelines for broadcast media to be observed by all TV/ Radio/ cable channels in Nagaland during elections, issued by News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) are as follows:
1. News broadcasters should endeavour to inform the public in an objective manner, about relevant electoral matters, political parties, candidates, campaign issues and voting processes as per rules and regulations laid down under The Representation of People Act 1951 and by the Election Commission of India.
2. News channels shall disclose any political affiliations, either towards a party or candidate. Unless they publicly endorse or support a particular party or candidate, news broadcasters have to be balanced and impartial, especially in their election reporting.
3. News broadcasters must endeavour to avoid all forms of rumor, baseless speculation and disinformation, particularly when these concern specific political parties or candidates. Any candidate/ political party, which has been defamed or is a victim of misrepresentation, misinformation or other similar injury by broadcast of information should be afforded prompt correction, and where appropriate granted an opportunity of reply.
4. News broadcasters must resist all political and financial pressures which may affect coverage of ejections and election related matters.
5. News broadcasters should maintain a clear distinction between editorial and expert opinion carried on their news channels.
6. News broadcasters that use video feed from political parties should disclose it and appropriately tagged.
7. Special care must be taken to ensure that every element of a news/ programmes dealing with elections and election related matters is accurate on all facts relating to events, dates, places and quotes. If by mistake or inadvertence any inaccurate information on is broadcast, the broadcaster must correct it as soon as it comes to the broadcaster’s notice with the same prominence as was given to the original broadcast.
8. News broadcasters, their journalists and officials must not accept any money, or valuable gifts, or any favour that could influence or appear to influence, create a conflict of interest or damage the credibility of the broadcaster or their personnel.
9. News broadcasters must not broadcast any form of ‘hate speech’ or other obnoxious content Hint may lead to incitement of violence or promote public unrest or disorder as election campaigning based on communal or caste factors is prohibited-under Election Rules. News broadcasters should strictly avoid reports which tend to promote feelings of enmity or hatred among people, on the ground of religion, race, caste, community, region or language.
10. News broadcasters are required to scrupulously maintain a distinction between news and paid content. All paid content should be dearly marked as “Paid Advertisement” or “Paid Content” and paid content must, be carried in compliance with the “Norms & Guidelines on Paid News” dated 24.11.2011.
11. Special care must be taken to report opinion polls accurately and fairly, by disclosing to viewers as to who commissioned, conducted and paid for the conduct of the opinion polls and the broadcast. If a news-broadcaster carries the results of an opinion poll or other election, projection, it must also explain the context, and the scope and limits of such polls with their limitations. Broadcast of opinion polls should be accompanied by information to assist viewers to understand the poll's significance, such as the methodology used, the sample size, the margin of error, the fieldwork dates, and data used. Broadcasters should also disclose how vole shares are converted to seat shares.
12. The broadcasters shall not broadcast any “election matter” i.e. any matter intended or calculated to influence or affect the result of an election, during the 48 hours ending with the hours fixed for the conclusion of poll in violation of Section l 26(T)(b) of The Representation of People Act 1951,
13. The Election Commission of India (ECI) will monitor the broadcasts, made by news broadcasters from the time elections are announced until the conclusion and announcement of election results. Any violation by member broadcasters reported to the News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) by the Election Commission will be dealt with by the NBSA tinder its regulations.
14. Broadcasters should, to the extent possible, carry voter education programmes to effectively inform voters about the voting process, the importance of voting, including how, when and where to vote, to register to vote and the secrecy of the ballot.
15. News broadcasters must not air any final, formal and definite results until such results are formally announced by the Election Commission of India, unless such results are carried with clear disclaimer that they are unofficial or incomplete or partial results or projections which should not be taken as final results.
16. These guidelines will apply to all National, Assembly, Municipal and Local Elections held in India.
