A one-day workshop was organised here on Thursday to impart training and necessary directives to district Public Relations Officers regarding certification and screening of advertisements and news to be released to media by political parties and candidates, during the forthcoming Chhattisgarh Assembly elections.
In the workshop, deputy secretary, Election Commission of India, Padma Angamo gave necessary information to the PROs about media certification and screening, additional paid news and advertisements to be released through TV channels and radio by candidates and political parties. She asked the medical certification and screening committee to perform active role in the Assembly election 2013.
Angamo told the district PROs to keep vigil on the advertisements, news and analyses come on the electronic media and to ensure that before releasing advertisements to the television, radio channels and cable networks by candidates and political parties, their review and certification should be done by the district level media certification and monitoring committee (MCMC) team.
She said that advertisements published in print media in any manner, in which surrogate advertisements in the form of news are included, should be minutely screened and if necessary, ensure issuance of notice to the concerned. The name of printer and publisher is mandatory on the pamphlet, poster and handbills published by the candidates and political parties, she added.
Candidates, political parties or their representatives have to give declaration to the district election officer concerned for printing and publication of pamphlet, poster and handbills. Joint chief electoral officer DD Singh, public relations officers of all districts and officers of district level media certification and screening committee were present at the workshop.