Media Guidelines presented to P’ment

Saturday, 7 May 2016 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Ashwin Hemmathagama – Our Lobby Correspondent

Media guidelines to be followed and the policies to be observed by the electronic and print media during referendums and elections published by the Election Commission in the Gazette Extraordinary No. 1955/19 of 25th February 2016 in terms of Article 104B (5)(a) of the Constitution was presented to the Parliament yesterday.

According to these guidelines all telecasting, broadcasting and print media are to be neutral and impartial in their reporting of election related matters and discrimination against any contesting political party / independent group or acandidate, in allocating airtime and allotting space in the newspapers is prohibited. The accuracy and the balance of information dissemination are also made mandatory.

Setting guidelines on columns the guidelines state: “editorial opinions may seem confused and biased and therefore, electronic media are urged not to broadcast/telecast such opinions. However, if such editorial opinion is broadcast/televised/published, the affected party should be given the opportunity to broadcast/telecast/publish material to counter such opinion. Program presenters and announcers of television and radio channels, should refrain from expressing personal views at the newspaper desks where newspaper headlines and cartoons are presented, since such views may promote one party with prejudice to another.

“It is the responsibility of the news and current affairs divisions of all electronic and print media institutions not to broadcast/televise/publish any program or supplement which are not advertisements during the election period, if such program/supplements/news items are illegal or biased. If any material is broadcast/televised/published covering an incident or an event with comments of one candidate, all other political parties that have an interest in the event or are concerned, or are likely to be affected, should also be given opportunity to express their version on the same news item or program.”

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