Par panel asks I&B ministry to form policy to curb paid news

A Parliamentary Panel has asked the Information and Broadcasting ministry to expeditiously formulate an appropriate policy to curb paid news.
In its twelfth report, the standing committee on Information and Technology, said that the I&B ministry has submitted notes to the Law Ministry for amendment in the Representation of People Act and the Press Council Act for examination.
The Panel asked the I&B ministry to take up the matter with ministry of Law and Justice for expeditious examination of the proposal for amendment of the Representation of People Act and to make 'paid news' a punishable electoral malpractice and also empowering the Press Council to adjudicate complains of paid news and giving final judgement in the matter.

The Panel said that after obtaining the viewpoint of the Law ministry, the I&B ministry should swiftly move towards placing the matter before cabinet and thereafter initiate legislative action for formulating appropriate policy to curb paid news.
The Committee note that "private treaties" between the media and corporate entities is one of the most dangerous manifestation/precursor of paid news.
It also emphasised on the need to bring transparency in "private treaties" and said that all existing guidelines should be strictly enforced in this regard.

'Private treaties' is referred to as an agreement between the media company and another non-media company in which the latter transfers certain shares of the company to the former in lieu of advertisements, space and favourable coverage.

It observed that the Press Council of India has advised the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to initiate steps for tackling paid news in 'private treaties' in securities field and it has also sensitised the media in this matter.
"The committee desire to be apprised of the concrete steps taken by SEBI in this regard so that shortcomings identified in the existing guidelines/legislations should be taken up for revision at the earliest," the panel said in its report.