Expressing concern over alleged misuse of the media by political parties during elections, members in Rajya Sabha today said paid news was distorting the electoral system and sought a law to restrict media owners from holding cross-businesses.
Participating in a short duration debate on electoral reforms, JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav strongly pitched for media reforms, saying democracy was in "danger" as the media was being controlled by capitalists.
Observing that journalists were being hired on contract basis, he said the recommendations of the Majithia wage boards for newspaper industry employees should be implemented at the earliest to protect mediapersons.
"We have seen the media in earlier days and we are seeing the media now. We are not getting true news. ... Journalists are honest but they cannot write true stories because of their owners. We have capitalists owning media houses now," he said.
The capitalists controlling the media followed 'hire and fire' policy. Not only this, the media does not have any connect with the people because of the media owners, he said.
"So there is no point talking about electoral reforms without discussing media reforms. ... We must have a law to restrict those who run media houses from being involved in other businesses," Yadav said, adding that "one of the capitalists" owned 40 per cent stake in a media house.
"Journalists are the fourth pillar of democracy, not the owners of newspapers and television channels," he asserted.
Stating that media owners controlled the content, Yadav said "I campaigned extensively during elections. Not a single word was published. Owners of media don't allow...." He also suggested a debate on functioning of media in the House.
CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said the prevalence of paid news in the media was a serious issue which required a separate discussion.
"One of the distortions in our electoral system is the growth of paid news. Time has now come to identify such news and the party or person who has paid for such news," he said and stressed the need to "formulate some new laws" to end this activity.
Elaborating on the matter, Yechury said there was no country in the world which allowed crossholding of print and electronic media.
"What is happening to the media needs to be seriously discussed. There should be a separate discussion about the role of the media," he said.
Attacking the social media, the CPI(M) leader said there
was no control on the content on various sociial media sites.
He also listed the disproprtionate time allotted to political parties by the media during various discussions which was one of the issues that needed serious consideration.
Yechury also pointed to the coverage of the Prime Minister's rallies and the 'Mann Ki Baat' programme by all the private TV and radio channels.
"Whenever there is Mann Ki Baat, even radio channels stop their listed programmes. How do you take away the choice of the people as to what they would like to listen," he asked.
With journalists moving away from the wage board to the contract system, the media house owners "now have a vice like grip" over the content, the CPI(M) leader said.
Satish Chandra Mishra (BSP) alleged that the media had favoured the BJP during the recent assembly elections. "We were fighting the election with media, which was fighting for you (BJP)," he said.
Anand Sharma (Congress) also sought a separate discussion on the media.
Observing that the media was "compromised" during the recent assembly polls "in a big way", Ram Gopal Yadav (SP) said there was no level-playing field as some party candidates did not get slots in the private media and some gave more coverage to select leaders.
"The Election Commission needs to look into this matter. Everyone knows that those who pay get more coverage on TV. Even the print media is going astray these days..." he said.
Given these gaps and considering the role money-power played in the last elections, it is not feasible to hold simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies, Yadav added.
