Ahead of the Bihar Assembly polls, the Press Council of India (PCI) has released guidelines telling newspapers to report objectively and asked the authorities to provide to mediapersons access to polling booths and correct information.
In its guidelines, the Council has said that it will be the duty of the press to give objective reports about the election and the candidates. It also said that the press should eschew reports which tend to promote feelings of enmity or hatred between people on the ground of region, religion, race, caste, community or language.
The guidelines also said that press should not accept any kind of inducement, financial or otherwise, to project a candidate or party. It shall not accept hospitality or other facility offered to them or by or on behalf of any candidate of party.
The press shall not accept or publish any advertisement at the cost of public exchequer regarding achievement of a party of government in power, the PCI said.
The guidelines said that while publishing pre-poll surveys, newspapers should conspicuously indicate institutions which have carried these surveys, those who have commissioned the surveys, size and nature of sample, methodology and possible margin of error.
The PCI guidelines also said that in the event of staggered polls, no newspaper shall publish exit poll surveys till the last date of polls is over.
In its guidelines, the media watchdog has also mentioned the issue of paid news and said that there should be a clear distinction drawn between the managements and editorial staff in media companies and the independence of editor should be maintained and safeguarded.
The PCI also asked authorities to ensure that the press has unhindered access to information and venues of the election process subject to reasonable restrictions in the interest of security.
