The Media Certification and Monitoring Committee’s task is cut out and does not appear too complicated on paper. Political parties have to obtain certification from the committee, based at the district collectorate, before they put out any advertisement on any medium. The buck, however, does not stop there. The scope of the committee’s work is vast and its members deploy an attention to detail reminiscent of precision engineering.
The typical day for a member of the committee begins at 8 a.m. and lasts up to 11 p.m., keeping a tab on radio and television broadcasts, print media and the incessant chatter on social media. Bulk SMSs, e-papers, voice messages, public displays, campaigns in cinema halls and billboards too come in for scrutiny. It takes a lot of energy and patience, says one of the members, who has been on the job since March 25, working more than 12 hours a day.
The 30-member team works in two shifts of 15 each, not only verifying advertisement contents submitted by political parties but also scanning radio, local television channels and social media on a 24-hour basis for things as varied as paid news and violation of the election code of conduct. The team comprises trained media personnel as well as journalism students.
Committee’s member secretary Nijas Jewel says that if any violation is found, it will be reported to the the District Collector, who is also the district election officer. In fact, the election authorities have started sending notices to political parties and candidates, who had put out campaigns on social media without the permission of the committee.
If advertisements and campaigns are issued with the knowledge of the candidate, it will be considered as part of the election expenditure and if they are without the knowledge of the candidate, notice will be served on the publisher.