In 2009 elections in India, 415 million voters exercised franchise through 1.18 million ballot units in 834,944 polling stations. This is arguably the most astonishing democratic exercise in the world. But, the free, fair and democratic character of these elections was compromised by the large scale use of money power. Yet a new dimension of this ugly money power is the media becoming a partner in this dubious game. Eminent journalist P.Sainath in his article “The Medium , Message and the Money” published in The Hindu on October 26 , 2009, pointed out “ It is hard to find a single instance of rigorous or deterrent action” by the Election Commission of India curbing this menace.

The Hindu in its editorial says : The new shame is the extensive and brazen participation of not insignificant sections of the news media, notably the large circulation Indian language newspapers in two of India’s largest states, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh in the genre of corruption. It was a cash transfer scheme from a politician to a media owner. The candidates paid newspapers and television channels different rates for well differentiated and streamlined packages of news coverage. Obviously the parties or candidates who could not buy these packages lost in this race for crucial media coverage of their election campaign. There are instances of a same newspaper on the same day publishing two or more stories of different candidates having chances of winning in the same constituency. The Hindu in its editorial also stated that some candidates even recorded the expenditure incurred in purchasing editorial coverage in their official accounts submitted to the Election Commission. The press council of India has already constituted an inquiry committee to look into this dangerous Phenomena.

Media packages are very unethical practices that amount to breach of trust of readers and viewers. The Election Commission of India should come out with steps to stop this practice of packages for media coverage of elections before it assumes menacing proportions all over the country. This practice is now wide spread in some regions of the country . Though this trend is brazenly seen in states like Maharashtra and AndhraPradesh there are reports that such trend was seen in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh .

The coverage package for a price was meant to include dedicated news space of the election campaign with pictures and other material of the party’s choice.

This practice by the media is a travesty of democracy . It is a whole sale fraud on the concept of media coverage of elections and it vitiates the very process of free and fair elections.

The views of every party and every candidate contesting in the elections should be heard and reflected in news. But, this practice where parties or candidates are asked to buy coverage packages is primarily meant to generate revenue for the media organizations.

Perhaps the state funding should be modified to include media coverage that is currently limited to recognized parties getting time on state run Doordarshan and All India Radio for speeches by their leaders . The Election Commission can evolve a formula to include both print and electronic media in the private sector.

There should be a system by which campaign material can be put out on private print and electronic media with the state funding it. A formula for allocation of time and space on private media for candidates and political parties can be evolved by Election Commission after wide consultation.

Related articles:

http://indiacurrentaffairs.org/the-medium-message-and-the-money

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http://indiacurrentaffairs.org/false-propaganda-for-a-price-unethical-

practices-of-media-in-general-elections-2009/