Law Commission to complete recommendation on paid news soon

Law Commission to complete recommendation on paid news soon

NEW DELHI: The Law Commission is expected to complete its recommendations relating to paid news during election soon. It is currently studying the laws related to election laws in entirety.

 

Information and Broadcasting Ministry sources tell indiantelevision.com that recommendations for changes in laws relating to the Press Council of India and the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act would be taken up after a consultation with the Election Commission.

 

Furthermore, based on the recommendations of the standing committee on Information Technology, inclusion of provisions in the ‘Press and Registration of Books and Publications Bill’ to check the incidents of paid news are being examined. 

 

The Press Council of India has formulated ‘Norms of Journalistic Conduct’ to be adhered by the media. These norms prescribe that advertisements should be clearly demarcated from news by printing disclaimers. As far as news is concerned, it must always carry a credit line and should be set in a typeface that would distinguish it from advertisements. The council has also drawn up a set of guidelines that are applicable to financial journalism and also on reporting of elections.

 

So far as electronic media is concerned, all private satellite TV channels are required to adhere to the Programme & Advertising Codes prescribed under Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and the rules framed there under.