Shillong, June 3: The office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Meghalaya organized an Election Media Workshop on June 3 in Shillong. The intention of the workshop is to engage with the local media in order to reach out to the citizens and also for the journalists to grasp the existing and new initiatives of the Election Commission of India relating to media and its role.
Present at the workshop was CEO, Meghalaya, Dr. BDR Tiwari who administered the Voters’ Pledge and briefed the media on the need to work closely. “During elections, correct narratives are key to reach the people and alongside that is the managing of perceptions, therefore, the collaboration between the media and the Election Department or ECI has to work well”. Dr. Tiwari said. He ended by stressing on the efforts of the ECI to keep the distance between the voter and the polling station within 2 kilometers and the encouraging efforts of the ECI to introduce home voting and other amenities in the polling stations.
The role of media in elections is multifaceted, acting as a conduit for information, a platform for political discourse, and a watchdog for fairness. In contemporary democracies, media serves as an essential tool for shaping public opinion and participation during electoral processes. Its influence extends from the dissemination of candidates’ platforms to framing the narrative surrounding political contests. As such, the integrity of media coverage during elections is critical to fostering informed voter engagement and upholding democratic principles. Recognizing this importance, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has established guidelines to regulate media conduct during elections, ensuring that ethical standards are upheld and that the electoral process remains free and fair.
Talking about the basics of different elections, DIPR Director & Secretary, B. Sohliya said, “There is need for people to understand difference between the numerous election systems of electing MDCs and MLAs/ MPs”.
Joint CEO, Meghalaya and Media Nodal Officer,YR Mawlong gave a welcome speech inviting the media to be an election partner not just during election time but to cover the all year activities of the Chief Electoral Officer and Election Commission of India in the interest of the public. “The media is the key ally of the electoral process and the positive role of the media is needed before, during and after the election. Some of these roles include voter education, candidate and party information, real time updates, voters’ engagement, ensuring accountability and so on”
Also present in the workshop were media representatives and journalists of print and electronic media houses who took interest in learning updates with regards to the ECI media guidelines. Senior Journalist Philip Marwein represented the media fraternity and said, “With the responsibility bestowed upon us as journalists, we ought to perform our duties correctly and truthfully without fear or favour”. The senior journalist also highlighted the lack of awareness among the citizens and the problem of physical distance between the voters’ villages and the polling station.
Journalist and Padmashri Patricia Mukhim gave a video speech calling all citizens to exercise their franchise. “The media has the role to play in informing the public about the candidates’ profile, the parties’ ideologies, facilitate voters to ask questions and conduct panel discussions to reflect the true spirit of democracy”. Another key speaker Nicholas Kharnami of ‘Meghalaya my Pride’, stressed on the scope of using social media to reach out to the Gen Z and Gen Alpha.
