An extensive mechanism has been put in place to monitor and control the printing and publishing of paid news in the district in the run-up to the Assembly election.
A special cell for this purpose has been formed at the collectorate. News or advertisements construed to be beneficial to candidates printed or aired through audio or visual media would be treated as paid news. The district-level samithi will decide on the matter, based on the guidelines laid down by the Press Council of India.
The cost of a news item or advertisement found to be paid news would be included in the campaign expenditure of the candidate concerned.
Reports on paid news are being drawn up by constantly examining the content of newspapers, radio and television channels and cable television networks. Social media and SMSs are also being monitored for paid news.
Information assistants with the Information and Public Relations Department and media students from BPC College, Piravom, are assisting in the functioning of the special cell that is monitoring paid news. The district-level monitoring committee submits daily reports on paid news to the District Collector and election observers. Assistant returning officers in each Assembly constituency have also been asked to submit daily reports on paid news to the district-level monitoring committee.
Security arrangements
The law and order situation in the district is being constantly monitored and police personnel are deployed accordingly. A five-layer security arrangement, including police, Central armed reserve police force, close scrutiny, webcasting, and videography have been prepared for the election.
Model polling station
A model polling station was inaugurated at Kanayannur taluk office by Sub Collector S. Suhas. The station can be used by the public to familiarise themselves with using the voting machi e and to experiment with the Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail being introduced for the first time in the district.
Reports found beneficial to candidates to be treated as paid news
