News Monitoring, Aggregation and Analysis of Media Reporting During 15th Lok Sabha Elections 2009 in Lucknow and Gorakhpur

1
Report on
News monitoring, aggregation and analysis of media
reporting during 15
th
Lok Sabha elections 2009 in
Lucknow and Gorakhpur

Issued by

National Alliance of Peoples Movements (NAPM)
And
Lok Rajniti Manch

A-893, Indira Nagar, Lucknow-226016. India
Phone: 2347365, email: ashaashram@yahoo.com

2

Citizens Group

- Dr Sandeep Pandey (member, National Presidium, Lok Rajniti Manch)
- Naveen Tiwari, Election Watch/ Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR)
and Convener, UP State RTI Campaign of NAPM
- SR Darapuri, Vice President, Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), UP
- Ishwar Chandra Dwivedi, former Director General of Police, UP
- Dr Ramesh Dixit, Professor, Political Science department, Lucknow University/
Nationalist Congress Party
- Arundhati Dhuru, National Alliance of Peoples Movements (NAPM)
- Justice Kamleshwar Nath (retd)
- SN Shukla, IAS (retd)
- Utkarsh Sinha, Centre for Contemporary Studies
- Manoj Singh, Social activist and journalist, Gorakhpur
- Vivek Rai, Advocate, UP High Court
- Prabha Chaturvedi, Exnora Lucknow
- RK Chaturvedi, Exnora Lucknow
- Himanshu, Project Vijay
- Abhishesk, Project Vijay
- Chunni Lal, Asha Parivar
- Bobby Ramakant, Asha parivar
3

News monitoring, aggregation and analysis of media reporting
during 15
th
Lok Sabha elections 2009 in Lucknow and Gorakhpur

Background
In Lucknow and Gorakhpur, several citizens met informally raising concerns about the biased and
partisan role of some sections of media during the 15
th
Lok Sabha elections 2009. The distinction
between news, views and advertising was hard to make, felt the citizens. The breach of trust with
which a newspaper reader buys a newspaper for unbiased, balanced and non-partisan reporting
was also a major concern, felt the citizens.

As a follow-up of these citizens meetings, a decision was taken to conduct a social review of
newspapers in Lucknow and Gorakhpur to map the media coverage provided to different
candidates and analyze their content.

Activities

In Lucknow, four Hindi language daily newspapers (issues published between 1-30 April 2009)
were scanned and analyzed.

These four newspapers are:
1/ Dainik Jagran
2/ Dainik Hindustan
3/ Rashtriya Sahara
4/ Voice of Lucknow

The scanned news published during 1-30 April 2009 in three out of four newspapers are
available online at:
Rashtriya Sahara: http://picasaweb.google.com/bobbyramakant/RashtriyaSahara130April2009#
Dainik Hindustan: http://picasaweb.google.com/bobbyramakant/DainikHindustan130April2009#
Dainik Jagran: http://picasaweb.google.com/bobbyramakant/DainikJagaran130April2009#

In Gorakhpur, three Hindi newspapers were scanned during the period: 1-30 April 2009, and
analyzed.

These three newspapers in Gorakhpur are:
1/ Dainik Jagran
2/ Dainik Hindustan
3/ Rashtriya Sahara

The scanned news from Gorakhpur is available online at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/bobbyramakant/NewsMonitoringInGorakhpurDuring15thLokSabhaEl
ectionsInIndiaApril2009#

Commentary
Analysis of new items has been done by filtering the news using the following criteria:
- The suggestive and loaded headlines
- The tone of the article
- Photographs
- Placement of the news
- News with no credit line or unusual/ suspicious credit line, suggesting of marketing/ advertising
- Comparative coverage of news on filing nomination papers, declaration of assets by candidates,
election spending

4

RASHTRIYA SAHARA
All news scanned and used for analysis published in Rashtriya Sahara are available online at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/bobbyramakant/RashtriyaSahara130April2009#

The tone of the election coverage was overtly supportive towards BSP candidate Dr Akhilesh Das
Gupta, and provided reasonable coverage to other candidates of main political parties who were
contesting from Lucknow in the 15th Lok Sabha elections.

Quarter to half page or even full-page advertisements were issued mostly on daily basis.

On page 3 (and on rare occasions on page 1), the top full 8 column (entire width of the
newspaper page) 1/4 to 1/3 (length wise) of the newspaper page, was devoted to 'news' that
either had NO credit line or credited to 'chunaav samachar'. Such 'news' had NO credit line till 23
April, after which the credit line of 'chunaav samachar' was given till 30 April 2009. All other news
in Rashtriya Sahara is credited either to home news agency SNB (Sahara News Bureau) or to
other news agencies (PTI, UNI etc). The headline was always in bold red colour, with the content
extremely suggestive in favour of Dr Akhikesh Das Gupta, or foretelling his imminent victory in the
polls, with a centre colour photograph of Dr Akhilesh Das Gupta (only on one occasion had the
news and photograph of BJP candidate from Mohanlal Ganj Lok sabha constituency), and the full
name of Dr Akhilesh Das Gupta in the main- or sub- headline. All these 'news' were inside a box.

The main- and sub- headlines of such 'suspected paid news' were:

April 30: Page (i -ii is the credit line)
Sub-headline: lii i | |n |
headline: -l-- i-i n-i i i ni li

April 30: Page 3 (i -ii is the credit line)
headline: -ninii | r| ii|

Sub-headline: lln l | i n -
headline: sl i i ii l-i lii i nni i

headline: li i i nni lln l | i

headline: li| ii r nni | ii| n

headline: li i i nni iii i +i;i rii

Sub-headline: i+ - ni lii i nni i i
headline: nni i ii i| i | i| - ii |

April 23: Page 3 (NO credit line)
Sub-headline: i+ lin ii - r r| r nni i - ri
headline: i - i lni - - i; li ii

April 21: Page 3 (NO credit line)
headline: ii i n r lii i nni i- |

5

April 20: Page (NO credit line)
headline: li i i nni -i - iii| ; -i - r

April 19: Page (NO credit line)
headline: iii| -ninii i- i- li i i nni i ii

April 18: (NO credit line)
Sub-headline: lii i nni i -l-- i ii| -i - ni -
headline: ir| --|ii i+ i ri ni r -irin

April 17: (NO credit line)
Sub-headline: lii i nni l
headline: -l-- -i - -n li r-i

On page 9, the page 'Poll Power' was devoted to local election news. Mostly either news credited
to Sahara News Bureau (SNB) promoting Dr Akhilesh Das Gupta or Lalji Tandon (BJP), or rarely
other candidates took the top 1/3 to 1/4 of the newspaper page. In mostly all editions, black and
white photographs of Dr Akhilesh Das Gupta were published daily on page 9. Without exception,
all headlines of news related to Dr Akhilesh Das Gupta were clearly suggestive and had a strong
overtone prophesing his 'landslide victory'.

The coverage on page 9 of filing nominations, declaration of assets and poll expenses of each
candidates can be compared to further highlight the overt bias towards Dr Das.

DAINIK JAGRAN
All news scanned and used for analysis published in Dainik Jagran are available online at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/bobbyramakant/DainikJagaran130April2009#

On the page dedicated to Lucknow elections Mahasamar (and on rare occasions on page 1),
substantial space was devoted to 'news' that either had NO credit line or credited to 'Jagran
samvad kendra'. Such 'news' had NO credit line till 20 April, after which the credit line of 'Jagran
samvad kendra'. was given till 30 April 2009. All other news in Dainik Jagran are routinely
credited to their correspondents or to other news agencies (PTI, UNI etc). The contents were
extremely suggestive in favour of particular candidates, mostly Dr Akhikesh Das Gupta and
relatively less for Rita Bahuguna Joshi. Often the headlines would be foretelling his imminent
victory in the polls, with a centre photograph of Dr Akhilesh Das Gupta and the full name of Dr
Akhilesh Das Gupta in the main- or sub- headline. All these 'news' were inside a box.

Quarter to half page (or even full-page advertisements were issued on some days closer to the
polling date) were issued mostly on daily basis.

The main- and sub- headlines of such 'suspected paid news' were:

30 April 2009: Page 1
r-i| |n |

6 April 2009: page 14
|| r i+ -nini i -i i i

rii| i| i in r n| -nini

i-i li ia li i i nni i -i
6

i| i-ni i i -i -

i li| | n | i-

|-in| ;ii - ia lii i nni i -

i+ i i lii| i| iiln n

-iii i irni r i+ i n| -i

|ni ii| i - lii ii

i+ |- i. li i i nni i ii| n i ii

i-i -i i lrn r -i i-| - r| lin

li iin| i| -riii li |ni rnii i i| i -i

ni -ii| - r -ii ri i |ni rnii ii| i ii

-ninii | -ni i -ii| i - ri i;

|ni liii -i-

|ni i l- ri r i -i

- ia lii i nni i r

ii -ninii i ilr i lnlli r| ia lii i nni

-i liii i| ia li i i nni ii

i-n l-n r ia li i i nni

7

r n i -i l- ri r |ni ii| i

i+ - -| ilni | r r i-i ri ia lii i nni i i ii

ri| | in i| r ni ia nni i lnii r

l~ii - i| ni ia nni i i

ni |ni rnii ii| i i

ll -ninii - ia li i i nni l -ir

iili , linii i -il-i -i i -

ia lii i nni | iii - - rii in

r l| i ii ri r |ni rnii i ln-

l.lr..n ; ini i -

ia lii i nni ii -| i+ | liili | -|-

nir i ii i l-| ni -ilrn r ia i

s- l i ii i lnril ni

ii| ia lii i nni

- - r| r ianni i -

i i in i , ia li i i nni i lni

li| i i li| - ia nni i ii| -ir

nini i ii i ia nni i ii
8

i+ li l ia nni i |ni |

i r r r ianni in

ia nni i ii | i-ili -| r

ni| -i - iii i lii i nni

-l-- ri - ia li i i nni i- | n

AND many more such news with either no credit line or with a credit line of jagran chunaav
kendra and loaded with suggestive content in favour of political candidates. Read them online at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/bobbyramakant/DainikJagaran130April2009#

Hindustan
All news scanned and used for analysis published in Hindustan are available online at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/bobbyramakant/DainikHindustan130April2009#

Most of the news related to candidates from Lucknows 15
th
Lok Sabha constituency was
balanced with a generic headline related to poll-campaigning or activity and with sub-headers
and news of all major political parties and independent candidates on the newspaper page
dedicated to provide election coverage from Lucknow. Mostly news of election campaigning from
all major political parties acquired comparatively similar newspaper space and placement
including those of the independents. Candidates were profiled as well including those who were
contesting as independents. If photographs were published Hindustan took care to include all
major candidates. Once it published details of all 41 candidates contesting the 15
th
Lok Sabha
elections from Lucknow.

However on the polling day - April 30 - a 8 column wide and may be 2 inches wide advertisement
on top of main headline news on front-page Congress ki lahar which on first appearance looked
like a news item. This was extremely deceptive. However, Hindustan at least explicitly
mentioned that it was an advertisement, other newspaper didnt care or choose to do this.

Quarter to half page (or even full-page advertisements were issued on some days closer to the
polling date) were issued mostly on daily basis.

Voice of Lucknow
It appeared to be an oversize pamphlet of Dr. Akhilesh Das Gupta rather than a newspaper. This
newspaper is believed to be owned by him as well. Although this newspaper is registered with
Registrar of Newspapers of India (RNI) as a daily newspaper (and not newsletter), it was abused
unashamedly to promote Dr Das. This is also a gross breach of trust with which readers buy a
RNI-registered daily newspaper expecting to read unbiased, non-partisan, fair and un-partial
coverage as per the guidelines of Press Council of India.
9

News analysis of election coverage in Gorakhpur

All news scanned and used for analysis published in three Hindi newspapers, Gorakhpur editions, are
available online at:

In Rashtriya Sahara, there were news related to elections in Gorakhpur that either had NO credit
line or credited to 'chunaav samachar'. All other news in Rashtriya Sahara is credited either to
home news agency SNB (Sahara News Bureau) or to other news agencies (PTI, UNI etc). The
headline was always in bold red colour, with the content extremely suggestive in favour of Lok
Sabha election candidates from Gorakhpur.

In Dainik Jagaran, Gorakhpur edition, a lot of news election coverage of some of the Lok Sabha
election candidates from Gorakhpur constituency, either had NO credit line or credited to Ek
Pratinidhi. All other news in Dainik Jagran are routinely credited to their correspondents or to
other news agencies (PTI, UNI etc). The contents were extremely suggestive in favour of
particular candidates. Most of these 'news' were inside a red box.

In Dainik Hindustan, some of the headlines were overtly biased in favour of particular candidates
in Gorakhpur editions. The balance that Hindustan maintained in its election coverage in Lucknow
edition was not seen in Gorakhpur.

Below are some of the headlines scanned from three newspapers (Gorakhpur editions) which
make it apparent of the inherent bias and vested interests against the true spirit of journalism.

lr-ni lr| l nii -i
ni | r| ii
| ii -i
lnllii ri i ; r| -i-| ~i
ii l i- -in r
| lii r
ni rii r
- ~- i-ii r
ii | ii ii r r
i | ii| i r
i|i |lin ri c
ni ri r-ii | |n s
ni ii r s
i -i i --ii s ~i

l ini nii -i
i| - ii r li s
ii in| i s
r- i i r|n - n s ~i
-i ii -n i-i nir l-| z
r i; li i- lii r
-ri| | ni l r
i r| lin| i-ilni r
10

l i- in| s s
i -i nn r -i lni| s s
li ii - | ni-| s z
nii i - i ir r z
i i in in| -iin| r z
-i- i r s
i - r li lni| r
i ii - lii n c
|ri lr i i i c
;iln | - r i-ilni r a
i i i r| n| r a
|ii n li | | r s
l i n iri i li r s

-i rin rini i s s

i-| rii nii -i
- -i - - rii rii s
-n iin|i --i l s z
ii i ini s s
-i ii - r -i s
ni - i i- i r| r s c ~i
n | i-iii nini s s

ni ri ilni- | i|ln s a
nii - -riln i - l- s
l i ri r in| i i /
i i-| ii - -ir li - r
li i | ir -ri| r
i r| n| r iii i -ii
l ln- - s r
l l- l rii;- i; c
11

Estimated expenditure
by candidates and major political parties in media advertising

Advertisements and suspected news (with no credit line or credit line suspected of marketing/
advertising initiatives) of candidates and political parties published in the three daily newspapers
(Dainik Hindustan, Dainik Jagran, Rashtriya Sahara) between 1-30 April 2009, were scanned,
measured and the expenditure calculated on the basis of the quoted rates available in public
domain.

The expenditure in Indian National Rupees (INR) is given below against the name of political
parties and candidates contesting elections from Lok Sabha constituency of Lucknow in 2009:

i-| rii l ini l lr-ni
Total
Indian National
Congress (INC)
8,34,912 10,58,400 50,97,300 69,90,612
Bhartiya Janta
Party (BJP)
22,81,680 7,20,000 68,00,500 98,02,180
Bahujan Samaj
Party (BSP)
7,57,400 3,83,200 20,32,000 31,72,600
Samajwadi Party
(SP)
33,12,000 45,28,800 1,05,80,000 1,84,20,800
Rita Bahuguna
Joshi
2,10,330 7,56,900 2,49,600 12,16,830
Akhilesh Das
Gupta
19,54,188 61,94,162 18,01,800 99,50,150
Nafisa Ali 1,29,600 1,20,960 3,12,000 5,62,560

12

Conclusions

It is obvious that Political Parties and Candidates, who strictly following the guidelines of Election
Commission elsewhere, are unabashedly using the media and the media is allowing itself to be
used. Action needs to be taken against both.

We expect the Press Council to rein in newspapers and ask them to follow the Press Council of
India Election Reporting Guidelines of 1996. Action should be taken against any publication
violating this Guidelines.

The Registrar of Newspapers of India should cancel the registration of publications violating the
above mentioned Guidelines.

The Election Commission must strictly take into account the expenditure in newspapers in the
overall expenses of a candidate. We expect the Election Commission to take action against
candidates who have violated their upper limit on election expenses. It should apply the same
strictness in following the model code of conduct to election coverage in media as it does
elsewhere. If necessary it should specifically evolve a set of guidelines for media and political
parties during election coverage akin to Press Council guidelines. Political parties issue
advertisements which are not counted towards the election expenses of any single candidate.
There should be a ceiling on expenditure by Parties too. Alternatively, the expenditure of a
Political Party must be divided equally among all its candidates.

Recommendations for the Election Commission of India (ECI)
- ECI must take action against the candidates who used the media unabashedly and also
those media outlets that allowed themselves to be abused
- ECI must strictly take into account the expenditure in newspapers in the overall expenses
of a candidate
- ECI must take action against candidates who have violated their upper limit on election
expenses
- ECI must specifically evolve a set of guidelines for media and political parties during
election coverage akin to Press Council guidelines (see annexure)
- ECI must set ceiling on expenditure by political Parties during elections. Alternatively, the
expenditure of a Political Party must be divided equally among all its candidates and
assessed by ECI

Recommendation for the Press Council of India
- We expect the Press Council to rein in newspapers and ask them to follow the Press
Council of India Election Reporting Guidelines of 1996. Action should be taken against
any publication violating these Guidelines.

Recommendation for the Registrar of Newspapers of India
The Registrar of Newspapers of India should cancel the registration of publications violating the
above mentioned Guidelines and which is not providing unbiased, fair and unpartisan news to the
reader (a registered newspaper is bound to provide unpartisan, fair and unbiased news coverage
as it is not a newsletter of a political party/ candidate but a registered newspaper)

13

Annexures

The annexures along with this report include:

Annexure I: advertising rates obtained for different newspapers
Annexure II: Press Council of India guidelines on election reporting (1996)
Annexure III: BBC guidelines on broadcasting during elections
Annexure IV: Statement and signature petition signed by more than 250 individuals/
organizations to stop misuse of media in elections (May 2009)
Annexure V: Links to all media clippings of the scanned newspapers (1-30 April 2009)

14

Annexure I

Rates for Hindustan
Colour: Rs. 1050 per sq. cm.
Black and White: 950 per sq. cm.
Rates are 50% more for front page, 30% more for back page and 25% for all right hand pages.

Rates for Dainik Jagran
Front: Rs 1008 /sq cm
Back: Rs 828 / sq cm
All other pages: Rs 450 /sq cm

Rates for Rashtriya Sahara
Rs 360 /sq cm for colour
(50% would be extra for front page)
Rs 240 /sq cm for black and white
(50% will be extra for front page)

15

Annexure II

Press Council of Indias Guidelines on Election Reporting-1996

i) General Election is a very important feature of our democracy and it is imperative that the
media transmits to the electorate fair and objective reports of the election campaign by the
contesting parties. Freedom of the Press depends to a large measure on the Press itself
behaving with a sense of responsibility. It is, therefore, necessary to ensure that the media
adheres to this principle of fair and objective reporting of the election campaign.

The Press Council has, therefore, formulated the following guidelines to the media for
observance during elections:

1. It will be the duty of the Press to give objective reports about elections and the
candidates. The newspapers are not expected to indulge in unhealthy election
campaigns, exaggerated reports about any candidate/party or incident during the
elections. In practice, two or three closely contesting candidates attract all the media
attention. While reporting on the actual campaign, a newspaper may not leave out any
important point raised by a candidate and make an attack on his or her opponent.

2. Election campaign along communal or caste lines is banned under the election rules.
Hence, the Press should eschew reports which tend to promote feelings of enmity or
hatred between people on the ground of religion, race, caste, community or language.

3. The Press should refrain from publishing false or critical statements in regard to the
personal character and conduct of any candidate or in relation to the candidature or
withdrawal of any candidate or his candidature, to prejudice the prospects of that
candidate in the elections. The Press shall not publish unverified allegations against any
candidate/party.

4. The Press shall not accept any kind of inducement, financial or otherwise, to project a
candidate/party. It shall not accept hospitality or other facilities offered to them by or on
behalf of any candidate/party.

5. The Press is not expected to indulge in canvassing of a particular candidate/party. If it
does, it shall allow the right of reply to the other candidate/party.

6. The Press shall not accept/publish any advertisement at the cost of public exchequer
regarding achievements of a party/ government in power.

7. The Press shall observe all the directions/orders/instructions of the Election
Commission/Returning Officers or Chief Electoral Officer issued from time to time.

ii) Guidelines on 'Pre-poll' and 'Exit-polls' Survey-1996

The Press Council of India having considered the question of desirability or otherwise of
publication of findings of pre-poll surveys and the purpose served by them, is of the
view that the newspapers should not allow their forum to be used for distortions and
manipulations of the elections and should not allow themselves to be exploited by the
interested parties.

The Press Council, therefore, advises that in view of the crucial position occupied by the
electoral process in a representative democracy like ours, the newspapers should be on
guard against their precious forum being used for distortions and manipulations of the
elections. This has become necessary to emphasize today since the print media is
16

sought to be increasingly exploited by the interested individuals and groups to misguide
and mislead the unwary voters by subtle and not so subtle propaganda on casteist,
religious and ethnic basis as well as by the use of sophisticated means like the alleged
pre-poll surveys. While the communal and seditious propaganda is not difficult to detect
in many cases, the interested use of the pre-poll survey, sometimes deliberately planted,
is not so easy to uncover. The Press Council, therefore, suggests that whenever the
newspapers publish pre-poll surveys, they should take care to preface them
conspicuously by indicating the institutions which have carried such surveys, the
individuals and organisations which have commissioned the surveys, the size and nature
of sample selected, the method of selection of the sample for the findings and the
possible margin of error in the findings.

2. Further in the event of staggered poll dates, the media is seen to carry exit-poll
surveys of the polls already held. This is likely to influence the voters where the polling is
yet to commence. With a view to ensure that the electoral process is kept pure and the
voters' minds are not influenced by any external factors, it is necessary that the media
does not publish the exit-poll surveys till the last poll is held.

3. The Press Council, therefore, requests the Press to abide by the following guideline in
respect of the exit polls:

Guideline:
No newspaper shall publish exit-poll surveys, however, genuine they may be, till the last
of the polls is over.

Online at: http://mea.gov.in/generalelection/22ge01.pdf

17

Annexure III

BBC Guidelines on Broadcasting during elections

Our commitment to impartiality and fairness is under intense scrutiny when we report election
campaigns. All political parties will seek to influence editorial decisions. Content producers should
take all complaints seriously and be aware that anything they say may be construed as "BBC
policy". We should explain that general complaints or allegations of bias must always be dealt
with at a higher level, and refer them accordingly.

We should make, and be able to defend, our editorial decisions on the basis that they are
reasonable and carefully and impartially reached. To achieve this we must ensure that:

* news judgements continue to drive editorial decision-making in news based programmes.

* news judgements at election time are made within a framework of democratic debate which
ensures that due weight is given to hearing the views and examining and challenging the policies
of all parties. Significant minor parties should also receive some network coverage during the
campaign.

* they are aware of the different political structures in the four nations of the United Kingdom
and that they are reflected in the election coverage of each nation. Programmes shown across
the UK should also take this into account.

The way in which due accuracy and impartiality is achieved between parties will vary. It may be
done in a single item, a single programme, a series of programmes or over the course of the
campaign as a whole. But content producers must take responsibility for achieving due accuracy
and impartiality in their own output and not rely on other BBC services to redress any imbalance
for them.

Online at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/guidelines/editorialguidelines/edguide/politics/broadcastingdur.shtml

18

Annexure IV

This statement and Signature petition was issued in early May 2009 to stop misuse
of media in elections. It is signed by more than 250 individuals/ organizations
and available online at:
http://www.petitiononline.com/media000/petition.html

To: Press Council of India, Election Commission, Editors and owners of media
houses

We, the citizens, are deeply concerned about the blatant misuse of print and electronic
media by parties and candidates contesting the Lok Sabha elections in 2009 and about
the media allowing itself to be abused. This constitutes a gross breach of trust with the
reader/viewer who expects unbiased and fair news coverage during elections. Moreover,
the media, blatantly violating the Press Council of Indias Guidelines of Election
Reporting -1996, stands discredited so far as its role as fourth pillar of the democracy is
concerned.

The distinction between news, views and political campaigning (read advertising) is no
longer clear. The use of 'advt' or 'marketing media initiative' tag in small font-size printed
is not sufficient to inform the reader whether the content is news, views or paid
advertising by an election candidate. Some newspapers dont even care to put this small
print.

Broadly speaking, the influence of marketing heads is growing over the influence of
editors within media houses in decision-making related to the content. The person who
collects advertisements for media and acts as a correspondent, is often the same in
smaller districts and sub-district places. These people enjoy due media accreditation and
often promote those who issue advertisements (and block those who don't).

The amount which is spent on paid advertising, advertorials and other manners like
'marketing media initiative' and likes, to solicit earned and paid media coverage of a
candidate during elections, often crosses the spending cap of Rs 25 lakhs. Hence,
media is colluding with parties and candidates in violating the model code of conduct
during elections. Moreover, the transactions for advertisements in the garb of news
items are not even shown in the records. Newspapers are not required to file financial
statements to their regulatory authorities as a result of which it is difficult to know their
exact incomes or the sources on this account. They should be required to do so
partywise & candidatewise so that the figures given by the candidates may be cross-
checked.

There is a need to enact a law to regulate political parties. The ceiling should be all
inclusive covering expenditure by friends & relatives also which is not included at
present and is used to flout the ceiling. Also the penalty on violating the spending cap in
elections should be more severe and applicable on the current election cycle as well.
Presently the action taken on violating the spending cap is applicable to next election
cycle only, which is clearly not a deterrent.

The electronic media must also have an equivalent of a Press Council to govern their
conduct.
19

We also support the growing demand for all newspapers to appoint an ombudsman to
inquire into complaints against them.

But, fundamentally, we would like to see the media go back to its non-partisan role of
being the watchdog of democracy. It should not compromise its independent position for
the sake of commercial interests. When people are losing faith in the democratic
institutions of the country the media should not accelerate the degeneration. It is
expected to play a role in restoring peoples confidence in democracy.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned
(to get the list of more than 220 individuals/ organizations that signed upon this
statement, go to: http://www.petitiononline.com/media000/petition.html )

20

Annexure V

The scanned news published during 1-30 April 2009 in three out of four newspapers
(LUCKNOW editions) are available online at:
Rashtriya Sahara: http://picasaweb.google.com/bobbyramakant/RashtriyaSahara130April2009#
Dainik Hindustan: http://picasaweb.google.com/bobbyramakant/DainikHindustan130April2009#
Dainik Jagran: http://picasaweb.google.com/bobbyramakant/DainikJagaran130April2009#

In GORAKHPUR, three Hindi newspapers were scanned during the period: 1-30 April 2009,
and analyzed. The scanned news from Gorakhpur is available online at:

News Monitoring, Aggregation and Analysis of Media Reporting During 15th Lok Sabha Elections 2009 in Lucknow and Gorakhpur

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News Monitoring, Aggregation and Analysis of Media Reporting During 15th Lok Sabha Elections 2009 in Lucknow and Gorakhpur

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