Principal Correspondent
Kohima, March 29
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Nagaland Sentiyanger Imchen while expressing that over the years media has grown and become more powerful, today called upon the print and electronic media to use their network to provide correct and unbiased information to the public.
Addressing the inaugural function on the topic “Sensitization on role of Public Service Broadcasting in election coverage” organised by Regional News Unit (RNU), All India Radio (AIR) Kohima as the Chief Guest, Imchen said it is very essential that the information provided in the news should be correct.
“People generally accept the news in media to be correct without going into the veracity,” he said while cautioning that the news reports should not be biased and without favouring any particular party or person.
He also called upon the public broadcaster to educate the electorates to come out to exercise their franchise on the day of the polling scheduled for April 9 in Nagaland.
Meanwhile, he also informed the gathering that EPIC for all the 60 Assembly constituencies have arrived and already dispatched to the respective Booth Level Officers (BLOs). He clarified that any form of mistakes in the plastic EPIC can be corrected during the summary revision to be conducted after the Lok Sabha elections are over.He further stated that the State Election Department has made arrangements for live casting of over 100 polling stations while also maintained that the counting of votes on May 16 would also be live through web casting from the all 12 counting centres.
Reacting to concern on the problems of poor connectivity, the CEO said that the election department is closely in touch with BSNL service providers. “BSNL is also working hard but finding problems mainly because of digging of roads by various government departments,” he said while expressing the hope that things would be managed well on the required days.
Resource person for the workshop, Additional Director DAVP New Delhi, Manikant Thakur dwelling on the topic asked the reporters and correspondents of public sector broadcasters like AIR and DD not to indulge in any controversial reporting to come into the limelight.
He said it is better to be late than giving wrong reports while also asking them to maintain balance reporting and to refrain from broadcasting allegations without quoting the actual source.
He also stressed on the need for the correspondents to emphasize on spreading awareness amongst the first time and women voters and also highlight the problems faced by the weaker section of the people.
“We should report for the benefit of the people so that they come out to participate in the festival of democracy and elect the right leaders to lead the nation,” he added.
News Reader AIR Kohima, Jonas Yanthan delivered the welcome address while Editor AIR Kohima S. Buragohain tendered the vote of thanks.
