Meghalaya: Upcoming elections focus of media workshop in Shillong

Shillong: North-East Zone Director General, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, B Narayanan on Monday said that the Election Commission of India is a testament to a well-run election management body overseeing the election process.

“As an election observer in Karnataka, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh, I have seen various political parties trying to manipulate public opinion through the media,” said B Narayanan. The processes implemented by the are strong enough to curb these malpractices,” he added.

The Director General was addressing a media workshop called ‘Vartalap’ in Shillong today, with the theme ‘Media and Elections: Electoral Risk Management and Communication with Media’.

Press Information Bureau in Shillong along with DIPR Meghalaya and Shillong Press Club organized this workshop in view of upcoming elections in the state.

Narayanan discussed the challenges faced by election management institutions in the current context, highlighting the intersection of their functions with social media platforms. He pointed out that while these platforms claim to have content visibility policies, they also have significant “algorithmic power”. To combat fake news and ensure credible election results, Narayanan argued that a proactive approach is necessary to protect the liberties that rely on social media platforms.

Narayanan highlighted various emerging challenges in conducting elections, including manipulation of the information environment. He emphasized the importance of vigilance in countering attempts to spread disinformation in the media sphere and noted that various concerned citizen groups, government agencies, and online fact-checking organizations are working together to check these claims. have been, especially crises such as the ongoing pandemic.

During his address, Chief Electoral Officer FR Kharkongar emphasized the importance of the Election Commission in creating a conducive environment for free and fair elections in the state.

He discussed the active role of media in ensuring transparency of elections and said that Election Commission will work together to ensure free and fair elections in Meghalaya in a couple of months.

The media is the eyes and ears of the Election Commission,” Kharkongar said. “We believe they act as a force multiplier and a catalyst to deliver free and fair elections.

It is the responsibility of both the media and the Election Commission to ensure that the right narrative is presented.” Go, because elections are largely fantasy games,” he added.

Talking about the efficacy of EVMs, Kharkongar said that the Commission has always set high standards for efficient, smooth and professional conduct of elections and adoption of latest technological developments to streamline and improve elections. has been at the forefront of adoption and implementation.

DIPR Director (MCS) Malthus S. Sangma recognized the active role of the media in safeguarding the transparency of the democratic process, often referred to as its “watchdog” role.

They emphasized the importance of transparency on multiple levels, including access to information, accountability and legitimacy of individuals and institutions, and the ability to participate and engage in public debate.

Senior Journalist Anirban Roy gave a presentation on the ethical use of digital tools in disseminating information with a focus on effective election campaigning.

He identified the potential for “fake social media narratives” to undermine the free and fair conduct of elections around the world. He said that gathering news has become difficult in this digital age.

“To stay in touch with competing media organizations and keep pace, reporters often rely heavily on open source information from sources like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

However, this open source information are not always authentic and can sometimes be inaccurate or even fake.

As a result, journalists may find themselves in trouble writing information that is not entirely accurate,” added Roy.