Shillong, May 5: The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Meghalaya, held an Election Media Workshop in Shillong to strengthen collaboration with local media in promoting informed and ethical electoral engagement.
CEO Dr. BDR Tiwari led the workshop, administered the Voters’ Pledge, and emphasized the media’s crucial role in shaping narratives and managing perceptions during elections. He noted that the Election Commission of India (ECI) is committed to keeping polling stations within a 2-km range of voters and is introducing initiatives like home voting and improved polling amenities.
Dr. Tiwari underscored the need for strong media-ECI coordination to ensure accurate, responsible, and impactful election coverage.
Director & Secretary of DIPR, B. Sohliya, stressed the importance of public understanding of different electoral systems — from MDC to MLA and MP elections.
Joint CEO and Media Nodal Officer, YR Mawlong, welcomed the participants and encouraged the media to serve as long-term partners, not just during election cycles. She highlighted the media’s role in voter education, real-time updates, and ensuring accountability.
Senior journalist Philip Marwein called for ethical, fearless journalism and raised concerns over voter awareness gaps and the physical inaccessibility of polling stations in remote areas.
Padma Shri awardee and Shillong Times Editor Patricia Mukhim, in a video address, urged media outlets to inform the public about candidates, party ideologies, and host public forums to uphold democratic values.
Social media influencer Nicholas Kharnami, of ‘Meghalaya My Pride’, highlighted the importance of engaging Gen Z and Gen Alpha through digital platforms to build a politically aware youth base.
The workshop also outlined ECI’s strict media guidelines, particularly on paid news, political advertising, and misinformation, stressing that media transparency and ethical reporting are critical to preserving the integrity of elections.
Journalists from print, digital and electronic media actively participated, reaffirming their commitment to uphold press standards and support democratic processes.
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