Meghalaya CEO suggests strong media partnership for fair, informed elections

SHILLONG, June 3: Meghalaya Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Dr BDR Tiwari, on Tuesday called for media collaboration to ensure the dissemination of accurate narratives and foster informed electoral participation.
He was addressing a gathering of journalists during an Election Media Workshop organised by the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Meghalaya, aimed at engaging with the local media and introducing them to the existing and new initiatives of the Election Commission of India (ECI).
During the programme, Dr Tiwari administered the Voters’ Pledge and emphasised the need for synergy between the media and the election authorities.
“During elections, correct narratives are key to reach the people, and alongside that is the managing of perceptions; therefore, the collaboration between the media and the Election Department or ECI has to work well,” he said.
He also highlighted the ECI’s efforts to maintain polling stations within 2 kilometres of voters and the introduction of home voting and other voter-friendly amenities.
The workshop focused on the evolving role of the media in elections—as a conduit for information, a platform for public discourse and a watchdog for electoral fairness. The media’s ability to shape public opinion and drive participation underscores its significance in modern democracies. Acknowledging this, the ECI has framed detailed guidelines to ensure ethical media conduct during elections and to maintain the integrity of the electoral process.
During the programme, Director and Secretary of DIPR, B. Sohliya, underlined the importance of public understanding of various election systems.
“There is a need for people to understand the difference between the numerous election systems of electing MDCs and MLAs, MPs,” he noted.
Joint CEO Meghalaya and Media Nodal Officer, YR Mawlong, in her welcome address, encouraged media houses to become long-term partners in the electoral process.
“The media is the key ally of the electoral process, and the positive role of the media is needed before, during, and after the election. Some of these roles include voter education, candidate and party information, real-time updates, voter engagement, ensuring accountability, and so on,” she said.
It may be mentioned that media professionals from both print and electronic outlets participated in the workshop and engaged with updates regarding the ECI’s media-related protocols.
Senior journalist Philip Marwein represented the media fraternity and urged his peers to maintain journalistic integrity. “With the responsibility bestowed upon us as journalists, we ought to perform our duties correctly and truthfully without fear or favour,” he said.
He also raised concerns over the lack of voter awareness and the physical distance between remote villages and polling stations—challenges he believed the ECI should address.
Editor of The Shillong Times Patricia Mukhim shared a video message, urging citizens to participate in the democratic process. “The media has a role to play in informing the public about the candidates’ profiles, the parties’ ideologies, facilitating voters to ask questions and conducting panel discussions to reflect the true spirit of democracy,” she stated.
Social media influencer Nicholas Kharmami of ‘Meghalaya My Pride’ spoke about the critical role of social media in connecting with younger demographics such as Gen Z and Gen Alpha.
The media was also briefed on best practices for election coverage, particularly the importance of delivering accurate, verified and impartial information. In a landscape crowded with content and misinformation, the role of responsible journalism was strongly emphasised.
The workshop further discussed ECI’s regulations on paid news and political advertising. These guidelines aim to ensure transparency in media sponsorships, preventing commercial interests from skewing voter perception. The Commission has also outlined penalties for violations, reflecting its commitment to clean and ethical elections.