CHITWAN: The Election Commission (EC) has urged the journalists and media to disseminate fact-based news and avoid fake news and disinformation.

At a province level orientation program the Election Commission organized with the collaboration of the Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) on Wednesday, EC Secretary Gokarna Mani Duwadi said journalists and media have important role in democracy, so they need to be aware on election code of conduct and helps others abide by it. Media persons are also the observers of election code, he said, reminding that media had played significant role in the recent local level elections.

He further said EC was working in collaboration with media. He informed that EC had put in place a mechanism to control the possible flow of fake news, misinformation and disinformation.  He also shared that EC had collaborated with Meta, Mother Company of Facebook, to counter fake news in relations to election.

Authentic news reporting requires fact-checking, he suggested, existing laws on election, directive, and views of EC’s spokesperson, deputy spokespersons, press release, and e-bulletin could be helpful for fact checking.

On the occasion, RSS Deputy General Manager Shyam Prasad Rimal provided orientation that journalists can play important role to make election free, fair and peaceful. Media must be fair while reporting, he said, stressing that journalists must not use information without sources. A positive contribution of media is imperative as they can aware people on people’s voting rights and political candidates’ rights to campaigning.

FNJ Chairperson of Chitwan Chapter, Narayan Adhikari, said journalists faced hassles in reporting in the last election. So, convenient atmosphere for reporting should be ensured, he demanded.

Chief Returning Officer in Chitwan, Ritendra Thapa, media is the fundamental pillar of democracy, so its contribution is imperative for fair election.