CHANDIGARH: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced special media awards to recognize the outstanding efforts of media houses in promoting voter education and electoral awareness throughout 2024.
The awards will honor campaigns that have contributed significantly to increasing voter participation by raising awareness about the voting process, accessible elections, election-related IT applications, and other key election topics. The awards, which will be in the form of a citation and plaque, will be presented on National Voters’ Day, 25th January 2025.
Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Sibin C informed that the awards will be given across four categories: Print Media, Television, Radio, and Online/Social Media. He emphasized that the evaluation will be based on the quality of voter awareness campaigns, the accuracy and balance of the information presented, and the extent of the campaign’s reach.
“We are looking for campaigns that effectively highlight accessible elections, ECI’s IT innovations, and combat misinformation while making a measurable impact on public awareness, ” as per the ECI letter.
A spokesperson elaborated on the key requirements for each category:
* Print Media: “Entries must include a summary of the work carried out, the number of articles published, the total print area, and any public engagement activities. A soft copy, web link, or hard copy of the relevant articles should be provided.”
* Television and Radio: “Entries should provide material on a CD, DVD, or Pen Drive, including details of the duration, frequency, and total broadcast time. Any other activities like direct public engagement should also be highlighted.”
* Online/Social Media: “We are seeking a summary of posts, blogs, tweets, or campaigns, along with relevant links or PDFs. The impact of the campaign, as well as any additional activities, must also be detailed.”
All entries must have been published, broadcast, or posted during 2024. Submissions in languages other than English or Hindi should include an English translation. “Entries should carry the media house’s name, address, and contact details, and must be submitted by 10th December 2024 to Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, Under Secretary (Communication) Election Commission of India, Nirvachan Sadan, Ashoka Road, New Delhi 110001 and email is media-division@eci.gov.in.
CEO Sibin C expressed his gratitude to media houses for their continued efforts in creating electoral awareness and encouraged them to sustain their contributions during future elections.