News Broadcasting
Delhi HC stays PCI’s order regarding ad in Hindustan newspaper
New Delhi: The Delhi high court stayed a directive passed by the Press Council of India (PCI) to government departments, which had effectively stopped government advertisements in some editions of the Hindi daily, Hindustan.
The directions were passed by the court while hearing a plea filed by Hindustan Media Ventures Ltd, which had challenged the PCI’s order, Live Law reported.
On 22 January, PCI had “censured” Hindustan newspaper stating that it had not clarified that a certain content printed in its Dehradun edition was an advertisement, as required by the norms of journalistic conduct framed by it. PCI also communicated the order to various governmental advertising agencies including the DAVP and sought an `action taken report’.
The counsel for Hindustan argued before the court, that even though the word ‘advt’ does appear in very small font size and print in the advertisement, the impugned order and the communication of the Press Council has, in effect, barred all government agencies from placing advertisements in the said newspaper. He also submitted that PCI’s order was "beyond the powers contemplated under Section 14 of the Press Council Act and was also arbitrary.”
After analysing the order, the court was of the opinion that it indeed gave the impression that government agencies cannot place any advertisements in the said newspapers, even though no such direction was part of the order. Therefore, it decided to stay the PCI’s order communicated to all government departments on 28 January to take action and submit the action taken report.
It further stated that the ramifications of the impugned communication can be quite detrimental to the financial health of the publication, if all government advertising is directed to be stopped due to an order of `censure’ passed by the Press Council.
The case was adjourned for next hearing on 22 April.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to air live counting day coverage for five state election results on May 4
The channel is rolling out its biggest election coverage machinery yet for results day on 4th May
NOIDA: The votes have been cast. Now comes the reckoning. CNN-News18 is pulling out all the stops for results day on 4th May, when counting begins across five battleground states — West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry — in what promises to be one of the most closely watched electoral verdicts in recent memory.
The channel’s coverage, titled Battle for the States: The Verdict, kicks off at 7am and runs through the day across linear TV, connected television and YouTube. It is the culmination of CNN-News18’s multi-format editorial initiative, Battle for the States, which has tracked the polls from the beginning under the theme Road to Power.
At the operational heart of the coverage will be the Live Results Hub, the channel’s central command centre built to collate, verify and process real-time data flowing in from reporters stationed at counting centres across constituencies. The hub combines newsroom intelligence, analytics and on-the-ground reporting to deliver what the channel promises will be the fastest and most accurate results coverage in English news.
Leading the on-air charge will be primetime anchors Rahul Shivshankar, Anand Narasimhan, Aman Sharma, Nabila Jamal and Shivani Gupta. They will be joined by a wide panel of commentators including author Chetan Bhagat; GVL Narasimha Rao, senior leader of the BJP; Smita Prakash, editor of ANI; activist Saira Shah Halim; political analyst Sumanth C Raman; Abhijit Iyer Mitra, senior fellow at IPCS; Amitabh Tiwari, founder of VoteVibe; columnist Abhijit Majumdar; Nalin Mehta, managing editor of MoneyControl; political analyst Tehseen Poonawalla; senior journalist Subir Bhaumik; and political analyst Manojit Mandal.
Shivshankar, who serves as editorial affairs director at CNN-News18, set out the stakes plainly. “Counting day is one of the most watched events in the electoral cycle, where speed and credibility are tested in real time,” he said. “Battle for the States: The Verdict is built on that promise, combining ground reporting, sharp analysis and cutting-edge election technology to give viewers the clearest and fastest route to the verdict. On May 4, CNN-News18 will once again be the nation’s most trusted channel to witness democracy in action.”
Smriti Mehra, chief executive of English and Business News at Network18, framed the coverage in broader terms. “Elections are defining national events, and audiences turn to brands they trust in moments that matter,” she said. “CNN-News18 has consistently led from the front in every election coverage, and this special programming reflects the scale of our ambition and editorial strength.”
The channel has form here. It claims to have been India’s most preferred English news destination for election results for the past 20 years, covering everything from the 2024 general elections to the Delhi, Maharashtra, Bihar and BMC polls on the back of what it calls an “Always First, Always Right” record. Five states, one day, and a nation waiting for answers. The clock starts at 7am on 4th May.
