News Broadcasting
Media ought to regulate itself, says Punjab Guv
NEW DELHI: Punjab Governor and Administrator of Chandigarh V P Singh Badnore today said that the media should develop a self-regulatory mechanism to present to the government a true picture of the issues concerning people as this would help in finding solutions.
Addressing the Regional Editors’ Conference in Chandigarh, the Governor cited some incidents of paid news, and said the media should come forward to check this menace. He invited public suggestions to improve the infrastructure and public conveniences in Chandigarh.
Organiser Press Information Bureau’s director general (media and communications) A P Frank Naronha said the Government considers media as an important stakeholder in its agenda of development. “The media has an onerous responsibility as both a facilitator and a watchdog to ensure that the fruits of development are reaching the deserving,” he said. He added the media, especially the regional media, could play an important role in this venture.
During the inaugural session, home minister Rajnath Singh and member of Parliament Kirron Kher were also present.
Naronha said the Regional Editors Conference had been organized with an objective to provide an opportunity to the editors of the regional press to interact directly with ministers on crucial issues concerning their respective ministries. While the participants would get to know the relevant context and deeper background behind a particular initiative, programmes and policies, it would also help the policy makers in getting the feedback from the media which could be useful for improvement, he said.
Highlighting the role of PIB, Naronha said that, besides traditional modes of communication, PIB was also reaching the regional press and public through social media in big way to make them aware of government programmes.
In the two-day conference, six central Ministries – Home, Women & Child Development, Road Transport & Highways, Consumer Affairs & Public Distribution, Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, and Development for North East region are participating. Ministers would preside over the respective sessions, and address the editors about policy issues and initiatives.
In the conference, editors from the states of Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Manipur, Mizoram and Chandigarh are taking part.
This is the third Regional Editors’ Conference being organized by PIB during this calendar year. The earlier Regional Editors’ Conferences this year were held in Jaipur and Chennai.
The PIB also reaches out to the regional media through its regional and branch offices and through special initiatives like press tours and ‘Vartalap’ or Rural Media Workshop at the district level.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 rolls out Battle for the States ahead of key polls
Multi-format election coverage tracks voter mood across five battleground states
NEW DELHI: CNN-News18 has launched a special election programming initiative titled Battle for the States, as India gears up for high-stakes Assembly elections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry.
Built around the theme ‘Road to Power’, the multi-format coverage aims to follow the entire electoral journey, from campaigning and polling to results and government formation. The network is leaning into on-ground reportage and data-backed storytelling to decode voter sentiment across regions where local issues often shape the narrative.
The programming line-up includes ‘Vote Tracker’, a three-part series developed in collaboration with survey agency Vote Vibe. The show blends survey insights with expert commentary and field reporting, using augmented reality graphics to present complex electoral data such as vote share, seat projections and leadership preferences in a more accessible format. It will air every Monday evening until April 6.
Adding a cultural lens to political reporting is ‘So Saree!’, a ground-driven segment where women anchors travel across constituencies dressed in traditional handwoven sarees from each state. The format uses attire as a storytelling device, highlighting regional identity while capturing grassroots voices.
Meanwhile, ‘Unfiltered Kaapi’ and ‘Chai-Niti’ bring a more conversational tone, drawing inspiration from everyday political discussions in tea stalls and coffee corners. These segments aim to break down key issues through candid, fast-paced exchanges between anchors and reporters, tailored to regional sensibilities.
For viewers seeking deeper insights, the weekend docuseries ‘Reporters Project’ takes a longer view, with correspondents travelling across constituencies to map voter concerns and political shifts on the ground.
“Elections are about people, their aspirations, identities and the issues that matter to them, and every state tells a different story,” said CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar. He added that the initiative focuses on understanding “the sentiment on the ground and what’s driving voter choices”.
Echoing the emphasis on credibility, Network18 CEO – English and business news Smriti Mehra said the network aims to combine on-ground reporting with data-led insights to deliver clear and timely coverage as the elections unfold.
With a mix of data, culture and grassroots reporting, CNN-News18 is positioning Battle for the States as a comprehensive window into one of India’s most closely watched electoral cycles, where every vote carries a story waiting to be told.
