In a report submitted to the government recently, the council has also suggested bringing electronic media under its purview and rechristening the Press Council as Media Council.
The PCI in its report has also suggested bringing suitable amendments in the Press Council Act to invest more power into the council and make its recommendations mandatory.
This was disclosed by BJP leader Prakash Javadekar, also a member of the council, here at a seminar, organised by the PCI on the occasion of National Press Day on Wednesday.
“Incidents of paid news must be made a punishable offence, not only for the media but also for those paying money for such purpose. We have asked government to amend the Representation of the People Act to make it (paid news) a punishable offence and electoral corrupt practice,” he said.
