New Delhi: The organised a one-day conference for Media and Communication Officers, bringing together Media Nodal Officers (MNOs) and Social Media Nodal Officers (SMNOs) from all 36 States and Union Territories. District Media Nodal Officers and District Public Relations Officers from states and UTs where the third phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is underway, as well as from poll-bound states, also participated in the event.
More than 350 media and communication officials attended the conference, including MNOs, SMNOs, and District Media Nodal Officers/Public Relations Officers.
The conference was addressed by , , and .
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar noted that the recently concluded elections in five states witnessed unprecedented public participation since Independence. He urged officials to ensure that all communication remains timely, simple, factual, and firmly grounded in legal provisions.
Election Commissioner Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu emphasized that communication efforts should focus not merely on activities undertaken but on their impact on citizens. Election Commissioner Dr. Vivek Joshi highlighted the crucial role of officers in ensuring that the Commission’s rules, guidelines, and directives are conveyed to the public in a simple and easily understandable manner.
The conference began with a comprehensive overview of communication strategies adopted at various stages of the electoral process, from electoral rolls to polling. Discussions covered ECINET, key constitutional provisions, election laws, recent Supreme Court judgments and their media relevance, planning and dissemination of press releases through traditional and social media, countering misinformation and disinformation, engaging young voters through Electoral Literacy Clubs (ELCs), and effectively communicating the Commission’s initiatives to the public.
The event also provided an opportunity for officials from recently concluded elections to share their experiences and exchange best practices with counterparts from across the country.
A dedicated Question-and-Answer (Q&A) session between participants and the Commission was held at the conclusion of the conference, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner .