Media boycott call for North East Olympic withdrawn

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaNovember 9, 2022

The boycott call of media coverage of the North East Olympics Games 2022 by the Meghalaya Editors’ and Publishers’ Association (MEPA) compelled the Meghalaya Govt to take prompt action to avoid embarrassment in front of other north eastern states.

The Govt authorizef Commissioner & Secretary, Finance, Government of Meghalaya Vijay Kumar to hold talks with the leaders of MEPA for resolving the issue.

Responding to the invitation for talks, an eight-member delegation of MEPA led by its president R Monarch Shabong and general secretary John W. Thabah met Kumar at his office.

During the discussion, the MEPA delegation referred to the discriminatory policy adopted by the government pertaining to the release of advertisements for the North East Olympic Games 2022 including preferences given to newspapers from outside the State.

The MEPA delegation also raised its strong objection to the pick and choose policy adopted by the government as far as release of advertisements are concerned and demanded that first preference should be given to local media houses on equal share basis.

Kumar assured to address all the grievances raised by MEPA. He also promised that advertisements related to the North East Olympic Games will be issued to all media houses of Meghalaya without any discrimination or partiality. He also earnestly appealed to the MEPA to withdraw its boycott call.

In response to positive outcome of the meeting, the MEPA has decided to withdraw the media boycott to the North East Olympic Games 2022.