Editors come together to fight 'paid news' BS 241209
The Editors Guild of India has expressed anguish and concern over the increasing number of reports
detailing the practice of carrying "paid news" by some newspapers and television channels, especially during
the recent elections. In a statement released today, the editors said they were deeply shocked and
concerned over the matter. The Guild, at its Annual General Meeting held on December 22, has strongly
condemned this practice, which whittles the foundations of Indian journalism, and calls upon all editors in the
country to desist from publishing any form of advertisement which masquerades as news, the Guild said in a
statement released today.
The Guild noted that it had always stood for publication of news which is in public interest; news which has
been gathered due to the professional efforts of journalists; and news which is not influenced by malice,
bias, favouritism or monetary influence.
The Guild recognised that news media, in print and electronic form, had a genuine right to publish and
broadcast advertisements on all issues, subject to the voluntary Advertising Standards Council code and the
News Broadcasting Standards Code.
''It is imperative that news organisations have to clearly distinguish between news and advertisements with
full and proper disclosure norms, so that no reader and viewer is tricked by any subterfuge of
advertisements published and broadcast in the same format, language and style of news. It is disturbing that
this "paid news" practice is also being used by companies, organisations and individuals, apart from political
parties,'' the editors' body said in a statement.
The Guild further deplored the practice of "private treaties", where news organisations accept free equity in
unlisted companies in lieu of promoting these companies through news columns and television news
programmes. The news organisations should disclose their commercial and equity interests in such
companies to the readers and viewers in a transparent manner.
''The Guild decries the unsavoury and unacceptable practice of some political parties and candidates
offering payment for 'news packages' to news media and its representatives to publish and telecast
eulogising and misleading news reports on the political parties. Both the media organisations and editors
who indulge in it, and the customers who offer payment for such 'paid news', are guilty of undermining the
free and fair press, which every citizen of India is entitled to,'' it said in the statement.
It observed that such irresponsible acts by a few media organisations and journalists is discrediting the
entire media of the country, which has a glorious tradition of safeguarding democratic rights and exposing all
kinds of injustices and inequities. Editors and journalists have been at the vanguard of the movement for
creation of a just society, both during the days of colonial rule and Independent India. The ugly phenomenon
of "paid news" will be a blot on the country's democratic fabric.
The Guild called upon publishers, editors and journalists of media organisations to fight this creeping
menace of commercialisation and bartering of self-respect of the media. During the coming months, the
Guild plans to join hands with other organisations to sensitise the media and civil society, including political
parties and the Election Commission, on the need to eliminate this unacceptable practice.
The Guild will be shortly unveiling an initiative to encourage transparency regarding "paid news" and "private
treaties." ''We appeal to all stakeholders to join us in pushing for a clean, transparent media,'' the Guild said
in its statement.
Rajdeep Sardesai, President of the Guild, announced the formation of an Ethics Committee headed by T N
Ninan, editor, Business Standard. The members are B G Verghese, editor and columnist; Sumit
Chakravartty, editor, Mainstream, and Madhu Kishwar, editor, Manushi.