Kozhikode: Instances of "paid news" getting
highlighted in recent months, especially in vernacular media,
by tailoring reports to promote business interests are a
matter of grave concern, Chairperson of Prasar Bharati Mrinal
Pandey said.
The difference between news and advertisements have come
down as advertising agencies have begun "enticing" editors to
publish reports to promote their products by offering sops to
tide over crisis, she told a meet-the-press programme here.
"Market forces have begun shaking editorial principles as
dominance of paid news have affected well accepted journalist
ethics," she said.
"Journalists unions have equally appeared to have got
politicised by succumbing to pressures of market forces
compelling journalists to sell out their souls," she said.
The vernacular media is visibly affected by the negative
trend as they face shrinkage of advertisement revenue forcing
them to publish "paid news", she said.
Many Hindi newspapers have even begun distributing `rate`
cards among doctors, politicians and other professionals
giving price lists per space detail for publishing promotional
news, Pandey, here to attend a convention on Network
of Women in Media, India (NWMI), said.
Editors` recruitment has to be made purely on
professional basis, which, to a certain extent, could put an
end to the unethical trend, she said, urging readers and
viewers to react to situations and boycott newspapers and TV
channels churning out news on monetary consideration.
PTI
