Concept of Paid News in Indian Print Media

Print media in India have been witnessing a rapid boom during the last two decades. On the contrary developed nations like the United State of America and some European countries have recorded a steep fall both in newspaper readership and growth. The growth of newspapers in India is a positive sign of democracy. However, in recent past there are some instances of unfair and unethical means practised by certain sections of Indian media that undermine the public service value of journalism. The phenomena of paid news have acquired serious dimensions in the media world. Today, it goes beyond the corruption of the individual journalist and media company and has become pervasive, structured and highly organized. In this process it is undermining the Indian democratic value. The paper brings to light how candidate Ashok Chavan made advantageous use of the print media (in Indian languages and print) during the Maharashtra state elections in 2009. A lot of news stories and editorials, that were paid for were published with and without bylines in dailies. No mention of the words ‘advt’, ‘paid for’, ‘advertorial’ was made on the same. Paid news is not active during elections per se. Paid news has also taken the form of ‘private treaty’ where the media company enters into a contract with the corporate house and the company’s equity shares are exchanged for advertising contracts. The authors have made an attempt to keep the trouble of paid news in the Indian print media under control, and indicated some remedial measures.

 To read the full article please contact the editor, Media Watch at: mediajournal@ymail.com

About the Authors:

Lakshmi L Lund is a Research Fellow in the Department of Communication and Media Studies, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore-641 046. E-mail : lakshmilund8@gmail.com

P E Thomas is Associate Professor and Head, Department of Communication and Media Studies, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore-641 046. E-mail: thomasmediastudies@gmail.com

Emerging Trends in the Indian Media Landscape — Malaise of Paid-Content and the Need for Greater Accountability

The practice of paid news by public media in a democracy betrays the deep-seated ethical canon of journalism, which assumes that ‘news is meant to be objective, fair and unbiased’ as differentiated from advertisements that are paid for by those who sponsor. The blurring of lines between news and advertisements and attempts to present advertisements as news or advertorials, or news published grossly favouring private interests by selling the editorial space certainly constitutes betrayal of the trust of the reader, for such acts deceive the readers or viewers to believe the doctored reports to be true and unbiased. The practice, not only forces the media audiences to compromise on their right to unbiased news and fair comments, but also weaken the foundations of the fourth estate by lowering its own credibility and societal approval, which are the basic arguments legitimizing media freedom. While seeking to decode the phenomenon of paid news in terms of its operational, legal, and moral aspects, in the context of the changing dynamics of the Indian media market, this paper also attempts to examine the impacts and analyse the responses of the media, civil society and the state to the malaise of paid content.

To read the full article, please contact Editor, Media Watch at : mediajournal@ymail.com

About the author:

Pitabas Pradhan is Assistant Professor, Department of Mass Communication, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh-202 002. E-mail: pitabaspradhan@rediffmail.com

Changing Face of Indian Journalism— Political Agitations to Economic Alliances

This paper, based on a very brief review of the history of Indian newspapers during 1780—2011, argues that the  face of  journalism in India is changing. The Indian press represented agitation against authority — be it East India Company or British government— since its inception. But twenty-first century Indian journalism has business and  financial alliances with advertisers in the public sector (government) and private corporations. Today, journalism means giving visibility to brands and creating image rather than agitating against corrupt power structures. The journey of newspapers is a story of changing ownership, role, organizational structures, content, and regulation narratives over  200+ years. It is concluded that in the 21st century, newspapers in India do not stand for political mobilization, nation   building or the creation of public awareness about vital matters. Their ‘mission’ is money. News media are ‘on sale’, for ‘paid news and private treaties’. Commoditization of newspapers is becoming the norm of media business. Journalism as ‘information for public good’ has become a ‘vehicle of business and trade communication’ and profiteering is its  priority.

To read the full article, please contact Editor, Media Watch at : mediajournal@ymail.com

 About the Author :

 Mira K Desai is Associate Professor, University Department of Extension Education, SNDT Women’s University, Mumbai-400 049.     E-mail: drmiradesai@gmail.com

 

Changing Face of the Indian Press

A study of Indian history from 16th to 20th centuries will indicate that the transition from feudalism to modern society has been slow and incomplete despite the occasional turbulence, turmoil, wars, social reforms, and intellectual ferment.
It was during the mid-19thcentury (First War of Independence) and the 20th century freedom movement that the Indian newspapers played a powerful and prominent role in questioning the forces of authority, social prejudices and the suppression of personal liberty.

During the late 19th and early 20th century, attempts to propagate the ideas of liberty, equality, fraternity, and freedom were made by political and social leaders. The journals started by them played a historical role in questioning old ideas and practices like casteism, communalism, superstitions, educational backwardness and women’s oppression. Modern rational and scientific ideas, secularism, tolerance, and economic empowerment of the people were propagated in the writings of national leaders.

The newspapers, particularly, served in conscientizing literate and educated people about the need for social reforms and political independence. Until 1950, the newspapers no doubt, served in inspiring people of the country towards a change in their thinking about social transformation, economic empowerment and the establishment of a strong foundation for democracy.

But in recent decades, a decline in the functioning of the press/media has set in.

This paper attempts to present a glimpse of events through which the all types of media have passed. Reference is also made to the recent technological changes in our media world and the serious ethical questions they have raised about media’s performance.

To read the full article, please contact Editor, Media Watch at : mediajournal@ymail.com

About the Author:
S.N. Pattnaik is Editor (News), News Services Division, All India Radio, New Delhi-110 001. You can reach the author at snpattnaik@yahoo.com