Indian Media: A moment of Introspection

Indian journalism has a reason to be grateful to Outlook and its editor Vinod Mehta for the cover story on ‘Paid News’. That the sanctity of news was being violated - for years - was known to everyone in the profession. Most journalists felt violated in the very core of their being. They mourned about it. Endlessly. Yet this did not become a story. For, any number of newspapers, magazines and TV channels were in the game. Even the ones that were above board were eyeing the new “revenue stream”.

The debate sparked off by the Outlook may well be the proverbial storm in a tea cup. The sceptics may well view the expression of “shock” and “concern” by the Editors of Guild of India – whose members obviously should be aware of the practice of paid news – as public posturing. The ‘Ethics Committee’ set up by the Editors Guild of India comprises members whose integrity as media professionals is unimpeachable. One is also aware of the limitations of the guild itself. It can only make recommendations to the editors. The editors themselves – even if they want to implement the recommendations of the guild – do not have a decisive say in the management of media entities.

Despite reasons for scepticism, there is also a reason to rejoice. For, saner voices still exist. And, such voices may gather momentum. Or so one hopes.