Hyderabad: Press Council of India has set up a committee consisting of Mr. Paranjoy Guha Thakurta  and Mr. K. Sreenivas Reddy to examine the phenomenon of paid news observed during the last General elections this year, based on inputs received from the members of PCI and others. The committee authorized by the PCI to co-opt members from media if necessary.

The Press Council of India received representation from a group of senior journalists Sri Prabhash Joshji,  Kuldilp Nayar,  Verghese, Ajit Bhattacharjee, Harivamsh, Chief Editor of Prabhat Kabar and Sri Achyutanand  Mishra, Vice Chancellor  Makhanlal Chaturvedi  Patrakarika Viswa Vidyalaya, Bhopal. The Chairman PCI Mr. Justice G.N. Ray draw the attention of the seminars organized by Press Academy of Andhra Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) at Hyderabad and Makhanlal Chaturvedi University at Delhi on these developments.

Council expressed serious concerne over the phenomenon of paid news that could cause a double jeopardy to the Indian Democracy through influence on the press functioning and on the free and fair election process. As a public utility service, the press exercises its right to inform because the public has the right to know.  The press thus functions as a depository of the public trust to convey to it correct and true information when such information is being presented as a news content. There was thus an urgent need to protect the public’s right to information so that is not mislead in deciding the selection quotient of the candidates in the fray.

The Press Council felt that in pursuance of the mandate given to the council by the parliament it was incumbent upon the statutory authority to examine the matter in all its dimension through studies and debates to maintain the faith of public in the media and make appropriate recommendations.