New Delhi, Feb 8: Paid news has brought down the "Chinese wall" between advertisements and editorial content, raising questions on the credibility of several stories in the media, feel leading journalists and commentators.
 "The Chinese wall that existed between advertising and editorial content 25 years ago, that wall doesn't exist anymore. Editors earlier would keep advertisers at arm's length but today have lost the capacity to say no. Paid news is now seen as the equity in return for good information," said Rajdeep Sardesai, editor-in-chief, CNN-IBN.
 Addressing a gathering as part of a media festival organised by the Indian Institute of Mass Communication here, he raised the issue of "independence and autonomy of the editor and editorial content" in the face of the onslaught of what he called as "proprietor editors".
 "Do editors today have the independence and the autonomy to say no? We have channels now owned by 'proprietor editors', real estate barons and chicken poultry farm owners. And, editors are caught up in a tug-of-war between journalism and ownership," he added.
 Sardesai said that journalism today has "lost its moral compass" and has "turned into decibel and TRP wars".
 Commentator and author Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, who was part of the two-member sub-committee set up by the Press Council of India (PCI) to draft a report on the paid news controversy, also voiced his concern about the growing menace compromising the integrity of the industry.
 "The line between selling a news and selling a product has been grossly blurred. Advertorial posing as news have been cheating readers and the paid practices have compromised the integrity of this once noble profession," he said.
 According to him, the PCI itself "does not have a legal mandate to punish the offenders" apart from issuing "advisory admonishments".
 "PCI is a toothless tiger that cannot even whimper let alone roar. And paid news phenomenon has taken roots in our system which is corroding the very foundation which was built by our forefathers," Thakurta said.
 PCI Chairman Markandey Katju had described the prevalence of paid news as "shocking and very disturbing".
 Editor of media watch website 'The Hoot', Sevanti Ninan, also spoke of the absence of "self-critical prism" in the Indian media unlike in the west.
 "Indian media has problem in looking at its own self. It's the avoiding of this self-criticism that has also compounded the problems the industry is facing today," she said.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 8 Feb 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 8 Feb 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 9 Feb 2013 00:00:00 IST