Paid news under attack at global PR conclave

Paid news and PR journalists came under severe attack at the day-long global PR and Media conclave that concluded last night in Mumbai.

Veteran journalist and former editor of several top newspapers H K Dua and news television anchor Arnab Goswami who spoke at the 6th global PR and media conclave hosted by the Public Relations Council of India (PRCI), opposed the trend of paid news and said it goes against the principles of journalism.

The theme of the conclave was: PR – Interface or interference?

''Paid news is nothing but propaganda under the garb of journalism,'' Dua, who delivered the key note address at the conclave said. ''Journalists should not work like PR people and PR people should not behave like journalists,'' he said and pointed put the ''Lakshman Reka'' (the line that differentiates) between PR and journalism. Both the professionals need to maintain their oen levels of credidility, he said.

Goswami was felicitated with mediaperson of the year award for being the game changer in TV journalism and for his forthright approach to breaking news and coverage of various events that shook the nation.  He said journalists should be upright and be not afraid calling spade a spade. They should not buckle under any pressure from any quarter.

Veteran journalists like Ayaz Memon and Kumar Ketkar who spoke on panel discussions said public relations has its own role an interface  between corporate and media and as facilitators of communication.