The two-member sub-committee set up by the Press Council of India to examine paid news scandal, comprised
(A) Anupam Kher and Sharmila Tagore
(B) Sharmila Tagore and Prananjoy Guha Thakurta
(C) P. Sainath and Aroon Puri
(D) K. Sreenivas Reddy and Prananjoy Guha Thakurta
Correct Ans: (D)
Explanation:
The Press Council of India (PCI) created a two-member sub-committee to investigate the alarming issue of the paid news scandal. This scandal, which deeply impacted journalistic ethics, occurred when media houses accepted monetary compensation in exchange for favorable news coverage. Consequently, this practice misled audiences and weakened trust in journalism.
K. Sreenivas Reddy and Prananjoy Guha Thakurta actively led this committee. Their expertise and unwavering commitment to ethical journalism made them ideal candidates for this critical task. Moreover, their investigation aimed to uncover specific instances of paid news and propose practical solutions to eliminate such unethical practices.
Through their dedicated efforts, the sub-committee revealed the extent of the problem and emphasized the importance of transparency between media organizations and advertisers. Furthermore, they highlighted how paid news blurred the distinction between advertisements and authentic editorial content. To address this issue, they suggested stricter regulations and more robust checks to safeguard journalistic standards.
Additionally, the findings shed light on the urgent need for ethical practices within the media industry. This initiative from the PCI, spearheaded by Reddy and Thakurta, served as a turning point in addressing unethical practices in journalism.
In conclusion, the sub-committee’s work underlined the importance of responsible journalism. By tackling the paid news scandal, they reinforced the media’s role as a trustworthy source of information. As a result, this effort became a significant step toward restoring public confidence in journalism.
