Indian Givers

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on

Indian rupeesPublic relations "is coming of age" in India, writes Ramesh Narayan, the founder of an advertising agency in Mumbai. Its emergence has been accompanied by some shady practices, such as press confererences where reporters receive a "press kit which contained relevant material and a gift. ... Considerable time was spent in deciding what gift should be purchased. Journalists were tired of receiving pen sets and calculators. Textile companies would dole out suit lengths and saris. Others took the unimaginative route of handing out envelopes stuffed with money." And Narayan worries that an even worse trend is corrupting the news media: "operations where editorial space is officially sold to anyone who wants to buy it."

Main Source: 
Hindu Business Line, August 18, 2005
Topics: 
Media
Public Relations

Comments

ivanrurik4 replied on

Ah, isn't the corruption that free enterprise entails magnificent? And we Americans are the good people who further it. And our pride overflows.

miked918 replied on

While you may have ups and downs in any new industry, it is better for all that the media remain -- or be -- neutral, and honest. Yes, in every country, there are unethical PR professionals, but most adhire to ethical standards. It does no body any good if journalists can be bought. Readers will know, and then look elsewhere for news. Then, those in PR will be SOL. Mike