Nava Thakuria
Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:15:30 -0800
http://www.countercurrents.org/thakuria300110.htm
Paid news culture in Assam
You can find a number of examples in Guwahati, where the proprietors of the
media houses had misused the media space for their individual benefits. It is
amazing how some newspapers change their point of views towards a politician or
party suddenly after getting money (in cash or kinds).
There are specific allegations that many journalists in Guwahati, who are among
the lowest paid in India with starting salaries as little as US$50 a month,
enjoy regular payments like monthly lump sum compensation from politicians in
power. Licenses for wine shops are offered to reporters (and accepted happily
by many) with the inherent understanding that they only write positive stories
and if possible, kill negative reports against their politician-financers.