It has been proved once again that big media houses do not have any ethics. They harp on independent journalism with values, but when it comes to making money, they go to any extent in pampering the government of the day, irrespective of which party is in power.
When the YSR Congress party led Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy by was in power, the Times of India group had pampered him and got a big contract for promoting his party and government in a big way.
Those days, the Times of India reporters were forced to give big coverage to Jagan’s news and downplay the opposition parties, though they were supposed to be independent and write impartial reports.
Now, the same media house is running after the Telugu Desam Party-led coalition government in Andhra Pradesh government.
On Thursday, the Times News Network signed an agreement with the Naidu government for the promotional activities of Indian Economic Conclave being hosted by the government.
The government issued orders releasing Rs 1.77 crore to the Times News Network for promotional activities, including broadcasting episodes about Andhra Pradesh.
The GAD issued directions to the Information and Public Relations Department to implement the government decision and release the funds to Times News Network.
It may be recalled that in October 2020, the Jagan government signed a Rs 8.15 crore deal with the same Times Group to enhance the “image of the state and its leaders on the national stage by creating awareness on (its) policies and schemes through media group Times Network”.
A government order was issued naming Bennett Coleman & Co. — also known as the Times Group — as the beneficiary.
The order authorised the state’s information & public relations commissioner to draw Rs 8.15 crore to pay for it.
