PCI issues notice to Dainik Jagran for ‘publishing advertisements in the garb of news’

The Press Council of India took suomotu cognizance of Dainik Jagran for "publishing advertisements in the garb of news" in the New Delhi editions of the newspaper on June 10 and 16.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the council said that it had come to its notice that on the concerned dates, the newspaper had "published contents" that are "prima facie...suggestive of paid advertisements which have been presented as news and thus, appear to violate the Norms of Journalistic Conduct."

The statement said that a showcause notice was being issued to the editor of Dainik Jagran, New Delhi.

The council did not specify which advertorials to which it was referring. But on June 16, Jagran featured full-page advertorials about the handling of the pandemic by the Karnataka government and chief minister Yediyurappa. The page had more than five "articles" with a small "Jagran Special Initiative" at the bottom right.

The page described how the government has "saved" lives and livelihoods, helped communities like farmers and daily wagers, and also defeated Covid. Similar advertorials by the BJP governments in Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka ran on June 18 in the Hindu, Economic Times and New Indian Express.

The advertorial on June 10 might refer to one about Graphic Era University.