Running an advertising agency, I have been frequently approached by many business houses and organisations to arrange newspaper/channel coverage of their establishments.

Conversely, many visitors to my shop have suggested that some sources can arrange to feature my establishment in newspapers/channels at nominal recurring cost.

Some news channel repeats a story again and again virtually as cover story - the other channels don't mention it at all. The topic interests me and I grab morning newspapers to see the detail. There is absolutely no reference in either English newspaper or Hindi Newspaper. Delhi doctor refused bail in Gujarat - Is that too important to a channel and irrelavent to newspapers? I conclude the particular channel had specific interests in maligning the doctor or the hospital.

Selective priority accorded to individual news items by different newspapers/channels reflects a biased approach. Perhaps the reporters get so much sponsored material that they have neither the time nor the will to cover unsponsored stories.

The extent of deterioration in journalism can be assessed by the following tests :-

1. Just look at faces of journalists, reporters and news readers. Compare the looks with those during 1960.
2. Analyse the way they speak. Compare the accent with that during 1960. Of course you have to abort the test on hearing "....the team comprises of 16 members including...."     or      ".....since four years" (not followed by "back" or "ago").
The above two tests are applicable also to politicians, administrative/police officers at state level.
3. Collect one month pile of Tribune/HT/TOI published during 1960. Just struggle to find out one misprint or gramatical mistake. In contrast, look at any current newspaper. With a casual browse, you can view a dozen errors in the newspaper - with analytical browse, a dozen errors on every page or even a single news item.