A conflict of interest arises when a person in a position of authority or trust has competing professional and/or personal interests. Such competing interests can make it difficult for the person to perform his/her duties effectively. A conflict of interest can exist even if there is no unethical result at the end of it.
For e.g. If a newspaper owner and a film-maker gives his film high ratings, irrespective of the opinion of the film critic can be termed as a conflict of interest.
Ramnath Goenka of the Indian Express who was once a friend of Dhirubhai Ambani turned against him after a personal feud. The Indian Express carried articles against Ambani and Reliance industries for years. Critics have often pointed out that there were a number of other businessmen who were filing the coffers of corrupt politicians and public servants, but Goenka relentlessly stuck to his character assassination of Ambani.
In fact, it continued for years and IE lost a great deal of its credibility amongst its readers. This was nothing but a case of the newspaper owner flouting ethics by targeting individuals and not issues.
Thus, through the above example we can infer that in newspapers (or news channels) ownership influence can often lead to a conflict of interest. The press is an important function of a democracy and it must perform its duties for the smooth functioning of a society. Both editors and owners are responsible to their readers. Therefore, it is completely unethical to fight personal battles using one’s publication.
It has been often seen that newspapers in India have changed their stance (irrespective of its ideology) because of the conflict of interest that arises due to the ownership. For e.g. TOI which generally sits on the fence over many issues became anti-establishment when Ashok Jain was arrested on FERA charges.
In a matter of days, TOI began portraying the Dept of Economic offences in the Finance Ministry as a devil attacking and harassing innocent citizens. They also ran a laughable campaign to prove that there was public sympathy for Jain. Most other papers chose not to comment on the issue.
The management of TOI asked H.K Dua, the ed-in-chief to request the PM to take back the charges against Jain. When Dua refused to interfere his contract was not renewed.
Therefore two mainstream newspapers have had serious problems over conflict of interests and ownership.
For e.g. If a newspaper owner and a film-maker gives his film high ratings, irrespective of the opinion of the film critic can be termed as a conflict of interest.
Ramnath Goenka of the Indian Express who was once a friend of Dhirubhai Ambani turned against him after a personal feud. The Indian Express carried articles against Ambani and Reliance industries for years. Critics have often pointed out that there were a number of other businessmen who were filing the coffers of corrupt politicians and public servants, but Goenka relentlessly stuck to his character assassination of Ambani.
In fact, it continued for years and IE lost a great deal of its credibility amongst its readers. This was nothing but a case of the newspaper owner flouting ethics by targeting individuals and not issues.
Thus, through the above example we can infer that in newspapers (or news channels) ownership influence can often lead to a conflict of interest. The press is an important function of a democracy and it must perform its duties for the smooth functioning of a society. Both editors and owners are responsible to their readers. Therefore, it is completely unethical to fight personal battles using one’s publication.
It has been often seen that newspapers in India have changed their stance (irrespective of its ideology) because of the conflict of interest that arises due to the ownership. For e.g. TOI which generally sits on the fence over many issues became anti-establishment when Ashok Jain was arrested on FERA charges.
In a matter of days, TOI began portraying the Dept of Economic offences in the Finance Ministry as a devil attacking and harassing innocent citizens. They also ran a laughable campaign to prove that there was public sympathy for Jain. Most other papers chose not to comment on the issue.
The management of TOI asked H.K Dua, the ed-in-chief to request the PM to take back the charges against Jain. When Dua refused to interfere his contract was not renewed.
Therefore two mainstream newspapers have had serious problems over conflict of interests and ownership.