Skip to main content

Why do top media powerhouses seek to sell news to Counterview, a virtual non-entity?

By Rajiv Shah 
Are India’s top corporate media houses beginning have some inexplicable financial crunch? I don’t know, nor do I have their balance sheets to say that this is indeed happening. No doubt, during and after the pandemic, most of them, especially newspapers (and perhaps newswires?), are said to have either resorted to salary cuts or, worse, retrenchments.  They are now resorting to innovative ways of earning money -- not by "selling" newspapers or other media products. 
A few days back I was personally witness to a top Gujarat-based daily organising a “Study Abroad” camp at a management enclave. I found it a very strange way to earn money. A lady who worked for this daily enlightened me that this is not the only media outfit in Gujarat which organised such non-media camp. “There have been cases when they, as well as others, have organised camps to promote real estate, for instance”, the lady, who held an important position in this outfit, told me.
Be that as it may, I felt quite flattered the other day – I received an interesting email from Indo-Asian News Service (IANS), which called itself “a media powerhouse” and India’s “largest independent newswire”, to offer Counterview with “news content (English/ Hindi/ photo/ video)”, which it said it was already selling to “all major leading media houses, apps data ports and TV channels in India and abroad” at a price.
This is the second such “offer” I have received. If earlier it was from India’s top daily, “The Hindustan Times”, for the news blog, counterview.net, which I have been running for the last about a decade, this time it was for counterview.in, which I recently began as an open forum for comments on different issues, mainly from non-governmental sources.
Let me first begin with what the “Hindustan Times” had to offer, about which I even did a blog. In the height of Covid, in October 2020, I received an email from the “Hindustan Times Media Group, India”. I felt a little strange – why was this top corporate media house was offering Counterview, a virtual nonentity, run on a voluntary basis, and edited by me, offering what was called “content subscription business”?
Addressing me by name, “Dear Rajiv/Editor”, and greeting me on behalf of the powerful media house (sic!), the email sender said, he wanted to “check” if Counterview was “looking to subscribe to more Indian content”. It underlined, “We can licence you our digital content. We have content from all genres – Politics, Entertainment, Business, Health and Lifestyle, Tech, Auto etc.”
It underlined: “We have launched an image platform called content garden where you can search and download all the images of your choice once you buy a subscription”, adding, “If you don't want to buy a subscription then you can let us know the images which you want to use for editorial or any other purpose and we will provide you he original image and you can pay us on per images basis.”
The person concerned sent “pricing for text news from Hindustan Times”, whose news, it said, would be shared with “through RSS feed,” adding, “Most of the stories will carry an image link also so you don't need to arrange for the images separately.” Awful I thought! The top business house was offering me so much!
Indeed, The email, by the Group’s “Content Alliances manager”, elated me somewhat – that a top media house has approached Counterview, suggesting, they seem to be closely observing what all is being published in Counterview, which mainly deals with current affairs blogs and stories, all on a voluntary basis. I wanted to know if they would charge.
It explained, the Hindustan Times (HT) content was important because it was 1- Well researched content written by experienced journalists and writers, 2- HT is one of the oldest media houses in India, so trustworthy and best quality, 3- Better than Agency content as agency content is available with every other news website, and 4- You don't need to arrange the photo separately as the photo will be a part of RSS feed.
Then it offered: Rs 18,000 per month for three stories per day; Rs 25,000 per month for five stories per day; and Rs 40,000 per month for 10 stories per day – all with text plus images and in English. It even appended the costs: Rs 18,000 per month for three stories per day; Rs 25,000 per month for five stories per day; and Rs 40,000 per month for 10 stories per day – all with text plus images and in English.
Now let me turn to IANS -- it seems, the person who sent the email to me (without naming mem as the emai to which it sent did not carry my name). Clearly, the person concerned did not seem to have cared to see what Counterview.in is about. In fact, it wanted “detailed information” about it and its “precise requirement of content” so that the top media house could “offer... the best possible service rate card”, adding, in capital letters, “WE ALSO OFFER FREE DEMO FOR EVALUATION PURPOSE.”
Then, it went to point towards why IANS was called a media powerhouse: It said, the “IANS India Pvt. Ltd. was established in 1994, with its registered office at New Delhi. It is one of South Asia’s leading media organization’s and provides news and information-related products across the full spectrum of old and new media platforms.”
It continued, “Newspapers and TV channels, portals, and web aggregators, mobile and digital spaces. IANS is managed by media and communications professionals who have worked in top Indian and foreign media houses and together bring to the table a huge amount of experience in all forms of journalism and in the wider area of content generation and dissemination.”
Then it went on to name the “subscriber base of over 400 premier clients”, which included “all major newspapers, websites and TV stations in India, as well as key ethnic newspapers and websites in the Gulf, the UK, the US and Australia”, including “The Times of India, The Hindustan Times, The Hindu, The New Indian Express, DNA, Deccan Herald, NDTV, Star News, CNN-IBN, Khaleej Times, Gulf News, Gulf Today, Oman daily observer, Oman Tribune, Masala.com, News-India Times (New York), South Asian Times (New York) and Hi India (Chicago).”
It chose to record how close it is to powers-that-be: it is monitored in Prime Minister’s Office, Cabinet Secretariat, key ministries
Flattering, no? Counterview.in is being counted in the company of not just India-based top media, but also among the news media in the Middle-East, even New York and Chicago. The email went ahead with the list: www.yahoo.com, www.aol.com; www.msn.co.in and www.indiatimes.com, then then pointed towards the reason why counterview.in should also subscribe to IANS.
And for this, it chose to record how close it was to the powers-that-be: “The IANS wire service -- which operates 24×7 and puts out 250-300 stories every day -- is also monitored in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the Cabinet Secretariat, the Press Information Bureau, key ministries and departments of the Government of India, as well as top corporates and institutions.”
Pointing towards a “network of close to 150 reporters and a dozen bureaus across India” which “provides a comprehensive package of news, features, analysis, and comment that covers everything”, it underlined, IANS “also boasts of the largest foreign network among media in India, with correspondents, stringers, and contributors in key global capitals who cover all news and events that are of interest to India and South Asia.”
It went on to point towards how IANS Hindi has become No 1 “news service in Hindi ahead of PTI Bhasha and UNI Varta”, adding, not only does it bring out “150-175 stories on a daily basis from a variety of areas”, apart from high-resolution pictures, infographics and videos, is a “one-stop destination to not only get the live scores of all the cricket matches happening around the world, but the latest news, views, and interviews with the top stars across the globe as well.”
I thought: Why not seek the price list. I sent an email: “Hope you have seen Counterview. Kindly send us the price list.” And the response was prompt: The “package discounted rates for the single website / publication (Hindi English news + photos)” included INR 30,000 per month plus 18% GST for 200-250 news daily; INR 20,000 per month plus 18% GST for photo serviced; and combo offer of Rs INR 45,000 per month plus 18% GST – all with 100% access.
Then it went on to tell me about the payment mode: 1) Quarterly payment mode; 2) Half-yearly payment mode; and 3) Yearly payment mode, with a discounted offer: 15% discount on half-yearly in advance, and 2. 25% discount of yearly in advance plus one month subscription free, even as sending me the mode of delivery (login ID and password; direct uploading on your FTP (I don’t know what’s that!); and RSS feeds. It insisted, “The amount for entire duration has to be paid in advance. Discount is available only on half yearly/yearly mode of payment.”
Thereafter, I sent an email stating, “Thank you for your offer. We are a purely voluntary site. Hoped you had seen the site.Your response”, and the reply was: “Yes sir, I have gone through your site. Please share your budget will discuss the same with senior management and will get back with discount package offer.” I again sent an email, stating, “Apparently you didn't get what I said. We accept articles on voluntary basis only without making any payments. You may see About Us.”
And the final reply was, without editing: “Got your point sir but we been News Agency work on commercial term and provide News content to website, Aap, News paper and channel” (sic!). Would it need any comment? I don’t know... Except that it must have disappointed the commercial thrust from a site which, surely, is a nobody in the media world, as of today!

Comments

Surely someone in IANS should be able to understand your repeated assertion that your contributors are volunteers and the question of payment to anyone for any material is out of the question.

TRENDING

Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan raises concerns over Jharkhand Adivasis' plight in Assam, BJP policies

By Our Representative  The Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan (Save Democracy Campaign) has issued a pressing call to protect Adivasi rights in Jharkhand, highlighting serious concerns over the treatment of Jharkhandi Adivasis in Assam. During a press conference in Ranchi on November 9, representatives from Assam, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh criticized the current approach of BJP-led governments in these states, arguing it has exacerbated Adivasi struggles for rights, land, and cultural preservation.

Promoting love or instilling hate and fear: Why is RSS seeking a meeting with Rahul Gandhi?

By Ram Puniyani*  India's anti-colonial struggle was marked by a diverse range of social movements, one of the most significant being Hindu-Muslim unity and the emergence of a unified Indian identity among people of all religions. The nationalist, anti-colonial movement championed this unity, best embodied by Mahatma Gandhi, who ultimately gave his life for this cause. Gandhi once wrote, “The union that we want is not a patched-up thing but a union of hearts... Swaraj (self-rule) for India must be an impossible dream without an indissoluble union between the Hindus and Muslims of India. It must not be a mere truce... It must be a partnership between equals, each respecting the religion of the other.”

Right-arm fast bowler who helped West Indies shape arguably greatest Test team in cricket history

By Harsh Thakor*  Malcolm Marshall redefined what it meant to be a right-arm fast bowler, challenging the traditional laws of biomechanics with his unique skill. As we remember his 25th death anniversary on November 4th, we reflect on the legacy he left behind after his untimely death from colon cancer. For a significant part of his career, Marshall was considered one of the fastest and most formidable bowlers in the world, helping to shape the West Indies into arguably the greatest Test team in cricket history.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah  The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual. 

Andhra team joins Gandhians to protest against 'bulldozer action' in Varanasi

By Rosamma Thomas*  November 1 marked the 52nd day of the 100-day relay fast at the satyagraha site of Rajghat in Varanasi, seeking the restoration of the 12 acres of land to the Sarva Seva Sangh, the Gandhian organization that was evicted from the banks of the river. Twelve buildings were demolished as the site was abruptly taken over by the government after “bulldozer” action in August 2023, even as the matter was pending in court.  

Will Bangladesh go Egypt way, where military ruler is in power for a decade?

By Vijay Prashad*  The day after former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka, I was on the phone with a friend who had spent some time on the streets that day. He told me about the atmosphere in Dhaka, how people with little previous political experience had joined in the large protests alongside the students—who seemed to be leading the agitation. I asked him about the political infrastructure of the students and about their political orientation. He said that the protests seemed well-organized and that the students had escalated their demands from an end to certain quotas for government jobs to an end to the government of Sheikh Hasina. Even hours before she left the country, it did not seem that this would be the outcome.

Will Left victory in Sri Lanka deliver economic sovereignty plan, go beyond 'tired' IMF agenda?

By Atul Chandra, Vijay Prashad*  On September 22, 2024, the Sri Lankan election authority announced that Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) alliance won the presidential election. Dissanayake, who has been the leader of the left-wing JVP since 2014, defeated 37 other candidates, including the incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe of the United National Party (UNP) and his closest challenger Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya. 

Green Revolution’s reliance on chemical fertilizers, pesticides contributing to Punjab's health crisis

By Bharat Dogra, Jagmohan Singh*  Punjab was once synonymous with robust health, particularly in its rural areas, where farmers were known for their strength and vitality. However, in recent years, reports from these villages tell a different story, with rising cases of serious health issues, including cancer. What led to this decline? The answer lies largely in the erosion of good nutrition, once a hallmark of Punjabi village life. The health of a population is closely tied to its nutrition, and Punjab's reputation as a provider of high-quality nutrition has suffered greatly. The loss of biodiversity in agriculture has led to a decrease in the variety and quality of crops, resulting in poorer nutrition. Pulses, a key source of protein, have seen a steep decline in cultivation due to the disruption of traditional farming practices by the Green Revolution. This has had a detrimental effect on both soil and human health. Although pulses are still available in the market, they are exp

Tributes paid to pioneer of Naxalism in Punjab, who 'dodged' police for 60 yrs

By Harsh Thakor*  Jagjit Singh Sohal, known as Comrade Sharma, a pioneer of Naxalism in Punjab, passed away on October 20 at the age of 96. Committed to the Naxalite cause and a prominent Maoist leader, Sohal, who succeeded Charu Majumdar, played hide and seek with the police for almost six decades. He was cremated in Patiala.