Assets disclosure by editors; Editors' Guild to discuss

The issue came up during a discussion on media ethics organised by the Editors' Guild, The Press Association, Press Club of India and Indian Women's Press Corps here in the background of tapped conversations of corporate lobbyist Niira Radia with some senior journalists.

During the heated debate, several scribes questioned the sources of income of journalists who managed to launch their own television channels.

"How did they manage to start these channels? Nobody asks them. The editors must now contemplate placing their assets in public domain," said one of the participants during the question-answer session of the debate.

Sardesai, who is also the Editor-in-Chief of a leading news channel, said he has no problem in making his assets public but he is not sure about others.

"Please send all your suggestions like this and I assure you that these will be discussed during the meeting of the Guild on December 24," he said.

He, however, said many editors do not bite the bullet when it comes to issues like this. Sardesai cited the issue of paid news when a "pledge" circulated by the Guild was not signed by majority of editors.

"Only 18 to 20 editors signed that pledge," he said stressing on the need for stock-taking by the editors.