[dropcap]A[/dropcap]tmosphere in the news room becomes tense when press releases come late at night. All the more so when the organizations who issued the press notes “request” the media houses to entertain them “without fail”. Many organizations have the habit of issuing press releases late at night. The press releases often come after the graphic works have begun. Due to technical difficulties press notes that come after 8:30 pm are not entertained by the media houses. The following day these organizations whose press notes did not make it to the day’s edition would often make desperate telephone calls asking why their news was not published.
Most of the press releases are also usually left out by the desk of the media offices because of the authenticity issue. Serious press releases (allegations) issued in blank papers (not in letter heads) without containing the addresses or contact numbers of the organizations lack qualification to make it to the next day’s edition even if the matter is publishable. We have enough of harrowing past experiences by entertaining such unauthenticated press communiqués. However, if a particular press note is a genuine one but fails to convince the editors about its authenticity it is also where the headache starts. Sometimes certain elements impersonating as genuine outfit issues press releases after fulfilling all the criteria i.e. a letter-head, a contact number and an address to convince the editor to serve their interests.To end all these mess the media fraternity should have a clear codes of working. The apex media organization of the State should strictly enforce the codes after formulating them which suit the local situation. The public should be made aware of the codes of working of the media. Concerned newspapers should also highlight the codes of working for public consumption. Unless such condition is not made the media houses will continue to face the hardship. In the same time the general public should also understand the difficulties faced by the journalists. We put the interest of the public before our own interests.
