A large number of the journalists who appeared before the

team complained of prevalence of the practice of scores of news-items being sent to the editorial sections of respective newspapers by their management, the report said. It said that news items considered to be a "must" for publication were being pushed by managements irrespective of their newsworthiness. "The managements of the newspapers which enjoy the benefits of the government advertisements feel grateful to benefactor establishment and resort to praising their policies," the panel held. The committee claimed that members of the team received phone calls from several journalists showing their keen interest in this regard, but pleaded anonymity because of the pressure. The panel said that many journalists referred to transfer of a senior ranking journalist for publishing a news item related to an alleged scam. "It has been observed that many of such management of newspapers are even avoiding publication of news related to public interests and social concerns that may be of public interest," the committee said. The panel also said that it also received complaints regarding how the issues of public importance raised by opposition were ignored by the media. The committee noted an instance where it felt that seizure of crores of rupees from the residence of a ruling party leader was ignored. It also took into consideration the "under-display of a news-item pertaining to police high- handedness in Bhajanpura village in Forbesganj in Araria district, in which a police Jawan was seen to be trampling a common man there under his boot." In its report, the PCI team has recommended several measures including that the Bihar Government should create conducive environment for practice of free and fair journalism in the state and review all cases pending against journalists by an independent judicial commission. The panel also asked the Government of Bihar should ensure safety of journalists and review of the State Government Advertisement Policy 2008 and constitution of an independent agency to release advertisements to news-paper houses strictly on basis of guidelines.