Detecting instance of paid news difficult: Rathore

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore today admitted that detecting instances of paid news was difficult but said his ministry will soon find a solution to it.
"Frankly, detecting an instance of paid news is itself difficult. But I completely agree that this is against the ethos of newspapers and electoral politics. Will soon find a solution for this," he said during an interaction on Facebook.
During the hour-long interaction, he was asked a range of questions from his constituency to the public broadcaster.
Speaking on Doordarshan, Rathore said that comparing it with any other channel is like comparing apples with oranges.

"Tell me one channel that gives its programmes in 23 different languages, that covers 98 per cent of our country, with free content. But yes, we will certainly work to bring in high professionalism and quality," he said.
Referring to expansion of radio, he said "in a span of two and half years, the FM coverage will go from 45 per cent to around 65 per cent. Border areas are certainly part of this coverage."

Regarding news channels, he said "Sometimes I do notice a bias," and added that "one of the ways to know achievements of government is to follow NaMo app."

He added that Doordarshan is going to outsource content to professionals by way of "slot-sale" after which "you will notice a greater quality of content".
Rathore praised the government's foreign policy saying, "In relation to Pakistan, now the initiative is always with India.