Cold shoulder treatment

TATTLE

One of India's largest business houses and one of India's largest media groups have quietly been boycotting each other for some months.

The business house in question is the Tata group. The media group? Bennett, Coleman and Co.

The media powerhouse's two principal publications seem to be steering clear of stories on the Tata group. When, for example, Tata Consultancy Services took control of a BPO enterprise some time ago, the publications didn't report the news (though in all fairness they could have just missed the story).

Similarly, the Tatas did not invite journalists from Bennett, Coleman and Co for a Tata Power press conference in Mumbai.

Asked about this, the head of a public relations agency that represents the Tata group privately said last week: "That's group policy." A Tata Sons director said: "They black us out too."

Apparently, all this cold shouldering is rooted in dark suspicions. The Tatas think that Bennett, Coleman publications have been publishing unfair news reports on the group and taking one-sided positions.

That may be uncharitable. It's not quite clear why Bennett, Coleman newspapers aren't carrying major reports on the Tatas either. The big question is: just how long will this tiff go on for?