On May 22, 2013 Newslaundry carried an article on the UPA government’s expenditure on advertisements to commemorate Rajiv Gandhi’s 22nd death anniversary – titled “A Multi-Crore Memento Mori”. The article was researched and written by Sriranjani Datta, who is no longer in the employment of Newslaundry as her services were terminated last week.
Over the last few days, it has been brought to our notice that the figures mentioned in the article done by her are inaccurate. Since being informed of that, Newslaundry tried to contact the sources whom Sriranjani claimed to have spoken to from each of the publications mentioned. We have been informed by the publications that the people mentioned are not on the rolls of the publications they were supposedly working with. The reporter who did the story is unable to provide any other details of the persons she claims she spoke to.
Since our website is focused on media critiquing, we are especially apologetic about this incident. Moreso to the publications involved. The editorial team is speaking to all publications and compiling the ad spend by the UPA government and the article will be published with the data once we receive it.
There is zero tolerance towards this kind of misreporting at Newslaundry and will always lead to immediate and decisive action.