Need for consensus across political spectrum on paid news:Soni

Kochi, Sept 4 (PTI) Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni today said there is need for a consensus across the political spectrum on ways to deal with paid news. Talking to the media at Nedumbassery airport tonight before leaving for Kottayam, she voiced concern over the phenomenon of paid news, saying it would "weaken democracy". She said the Press Council of India's report to the government on the issue would soon be tabled in Parliament. The minister also said the "firm steps" taken by the government in the last one year to revive and strengthen the National Film Development Corporation, Directorate of Field Publicity and Song and Drama Division had yielded good results. "The cabinet will be approached to remove media units under the I&B Ministry from the list of offices recommended by the Economic Reforms Commission to be closed down," she said. Many posts lying vacant in the ministry would be filled up in due course of time with the Union cabinet granting permission for the same, the minister said. Soni said Indian Institute of Mass Communication centres would be set up at Mizoram, Jammu and Kashmir, Vidharba and Kerala and added that classes would be started in all four states in the next academic year. A museum dedicated to Indian films to commemorate 100 years of Indian cinema would be ready in Mumbai by 2013, she said.