Key facts
- Political lobbying firm CT Group has been accused of paying journalists to place favorable stories for its clients.
- The practice was exposed by a four-month investigation by The Guardian.
- CT Group allegedly offered cash incentives and sought editorial control in exchange for payment.
- MPs and transparency campaigners have called for full transparency and an overhaul of lobbying regulations.
- CT Group denied the allegations, stating the events were mischaracterized and that the journalist pursued them.
A political lobbying firm, CT Group, co-founded by election strategist Lynton Crosby, is facing intense scrutiny and calls for transparency after an investigation revealed it allegedly paid journalists to write favorable articles for its clients. The practice, which reportedly involved offering cash incentives and seeking increased editorial control, has been condemned by MPs, senior lobbyists, and transparency campaigners as an "attack on democracy" and a threat to the integrity of journalism.
Alastai r McCapra, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, stated that such practices undermine the profession and erode credibility. Jemimah Steinfeld, CEO of Index on Censorship, urged CT Group to launch an internal investigation, calling the spin of lobbying as journalism "shortsighted and frankly dangerous." Steve Goodrich of Transparency International UK highlighted that secret payments to journalists compromise press integrity and raise questions about the prevalence of such hidden arrangements.
MPs also voiced concerns. Luke Taylor, a member of the public administration and constitutional affairs committee, called for "full transparency on when money has changed hands when it comes to reporting," emphasizing the importance of a free press for a healthy democracy. Rupa Huq, a member of the media select committee, described the lobbying landscape as the "wild west" due to a lack of regulation.
The Guardian's investigation was prompted after CT Group approached a freelance journalist with an offer to pay for a pitch to a national newspaper concerning issues faced by the housebuilding industry. CT Group, a firm with a reported annual turnover of £40 million and clients including Philip Morris and the owner of Manchester City football club, has denied the allegations. In a statement, the company said it does not comment on client work but asserted that the events were "deliberately mischaracterised" and that the journalist had relentlessly pursued them.
The revelations have also brought attention to the precarious situation of freelance journalism, where irregular and low pay can make reporters vulnerable. Martin Bright, a senior lecturer in journalism, noted that reporters being paid by private companies to place stories breaches the essential buffer between lobbying and journalism, and that freelance journalists should not be exploited in the current media climate.