Pushp Sharma is an investigative journalist known for exposing the malaise of
paid news
An advertorial is an advertisement in the form of editorial content. The term "advertorial" is a blend (see portmanteau) of the words "advertisement" and "editorial." Merriam-Webster dates the origin of the word to 1946.
In printed publications, t ...
in the Indian media industry through the
sting operation
In law enforcement, a sting operation is a deceptive operation designed to catch a person attempting to commit a crime. A typical sting will have an undercover law enforcement officer, detective, or co-operative member of the public play a role a ...
series code-named "Operation 136" that he conducted for
Cobrapost. The investigation revealed how some of India's biggest news organizations and media houses were ready to influence the elections by favouring a party and by planting false news items against the opposition in exchange for money.
The undercover investigation 'Operation 136:Part 1', released on 26 March 2018, exposed 17 media houses. But only some videos of 'Operation 136: Part II' were released due to a restraining order brought by the Delhi High Court on the plea of ''Dainik Bhaskar'', one of the media houses stung during the investigation.
Pushp Sharma has been the recipient of the
International Press Institute Award (Vienna) for ‘Excellence in Journalism’ in year 2011 for his story ''
'Rent a Riot','' published in
Tehelka, which exposed
Sri Ram Sene's leadership agreeing to organize a riot in exchange for money.
References
{{Reflist
External links
Videosof Operation 136.
* The articl
Rent a Riot which exposed the Hindutva leader
Pramod MuthalikThe award-winning journalist who exiled himselfpublished by
Newslaundry
Indian investigative journalists
21st-century Indian journalists
Year of birth missing (living people)
Indian male journalists
Living people