Why undercover footage exposing lobbyists raises concerns for journalism | Explainer

A Guardian investigation has revealed that a political lobbying firm, founded by the former electoral strategist for David Cameron and Boris Johnson, secretly pays journalists to write pieces for British newspapers that are favourable to its clients. In a practice that appears to create a back door for private companies to influence public opinion, lobbyists for CT Group, which was co-founded by the campaign strategist Lynton Crosby, told an undercover reporter they had paid journalists to place apparently independent stories in newspapers. In a statement, CT Group said: 'We do not comment publicly on work we do for clients and we therefore cannot respond to the specific allegations you have made.' CT Group said the events had been 'deliberately mischaracterised' and it did not engage the undercover journalist to do anything and did not pay him anything. It said the journalist was looking for work and 'chased us relentlessly over a period of more than six months' Lobbying giant filmed offering reporter payment for flattering client coverage in national press