Lobbying firm secretly pays journalists for favorable coverage, critics say

A political lobbying firm has been accused of secretly paying journalists to produce articles favorable to its clients, sparking widespread condemnation and calls for greater transparency in the industry.

Ct group, co-founded by election strategist lynton crosby, denounced as 'attack on democracy'

MPs, senior lobbyists, and transparency campaigners have slammed the practice, which was exposed after a four-month Guardian investigation revealed CT Group's alleged efforts to influence media coverage on behalf of its clients.

CT Group, which has worked with high-profile clients like David Cameron and Boris Johnson, allegedly paid journalists to place seemingly independent stories in newspapers and offered hundreds of pounds in cash incentives to do the same for a property industry client.

According to the investigation, in return for these payments, CT Group would have exerted increased editorial control over the content produced by the journalists.

Critics argue that such arrangements undermine the integrity of both journalism and lobbying, eroding the credibility on which responsible public relations and democracy depend.

Index on Censorship CEO Jemimah Steinfeld called the practice