Indian Government decided to set up a Group of Ministers (GoM) for Media Briefings

The Indian government set up a group of ministers (GoM) for media briefings. The group headed by home minister P Chidambaram, is also likely to include HRD minister Kapil Sibal, water resources minister Salman Khurshid and I&B minister Ambika Soni.

The GoM is expected to brief the media on a daily basis. Till date, the government’s media strategy involved deploying ministers only for emergencies or crisis as was devised after media management. The ministers will be expected to debrief media representatives and ensure that correct facts are relayed to the public.

The government’s move is aimed at countering opposition’s charges over a series of scams beginning with Commonwealth Games July 2010. The investigations into scams resulted in action against Union ministers and influential members of Congress and coalition partners. Frustration was growing within government and in Congress over the ruling coalition not being able to put its point of view across. The GoM was set up to address the government’s need to retaliate.

 The information deficit was also apparent during Anna Hazare’s fast over the Lokpal Bill that left the government on the backfoot despite the keenness of PM Manmohan Singh and Congress leadership to tackle corruption in a visible manner.

The move also underlines the increasing recognition that media management is essential for the government.