There is a multi-billion dollar fraud on the readers of newspapers and magazines all over the world everyday.

Many Newspapers and Magazines publish articles with the disclaimer that the views expressed in the article are those of the authors and that the editor of the publication are in no responsible for anything contained in the article.

First things first, the Editor has no business to be the Editor of the Publication if he is not willing to take responsibility for what is being published in his publication. After all, it is he or she who okayed the article. Or, is he drawing his salary without doing the work that he is required to do?

If there was anything wrong with the article, it should have been rejected (only if something was wrong and not if the editor is as timid as a squirrel and cannot shoulder responsibility for something written in public interest based on facts).

Otherwise, the editorial staff should have got back to the writer to discuss the points of disagreement and got it rewritten. Or, they should have edited the objectionable portion and informed the writer about the corrections before publishing the material.

When such a disclaimer is put out in a publication, it means that (1) the publication has no conviction in what it is publishing; (2) it has no faith in its editor; (3) the editor does not trust the editorial staff; and (4) the editorial staff itself is in the dark about the rules and regulations that govern publication of such articles. That is very unprofessional. And, it is very sad.

When there is a disclaimer to the effect that “the publication is not responsible for the material it carries” is ridiculous. It draws advertisements on the basis of its content and it is not responsible for the content.

In such an event, the Registrar of Newspapers of the county in question should step in and issue notices to such publications that they cannot carry advertisements. If it continues to violate the directives of the Registrar of Newspapers, the Registrar should then start legal proceedings to shut down the publication.

If a publication cannot take responsibility for the material it carries, it has no business to be in business. Advertisements come because of the standing of the publication. And, if this is the standing of the publication, it does not deserve the advertisements it gets.

If the advertisement revenues of these fly-by-night publications are choked they would die a natural death and the Registrar of Newspapers need not take any further action.