A UK-based lobbying firm is under scrutiny following allegations that it offered payments to journalists to produce favorable coverage for its clients in the property sector. The firm, CT Group, reportedly sought to commission freelance journalists to write articles supporting its interests, including criticism of the Building Safety Regulator and promotion of property guardianship companies.

An undercover investigation spanning over four months revealed that CT Group employees proposed paying a freelance reporter to pitch stories to national newspapers, such as the Financial Times and the Guardian, that would highlight challenges faced by the housing industry, with an implicit aim to position the regulator as exacerbating the UK’s housing shortage. The regulator was established in response to the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire, a tragedy that resulted in 72 deaths.

The journalist was offered payments of approximately £100 per published piece, with the possibility of chairing industry roundtables for £500, to generate narratives favorable to CT Group’s clients, including Live-In Guardians, a property guardianship company. CT Group staff advised the journalist to avoid producing work that appeared as advertorials while still advancing the firm’s messaging and objectives. One employee indicated that while articles should look independent, the firm expected editorial alignment with their client’s positions.

CT Group has acknowledged contact with the freelance reporter but denied engaging or paying him. A company representative stated that the journalist had repeatedly sought work from the firm over six months and that CT Group upholds strict professional and ethical standards regarding journalists' conduct. The firm also emphasized that it does not comment publicly on specific client work.

Internally, some CT Group employees appeared uneasy with the prospect of paying journalists directly, with one describing such practices as “a bit weird” and stressing the need to review stories prior to publication to ensure outcomes aligned with client interests. However, others suggested payment arrangements, including retainers, were part of some collaborations with journalists, with varying levels of editorial control depending on the project.

CT Group, which generates annual revenues around £40 million and has clients ranging from Airbus Defence and Space to Philip Morris and the owners of Manchester City football club, operates within a sector facing increased scrutiny. This follows recent calls by the UK Ethics and Integrity Commission for enhanced transparency in lobbying activities, partly triggered by concerns over conflicts of interest associated with political figures and lobbying firms.

The undercover inquiry also highlighted that CT Group encouraged the journalist to pitch stories without disclosing the firm’s involvement to newspaper editors. When the journalist expressed discomfort about not informing editors, staff suggested that such transparency would likely result in immediate rejection of the pitches.

Industry codes of practice maintained by leading news organizations require journalists to disclose any offers of favorable editorial treatment or financial incentives connected to their reporting. The revelations raise questions about the boundaries between lobbying activities and independent journalism.

Live-In Guardians, a prominent client mentioned in the discussions, was approached for comment but did not provide a response. The ongoing debate underscores the challenges of maintaining editorial integrity amid complex interactions between journalists and lobbying entities.