Indian Journalism is Fake News
By: Ayush Banerjee
Tags: Journalism, News, India, Indian Politics, Fake News

Indian Journalism is undergoing a period of scrutiny and not without good reason. India ranks 140th according to the 2019 World Press Freedom Index and 138th according to the 2019 Reporters Without Borders Survey. Nations such as Afghanistan and Kenya have a higher ranking in such surveys. The Indian press has been repeatedly questioned about its possible sensationalisation of news, clickbait tactics, strategic disinformation campaigns and government gatekeeping.

India is the world’s youngest and fastest-growing democracy. However, it is a democracy that lacks a formidable fourth pillar. The Indian media is not robust to political change and social movements. In an attempt to garner public viewership, most media houses and journalism portals highlight the wrong news. The information is often interpreted to engage the public rather than to explain the real narrative to them. For Indian journalists, news discussions and Newshour has reduced to a mere disorganised virtual debate. This is a shame considering the potential we have in store with several new-age news media houses such as The Quint, Youth Ki Awaaz, Mojo, among others, coming up into the limelight.

According to a recent report published by The Hoot, at least 54 journalists were attacked between January 2016 and April 2017. And, in 2014 alone, over 110 journalists were reportedly attacked, but only 32 attackers were arrested. However, the Government wields unfettered power over the media houses. There is a huge discourse on major social media channels such as Twitter and Facebook where this has been criticised time and again. Yet, conventional media refuses to change. Although there is some amount of opposition to the BJP led media paradigm in India today, there is no real action.

The government can at its own will choose to censor content publicly available to us. I mean, why else would they broadcast the entire Rajya Sabha proceeding on the Agro Bill and cut the stream right before the vote and pass it without a vote? Why else would the Government introduce the Trans Bill the same day as the abrogation of Article 370? Why else would Mrs Sitaraman talk about onion prices while we stagnate economically? Why else would NCB raid Riya Chakraborty’s House while a man’s mental health was the discourse? There is a set pattern which is actively being followed in this regard. The discourse that would irk the audience- the orthodox audience, is being left behind a vivid veil of the sensationalised discourse.

Indian journalism right now is more entertainment than informative. Moreover, it is losing its credibility with each passing day. Journalism was once about speaking truth to power and staring back the government. But in today’s India, journalism is a mere means to glorify the Government. Unless of course, you want to cause dissent and be charged with sedition. However, this fact isn’t a feat achieved overnight. Indian media had to struggle through various phases of coercion, censorship, propaganda from the Government even in the early 1990s.

Yet, nothing compares to where we are now. Major issues that should be up for Newshour, issues like the situation in Kashmir, beef ban, mob lynchings, student-led movements, Dalit protests, Protests of the lower economic class are being systematically subdued every day. The infamous murder of Gauri Lankesh is evidence for this glaring gluttony our Government seems to have for the people of this once glorious nation. Yet, there is a scope for change. And, this change will only take effect if the leading Indian journalists remain committed to ethical practices and on narrating the news as is.