Press freedom is in crisis in the "world's largest democracy" with attacks against journalists, concentration of media ownership, pro-government bias and expulsions of foreign reporters. Since India's Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, several mainstream Indian TV channels have effectively turned into government mouthpieces.
In India, more than 400 TV news channels are competing for a share of one of the world’s largest markets. Their number and diversity could be synonymous with freedom, plurality and impartiality. Instead, the threat to press freedom has never been so great. In the "world's largest democracy", a section of the media has opted for total and unconditional support for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) – the far-right Hindu nationalist party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Over the past decade, newsrooms and presenters have become "gravediggers of democracy", in the words of Ravish Kumar. This former senior reporter quit the television channel NDTV, which was once respected for its independence, but is now controlled by Indian businessman Gautam Adani. Nicknamed the "Indian Bolloré", in reference to French media magnate Vincent Bolloré, Adani is reportedly close to the Indian prime minister.
Since Modi’s election as Indian leader in 2014, major media groups have pledged their allegiance to the Hindu nationalists, even going so far as to constantly attack the opposition, avoid controversial topics and – above all – pour out a slew of fake news and Islamophobic conspiracy theories. This editorial line precisely mirrors the agenda of the ruling Hindu extremists.
Watch moreJournalists face increasing threats as India's press freedom declines
One man embodies this shift: Arnab Goswami, an Indian presenter who set up his own TV channel and now specialises in outrageous, defamatory debates in which he yells at guests who disagree with him. Umar Khalid, a young Muslim student, paid the price. Since 2020, Umar has been in prison, accused without proof of fomenting religious riots. For years, he was vilified by Goswami. His partner, Banojyotsna Lahiri, told us how one evening in 2016, Umar fell into a trap during a televised debate organised by the presenter.
While mainstream TV channels have turned into propaganda outlets, the internet – particularly YouTube – has become a refuge for independent journalists like Kumar and the Newslaundry team. The only newsroom of its kind in India, Newslaundry – which survives solely on donations from its readers – specialises in criticising the media and tracking down fake news. Manisha Pande is its editorial director. Every week she presents a programme that openly mocks the "stars" of Indian television, who have abandoned all journalistic ethics.
