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The future of Indian media: How to fight back in an environment with limited freedom?
India's media ecosystem is diverse, spanning television, radio, internet, films, newspapers and magazines. Print media has been active in India since the late 18th century, and radio broadcasting began in 1927. Today, media in India is mostly in the hands of large corporations, which generate revenue through advertising, subscriptions and sales of copyrighted material. According to reports, India has more than 500 satellite channels and 70,000 newspapers with daily sales of more than 100 million copies, making it one of the largest newspaper markets in the world. However, according to the latest report by French NGO Reporters Without Borders, India was downgraded to 161st in the 2023 press freedom index, below Afghanistan, Somalia and Colombia.
"Violence against journalists, politically biased media and concentrated media ownership highlight the crisis in press freedom in the world's largest democracy."
Since 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has tightened its grip on the media, leading to a gradual decline in press freedom. In 2016, India's press freedom ranking was 133rd, but it dropped to 150th in 2022. According to a report by Freedom House, a US non-governmental organization, harassment of journalists has been on the rise since the Modi government came to power. ...
Traditional print and television media are mostly family-owned and often self-censor because of their ties to politics. However, emerging media are often more professional and business-led. Nonetheless, these outlets are often associated with established political figures. Against this backdrop, there is a widespread perception among the Indian public that the media is “rebellious” yet allows many issues to go unreported.
"Indian news channels, both in English and Hindi, are often filled with biased reports, with the side taking the side of BJP and Hindutva."
The history of media development can be traced back to 1780 when Hicky's Bengal Gazette became the first newspaper in India. Further information shows that most newspapers are family-run and adopt self-censorship measures. Once a newspaper establishes connection with politics, it often becomes the mouthpiece of a certain political group. By analogy, why does reporting become biased and unfair?
In response to this phenomenon, experts pointed out that the government's monopoly on free media has led to a significant decline in the diversity of news reports. What’s worse, the current situation makes it difficult for various voices in society, especially those of marginalized communities, to be captured by large media organizations. According to a report by Oxfam and Newslaundry, 90% of journalists hold senior positions in the media. This means that communities like Dalit, Adivasi and Bahujan have very limited representation in the media.
In this environment of restricted freedom, Indian media faces unprecedented challenges. While some digital news publications and reporting platforms have begun to emerge in hopes of breaking the traditional silence, this requires broader support and attention. As one media investor put it:
"The protection of free expression and press freedom is fundamental to promoting diversity."
In the future, whether the Indian media can find innovative ways to achieve a counterattack in a restricted environment and become a representative of authentic and diverse voices remains an important issue worth pondering.
