UNDERREPORTING OF CRITICAL ISSUES BY INDIAN MEDIA

ABSTRACT

India is a democratic country and the Indian media plays a very significant role in maintaining the democracy hence called The Fourth Pillar of Democracy. It is very evident that in the contemporary times the media focus has taken a great shift. The media which was established to inform the public and maintain transparency and accountability in favour of the public interest has increasingly become a tool for the operation of government agendas. This article looks into how Indian media underreport critical and important issues and  prioritizes sensational and unimportant content.

 

INTRODUCTION

Media serves as a reflector of the society. In countries like India, media outlet has a huge landscape with different news platforms, digital platforms, social media platforms which influence millions and millions of opinions on a daily basis. Nowadays media organisations focus more on flashy and sensational content such as celebrity gossip, online fights or any controversial political argument rather than focusing on real time critical issues. Although it is understandable that such flashy controversies attract more attention but it neglects the seriousness of informing the public about more alarming issues. It is very vital for media to report significant and crucial information to facilitate timely actions.

Similarly, Chomsky and Herman’s "Propaganda Model" explains how media content is shaped by ownership, funding sources, sourcing of information, flak, and anti-communism/ideology.

 

 

LITERATURE REVIEW

Many researchers have found that the current practices in media highlight how the role of media has completely shifted from public service to commercialization. This shift completely changed the journalistic standards and also influenced the beliefs and behaviour of the youth. A very prominent scholar Robert McChesney explored the evolution of BBC, how it shifted from a public service broadcaster to the one that is drawn by commercially attractive audience. Similarly, Chomsky and Herman’s "Propaganda Model" explains how media content is shaped by ownership, funding sources, sourcing of information, flak, and anti-communism/ideology.

 

 

METHODOLOGY

This is completely  based on the analysis of news coverage from mainstream Indian news outlets, and digital platforms The study examines the under reporting of critical issues by Indian media drawing on a variety of credible sources. The analysis focuses on key factors such as political and commercial pressure which shape editorial choices completely overlooking essential issues such as women security, children education, healthcare, rural distress, corruption, environmental concerns, human rights violations and other crisis.

 

 

 

 

DISCUSSION

 In any functioning democracy, media is a very important role as the conscience of the society. However today the fundamental purpose of media is practically eroded. More critical and crucial issues such as unemployment, social inequality, environmental degradation, health crisis, gender based violence completely sidelined in favour of flashy and controversial content.

 This is no coincidence rather the medias’ obsession with sensationalism and how it treats comedians and social media influencers. Say for instance the recent controversies of Samay Raina and Ranveer Allahabadhia were perceived as politically or socially controversial.

These controversies exploded all the news platforms, many headlines for remarked television debates were conducted treating these issues as national concerns.

This issues might require some investigation but these incidence were not supposed to overlook the ongoing social and economic crisis, which are we more critical and require a National concern. These sensation-centric stories dominated the entire Indian media completely over looking the ongoing humanitarian issues.

Many people refrain from watching any sort of television news channel debate as the sole reason is the toxicity of the newsroom. The fourth pillar of democracy should have played a major role in living up to the standard. But unfortunately we only and only and up watching gossip, hate-mongering  with neighbour countries. The media is supposed to be asking crucial questions to the government but instead they are loading and defending the government for their short comings  and deficiencies

Anish Gawande a national sports person broke down at Barkha Dutt’s show; “These are all distractions yesterday Aurangzeb, today Kunal Kamra I would just encourage the BMC that they should focus on fixing potholes instead of demolishing comedy venues because that is what government is for, the rest of these can be social media banter.” He said.

 

This shift has completely blurred the line between news and entertainment. As a result, urgent and crucial societal issues are completely ignored. Issues like social and gender inequality, unemployment, environmental crisis, public health, economic crisis such as inflation stock market  are the issues that  impact millions, yet they are overshadowed by media spectacles that serve little more than entertainment and distraction.

No media organisation is talking about real time issues. Very recent incident of Varanasi gang rape where the victim was a class 12th student who was raped by 23 individuals and was a subjected to repeated assault for over 6 days. This incident did not receive then necessary National attention that it required because the media chooses controversy over conscience .The incident raises concerns about the media's commitment towards Public service.

To play its rightful role in the country, the media needs to make a serious change. It must move away from sensationalism driven by TRP ratings and return to its true purpose that is to inform people, investigate the truth, and empower citizens. This includes giving time and attention to real time and more critical issues that are of national concern, and others whose voices are often ignored. It also means speaking truth to power, not praising those in authority. Most importantly, the media must put the public’s interest above commercial and political gains.

If this does not happen, the media risks losing its trust and value and along with it, one of the key pillars that supports our democracy.

 

 

 

 

 

CONCLUSION

To conclude, in any democratic country the media place a very important rule in maintaining the public interest. However, when the media only focuses on sensationalism and overlooks the real important concerns, it weakens the foundation of democracy. If the media continues to prioritize flashy controversies and gossips that divide the citizens over critical topics then it risks losing the credibility and position among the public. For the media to truly serve its purpose, it must shift its focus back to the real problems that affect the nation and the people.

 

REFERENCES

 

McChesney, R. (2004). The Problem of the Media: U.S. Communication Politics in the Twenty-First Century.  Monthly Review Press

Chomsky, N., & Herman, E. S. (1988).Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media.

 Pantheon Books

Anish Gawande  (2025) Extracted from : https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHngQgyzbEE/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZ A==

 Barkha Dutt’s show (TV Interview)

Varanasi Gang Rape (2025) Extracted from:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DIVaZ-TJXEg/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==