Indian Journalism -Table of Contents
Indian Journalism-Introduction: The Death of Credibility
- Indian journalism in 2025: A disgrace, reduced to a money-driven circus.
- Channels like Aaj Tak, Republic TV, Zee News: Spread fake news during the 2025 India-Pakistan conflict.
- Pahalgam attack (April 22, 2025) and Operation Sindoor (May 7, 2025): Conflict exploited for views.
- For zikzik.in readers: Exposing the decline of journalism into a profit-hungry sham.
From Newsrooms to YouTube Clowns: The Commercialization of Journalism
- Shift to Entertainment:
- Newsrooms mimic YouTube influencers: Prioritize drama over facts.
- Prime-time shows: Shouting matches, not discussions (e.g., Arnab Goswami on Republic TV).
- Focus: Celebrity gossip, communal flare-ups, not real issues like farmer distress.
- Staged Content:
- Debates: Panelists chosen to clash, not inform (e.g., Times Now, India TV).
- Sensational loops: 24/7 coverage of trivial stories for viewership.
- Result: Investigative journalism replaced by cheap entertainment.
Fake News Fiesta: Misinformation During the India-Pakistan War
- Channels Fueled Panic:
- Spread unverified, inflammatory stories during the conflict.
- Exploited Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor for sensationalism.
- Examples of Fake News:
| Channel | Fake News Title | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Aaj Tak | “Indian Navy Has Destroyed Karachi Port” | Used old Mumbai gas truck blast footage; debunked by X posts. |
| Zee News | “India Has Destroyed Lahore” | Pure fabrication; no evidence, debunked by fact-checkers. |
| Republic TV | “India Has Entered Pakistan” | Hyped non-existent military advance; widely criticized. |
| Aaj Tak (via Scroll.in) | “Suicide Attack on Indian Army Bases” | Fabricated story; spread fear without verification. |
- Additional Misinformation:
- PIB Debunked: Claims of S-400 destruction, capture of Indian pilot Shivani Singh.
- BBC Verify: Exposed fake videos of attacks on Indian army bases, amplified by channels.
- Result: Channels prioritized views over truth, worsening tensions.
The Profit Motive: Money Over Truth
- Corporate Greed:
- Channels owned by conglomerates: Care about ad revenue, not public service.
- NDTV (post-2022 Adani acquisition): Accused of bias, softened government coverage.
- Republic TV (backed by BJP MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar): Often pro-government.
- Financial Incentives:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Annual Ad Revenue (2025) | ₹500-₹700 crore for top channels (Centre for Media Studies). |
| High-TRP Events | Rates soar during conflicts, elections. |
| Anchor Salaries | Crores for stars like Sudhir Chaudhary (Aaj Tak), tied to viewership. |
TRP Obsession: The Race for Ratings
- Republic TV’s 2024 TRP scam: Paid households to manipulate ratings.
- 2025 Trend: Sensationalism (e.g., fake conflict stories) boosts TRPs, not quality.
- TRP Obsession: The Race for Ratings
- The root of this decline is the relentless pursuit of TRPs (Television Rating Points), the metric that determines a channel’s viewership and, by extension, its ad revenue. Channels like Times Now and ABP News live and die by their weekly TRP rankings, often at the expense of journalistic ethics. In 2025, the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) reports show Hindi news channels like Aaj Tak consistently topping charts—not because they deliver quality news, but because they peddle sensationalism.
- To boost TRPs, channels manufacture controversies. A politician’s offhand remark becomes a “national crisis,” with hours of airtime dedicated to dissecting it in the most inflammatory way possible. News24 and Zee News often run “exclusive” stories that are little more than rumors, knowing the drama will keep viewers glued. The 2024 TRP scam involving Republic TV—where the channel allegedly paid households to manipulate ratings—exposed the lengths these outlets will go to for numbers. Yet, little has changed; the race for TRPs continues to drive content, not the pursuit of truth.
Provocative Thumbnails: Clickbait Over Credibility
One of the most shameless tactics Indian news channels have adopted is the use of provocative thumbnails—attention-grabbing, often misleading images designed to lure viewers at any cost. On their YouTube channels and social media, Aaj Tak might use a thumbnail of a crying woman with the caption “SHOCKING REVELATION!” for a mundane story about a local dispute. Republic Bharat often slaps fiery graphics of explosions or clenched fists on videos about routine political speeches, screaming “WATCH NOW OR REGRET!”
These thumbnails are pure clickbait, exploiting viewers’ emotions to drive clicks and views. India TV takes it a step further with thumbnails that border on absurdity—like using a scantily clad model’s image for a story about a policy change. The goal isn’t to inform but to provoke, ensuring maximum engagement even if it means distorting the truth. This isn’t just unprofessional; it’s a betrayal of the public’s trust in media as a source of reliable information.
What’s worse is the cheap game these channels play to lure viewers with outright deception. News18 India, for instance, often uses doctored images—like a politician behind bars for a story about mere allegations—or exaggerated visuals of natural disasters that never happened, just to make the thumbnail pop. Channels like ABP News slap on bright red arrows pointing to nothing significant, paired with phrases like “MUST WATCH!” or “END OF THE WORLD?” for stories as trivial as a weather update. This gutter-level tactic preys on curiosity and fear,” for stories as trivial as a weather update. This gutter-level tactic preys on curiosity and fear, reducing journalism to a manipulative gimmick that values views over integrity.
The Fallout: A Nation Misled and Divided
- Public Impact:
| Issue | Impact |
|---|---|
| Panic and Fear | Fake stories (e.g., “India Has Entered Pakistan”) fueled public panic. |
| Communal Divide | Aaj Tak’s “Pakistan’s War on India!”: Deepened Hindu-Muslim tensions. |
| Trust in Media | Only 38% of Indians trust news channels (2025 survey). |
- Additional Consequences:
- Social Media Spread: Viral clips from channels stoked hatred, fear.
- Government Response: Maharashtra Cyber removed 5,000+ misleading posts (Hindustan report).
- PIB Efforts: Debunked lies (e.g., Indian soldiers abandoning posts, downed jets).
- Result: Society more divided, less informed, trust in media shattered.
Conclusion: Journalism’s Tragic Fall from Grace
- Indian journalism in 2025: A shameful, profit-driven fake news factory.
- Channels like Aaj Tak, Republic TV, Zee News: Lied during the India-Pakistan conflict (e.g., “Indian Navy Has Destroyed Karachi Port”).
- For zikzik.in readers: Reject these channels, seek independent voices, demand real news.
- Final Verdict: Indian journalism has fallen—a disgraceful betrayal of public trust.
