By Tayyaba Zahra
We all know that journalism is a very prestigious profession because it holds an immense responsibility of spreading information based on facts and figures. However, when this profession is not taken seriously and the media of a country engages in distorting facts and figures, it can cause more damage than even an enemy might—whether in times of peace or during war. In this article, I have examined the role played by mainstream Indian media, particularly TV news channels, during the recent India-Pakistan conflict.
India presents itself to the outside world as a pluralistic state with a vibrant and free media, often regarded as the fourth pillar of democracy. However, contrary to this image, recent media coverage and talk shows related to the Indo-Pak conflict reveal a different reality. Many Indian news channels have been involved in spreading misinformation, often mixing fake news with exaggerated and dramatized narratives far removed from the truth. This practice, known as ‘sensationalism,’ has become a growing concern—particularly within the Indian media landscape today.
This shift toward sensationalism is not aimed at helping people understand the fine line between real and fake. Rather, it is just a game of TRPs (Television Rating Points). The more people watch sensational news, the higher the TRP, and the more money channels make from advertisers. For some news channels, the only agenda seems to be maximizing profits —often at the expense of journalistic integrity—even if it means spreading false or misleading information.
Indian news channels have repeatedly demonstrated a pattern of sensationalism. For instance, on April 22, 2025, following the Pahalgam attack, the Indian media—along with the government—swiftly blamed Pakistan within just 10 minutes, without any investigation or supporting evidence. Similarly, in 2019, after the Pulwama Attack and Balakot air strike, Indian news channels spread hate speeches against Pakistan and Muslims. Not only that, but their anchorpersons wore army-style clothes and sang national songs with loud music, turning real war news into entertainment.
The same trend was evident in 2016, when four heavily armed militants attacked an Indian army base in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir. Without presenting credible evidence, the Indian media once again hastily blamed Pakistan. Such conduct raises serious questions about the credibility and integrity of journalism in the country.
India does have a regulatory body—the News Broadcasting and Digital Standards Authority (NBDSA)—tasked with ensuring checks and balances in the media. However, the conduct of Indian media indicates that the NBDSA’s role is largely symbolic, lacking the authority and enforcement power to hold violators accountable, which has led to a troubling absence of responsibility within Indian journalism.
What has been observed is that Indian mainstream media tries to portray their Prime Minister Narendara Modi as a national hero. They have given full coverage to Modi’s rallies, slogans (“Modi hai to mumkin hai”), and his political party (BJP). Elections in Bihar are significantly important to Modi’s government. Bihar is dominated by caste-based politics led by RJD (Yadav-Muslim base) and JD(U) (Kurmi and OBC support).
Modi’s strategy is to inculcate ultra Hindu nationalism among the people rather than focusing on real issues like poverty, unemployment, crime, and better job opportunities. It would not be an exaggeration to say that much of the Indian media has been co-opted by the Modi government, serving as a mouthpiece for its divisive Hindutva ideology and systematically pushing narratives that fuel hatred and suppress dissent.
What is needed now is for the Indian public to receive news coverage that is free from distortion of facts and figures. They also deserve to be educated on how to differentiate between what is real and what is fake. To achieve this, news channels must improve their research practices and carefully filter information before broadcasting it. It is high time they stop being judgmental toward Muslims and refrain from spreading hate speech, which not only harms social harmony and mental peace but also tarnishes the country’s image on the global stage
Sensationalism may bring higher ratings, but it breaks the trust of the audience and weakens democracy. If Indian news channels truly aim to serve the interests of their people, they must stand for truth, responsibility, and fair journalism—instead of keeping the public in the dark through fake news and sensationalism, which serves little to no meaningful purpose.
This article has been contributed by Tayyaba Zahra, an educationist and teacher trainer. She writes on topics related to education, culture, and society.
