The recent migration of prominent news anchors from India Today to NDTV has sparked widespread discussion. This migration is reflected in individual career moves and the broader state of Indian news television. This shift, involving high-profile journalists moving to a channel historically associated with credibility, raises questions about the direction of the industry. Let us be clear, NDTV’s credibility too is now history. So, this is not a sign of journalists seeking platforms aligned with ethical journalism, but merely a reshuffling within a flawed system. Was this system ever flawless, or at least followed a semblance of journalistic ethics? Did it ever truly serve the public interest or merely bow to power? Let us go through the tumultuous history of Indian TV news, examining its highs and lows.
The Doordarshan Era: A State-Controlled Dawn
September 15, 1959, witnessed the modest launch of Doordarshan, which started the narrative of India’s first television broadcaster. Those were newly independent India’s optimistic years. So, Doordarshan was designed to promote national integration. It also provided educational content, agricultural advice, and tightly scripted news bulletins from a single transmitter in Delhi. But since Doordarshan was state-controlled, it was natural that government priorities eclipsed journalistic ethics. The news was less about informing and more about promoting the state’s narrative—be it five-year plans or national achievements.
As if the state control was not enough, Doordarshan was subjected to suffocating censorship when Indira Gandhi imposed the Emergency in 1975, which lasted until 1977. Both Doordarshan and the print media turned into a mouthpiece for propaganda. However, some honourable exceptions in the print media defied the censorship. But, as the late journalist Vinod Mehta noted, “In those days, the news was what the government said it was.” Doordarshan’s bulletins were carefully curated, devoid of dissent, and designed to maintain order rather than question it. Ethical journalism—rooted in truth, independence, and accountability—was nowhere to be found.
Yet, Doordarshan wasn’t without merit. By the 1980s, satellite technology brought television to rural India, connecting a diverse nation through programs like Krishi Darshan and Chitrahaar. These efforts fostered unity, but for news, the channel remained a loyal servant of the state. This set a precedent of sycophancy that would echo through the decades.
The 1990s: Privatisation and the Promise of Independence
The 1990s marked a seismic shift. India’s economic liberalisation opened the airwaves to private players, breaking Doordarshan’s monopoly. Channels like NDTV, which transitioned from a production house in 1988 to a 24-hour news channel, alongside Zee News (1992) and Aaj Tak (2000), ushered in a new era. For the first time, Indian viewers had choices, and news was no longer a one-way street dictated by the government.
This period promised the dawn of a golden age for Indian TV news. Channels embraced investigative journalism, live reporting, and bold interviews. NDTV, under Prannoy Roy’s leadership, became a guiding light of credibility. Viewers trusted Roy more than Doordarshan because his measured delivery was a stark contrast to their robotic bulletins. NDTV’s Barkha Dutt’s live frontline reporting during the 1999 Kargil War powerfully conveyed the war’s human impact, shaping its legacy. TV news demonstrated the potential for upholding ethical standards of truth and public service through its role in informing, inspiring, and shaping national sentiment.
Although imperfect, this period demonstrated the potential of prioritising journalistic accountability over loyalty. Unfortunately, today’s anchor migration to NDTV signals the last rites for NDTV’s past reputation of integrity.
The 2000s: TRPs and the Descent into Sensationalism
But the 1990s’ promise unravelled in the 2000s. The rise of Television Rating Points (TRPs) transformed news into a high-stakes game of viewership. The competition between channels extended beyond informing. Success was redefined by sensationalism: screaming headlines, dramatised debates, and exaggerated stories replaced balanced reporting.
The 2008 Mumbai attacks highlighted the risks associated with this trend. Other channels drew criticism for live broadcasts deemed reckless and helpful to terrorists by revealing security details, in contrast to NDTV’s careful reporting. Ethical lapses, such as airing unverified claims and putting lives at risk, stemmed from the quest for exclusive footage. It was a moment that demanded introspection, but the industry doubled down on spectacle.
The 2010 Niira Radia tapes scandal further eroded trust. Leaked conversations revealed top journalists, including NDTV’s Barkha Dutt, allegedly acting as intermediaries between corporates and politicians. The controversy highlighted a nexus between media and power. Journalist P. Sainath observed, “The media has become the massage.” The idealism of the 1990s gave way to a more cynical reality: sycophancy had evolved from overt state loyalty to subtler, corporate-political alliances.
Ideally, the reported anchor migration should signal a rejection of this sensationalist culture. Unfortunately, it is a deal between NDTV’s new capitalist owners and the anchors that points to an intensified struggle for TRPs.
The Modi Era: Polarisation and “Godi Media”
Since Narendra Modi’s rise in 2014, Indian news TV has entered a polarised and contentious phase. The term “Godi Media”—meaning “lapdog media”—has gained traction. This term is used to describe channels like Republic TV, Times Now, and Zee News, accused of amplifying the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s narrative while marginalising dissent. The newsrooms have aligned closely with political agendas at the expense of objectivity.
While India battled oxygen shortages and hospital overcrowding during the 2020-2021 COVID-19 crisis, numerous news sources highlighted government successes, such as vaccine rollouts and Modi’s addresses, downplaying the severity of the situation. NDTV’s Ravish Kumar stood out, using his show Prime Time to highlight systemic failures. He warned, “The media is not just reporting the news; it is manufacturing consent.” His principled stance made him a target of trolling and threats, underscoring the cost of dissent in a polarised landscape.
Still, signs of defiance have emerged. Even under government pressure, The Wire, Scroll.in, and some TV journalists gave the 2020-2021 farmers’ protests thorough and insightful coverage. Unfiltered perspectives from independent YouTubers and X users filled in the missing information. The anchor migration to NDTV raises questions: is NDTV still the bastion it once was, or has the industry’s polarisation made neutrality impossible?
The Social Media Disruption: A Double-Edged Sword
The rise of social media since the late 2000s has reshaped the news ecosystem. Platforms like X, YouTube, and WhatsApp have democratised information. Reporting and giving opinions is now possible for all smartphone users. Dalit activists, rural journalists, and citizen reporters, whose voices are often marginalised, have been given power, bypassing traditional gatekeepers. During the 2019 and 2024 elections, several YouTube-based platforms like Newslaundry and The Wire offered raw, real-time narratives.
This freedom, however, breeds chaos. The rapid spread of misinformation obscures the boundary between fact and opinion. The spread of divisive narratives via WhatsApp forwards and viral videos is forcing TV news to compete with unverified content. So, with the change in the news environment, social media’s influence complicates the path to ethical journalism.
Weighing Ethics: Highs, Lows, and Patterns
Has Indian TV news ever truly upheld journalistic ethics? The evidence is contradictory. Examples like the Kargil War coverage and early NDTV’s balanced reporting highlight journalism’s positive impact on society. Investigative programs such as Tehelka, which briefly had a TV presence, revealed corruption, demonstrating that ethical journalism could confront powerful entities.
Yet, the downsides are difficult to overlook. The TRP-driven sensationalism of the 2000s, the paid news scandals of 2009 (documented by the Press Council of India as a “cancer” on democracy), and the “Godi Media” trend reveal a persistent flaw. And what is that flaw? When faced with political, corporate or financial pressure, many outlets discard principles without hesitation. People often give up ethics for profit or influence. The Doordarshan era’s overt sycophancy has morphed into a more brazen version. The inclination to serve power has become a lucrative habit.
The Road Ahead: Challenges and Opportunities
What lies ahead for Indian TV news? The rise of digital media offers optimism. Independent outlets and citizen journalists are gaining ground, and audiences are increasingly sceptical, demanding accountability. However, challenges abound. Government regulations, like the 2021 IT Rules, and pressure on advertisers threaten press freedom. Polarisation continues to fracture the media landscape, with channels catering to ideological niches rather than the broader public. As media analyst Sevanti Ninan observes, “The media in India is at a crossroads. It can either reclaim its role as the fourth estate or continue down the path of sycophancy and sensationalism.” The choice rests with journalists, but also with viewers who shape demand.
Conclusion: A Tale of Aspiration and Compromise
The migration of anchors from India Today to NDTV is more than a headline—it’s a window into the complex journey of Indian TV news. From Doordarshan’s state-controlled origins to the promise of privatisation, the sinking into sensationalism in today’s polarised “Godi Media” era, the aspiration for genuine news media has been flattened by compromise. Did it ever follow journalistic ethics? Yes, courageous moments—such as the Kargil war coverage and Ravish Kumar’s reporting—exist, but they’re rare in a media landscape usually biased toward the powerful.
But let us not lose hope. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” Whether Indian TV news bends toward ethics depends on journalists willing to take risks and viewers who refuse to accept less than the truth. So, as you tune in tonight, don’t just consume, but question, challenge, and demand better. In a democracy, the media’s strength lies in our hands.
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Indian TV News, NDTV Anchor Migration, Indian News Anchors, Ethics in Journalism, NDTV vs India Today, Indian Media History, Doordarshan Era, TRP Wars, Godi Media, Ravish Kumar, Prannoy Roy, Barkha Dutt, Indian News Channels, Sensationalism in News, TV News Ethics, Modi and Media, Media Polarisation India, Journalism in India, Newsroom Ethics, Indian Media Evolution, Indian Television News, TRP Culture, Anchor Exodus NDTV, Corporate Media India, Political Bias in Media, Indian News Industry
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