English Channels: Put News Over Noise, Public Sab Janti Hai

Despite falling viewership, English news channels enjoy more influence in shaping public opinion. Is that fair?

In Breaking Views, Sanjay Pugalia analyses the coverage of English news channels.(Photo: The Quint/Liju Joseph)  

Enough has been said about the selective and biased coverage, high-decibel prime-time debates and callous reporting of English news channels. Now, it is time to question their self-proclaimed role as the custodian of public discourse.

When six farmers died in police firing in Madhya Pradesh, English news channels did not think it was important enough to for prime-time debate. In fact, they woke up to the news 24 hours later. 

When India lost to Pakistan in Champions Trophy, some anchors criticised Indian cricketers for not ‘honouring the soldiers’. Reporters chased Yuvraj Singh and Hardik Pandya for not wearing black bands.

But, are we singling out English news channels? What about Hindi and other regional news channels? Despite poor coverage, why are viewers still watching?

Video Editor: Puneet Bhatia

Producer: Vatsala Singh

Camera: Abhay Sharma, Athar Rather