Editors Guild: Indian Officials’ Clashes With Dutch, Norwegian Journalists ‘Embarrassing’
The Editors Guild of India has criticised recent stand-offs involving Indian government representatives and journalists from the Netherlands and Norway as “embarrassing,” saying they followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s refusal to take questions from local media during visits to the two countries.
Journalist Shot Days After Reporting on Assam’s Eviction Drive
A journalist from Nagaland in Northeast India was shot twice during a reporting trip in the neighbouring state of Manipur. The attack came days after a senior political leader in Nagaland publicly rebuked him for airing critical views on the Assam government’s eviction drive.
Supreme Court Shields The Wire, Addresses Legal Threat to Free Press
The Supreme Court has ordered that the Foundation for Independent Journalism, which owns The Wire, and its founding editor Siddharth Varadarajan must be protected from any police action that could involve arrest, detention, or other measures intended to compel compliance in connection with an FIR filed by the Assam Police. The order puts the law’s constitutional validity before the court and concerns press freedom and the state’s power to act against journalists.
Woman Journalist Beaten on Camera, Power Appears to Shield the Accused
A journalist, Sneha Barve, was violently assaulted while reporting on suspected illegal construction along a riverbed in Pune district. The main accused, local businessman, struck her repeatedly with a wooden rod while she was filming a video report. That such an act was carried out in broad daylight, against a woman journalist, while the camera was rolling, shows how deeply the culture of impunity has taken root among individuals who operate close to political power.
Is the Arrest of Gujarat’s Media Owner Part of a Pattern?
The recent detention of Bahubali Shah, co-owner of Gujarat Samachar, by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has led to accusations of political vendetta. Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, have condemned the move as part of a pattern of intimidation against media critical of the government.
Independent News Site The Wire Was Blocked Amid India Pakistan Tensions
Independent news portal The Wire became inaccessible to readers across India on May 9 after internet service providers displayed notices saying the site had been blocked on government orders, according to the media outlet. The disruption coincided with rising hostilities between India and Pakistan and came just weeks after the 2025 World Press Freedom Index placed India at 151 out of 180 countries.
India’s Press Freedom Ranking Improves, but Core Issues Remain
India climbed eight spots in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, moving from 159 last year to 151 out of 180 countries. The index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), released on May 3—World Press Freedom Day—paints a bleak picture of India’s media environment, describing a deepening crisis that affects how journalism is practised and received across the country.
BJP Workers Beat Journalist for Raising ‘Security Lapse’ in Kashmir Terror Attack
Rakesh Sharma, 58, a senior correspondent with the Hindi daily Dainik Jagran, was recently beaten by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir, while covering a roadside protest over the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. They attacked him for a simple reason: he had asked someone at the rally why the party kept burning effigies of Pakistan instead of addressing what he called a “security lapse.”
Telangana Police Lathi-Charges Protesting Students, Arrests Journalist
The Congress party-led Telangana government is facing backlash after police used force against protesting students at the University of Hyderabad and detained a journalist covering the demonstrations. The protests erupted over the state government’s decision to auction 400 acres of land in Kancha Gachibowli, which students and activists claim is vital for biodiversity and ecological balance.
Discourse Over Assam Reporter’s Arrest Reveals Need for Media Literacy
Assam-based news reporter Dilwar Hussain Mozumder was released from judicial custody on March 29 after securing bail in the second case against him. However, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s response seems to reveal a lack of understanding regarding what constitutes journalism and who qualifies as a journalist.
Journalists’ Arrest in Telangana Raises Press Freedom Concerns
Two YouTube journalists in Hyderabad, Telangana—Revathi Pogadadanda and Tanvi Yadav—have been arrested for airing a video critical of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy of the Congress party. The video allegedly contained “derogatory” and “vulgar” content. However, arresting journalists for their work, even if it is considered offensive, doesn’t set a good precedent for democratic freedoms.
Immigration Bill 2025 Raises Concerns for Citizens and Foreign Journalists
The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, proposes a major overhaul of India’s immigration laws. While its stated intent is national security and efficient immigration control, several of its provisions have significant potential for misuse, particularly against citizens, creating an NRC-like situation, and foreign journalists and human rights researchers.
Government Revokes Non-Profit Status of The Reporters’ Collective
The government has cancelled the non-profit status of The Reporters’ Collective, stating that investigative reporting cannot qualify as a charitable activity as it does not serve a public purpose, according to a statement by the collective. The organisation has lost its tax-exempt privileges.
Study: Dainik Jagran’s Coverage of NRC-CAA Protests, Delhi Violence Biased
Hindi-language daily Dainik Jagran’s coverage of the 2020-2021 protests against the National Register of Citizens and the Citizenship Amendment Act (NRC-CAA), as well as the communal violence in Delhi, was “biased,” according to a study featured in the recently published book, “Inclusiveness in Indian Media Coverage.” The reportage predominantly supported the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) stance, depicting protestors negatively and associating them with violence while allocating minimal space for their perspectives, it suggests.
Journalist Killed in Chhattisgarh: What We Know Thus Far
A 33-year-old journalist, Mukesh Chandrakar, was killed in Chhattisgarh, prompting an investigation by the authorities. He had exposed possible corruption in a 1.2 billion rupees road project. Police have arrested three suspects, including two of his relatives and a construction supervisor.