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The dynamics of journalism in India are more vibrant in 2025 than ever before as they are even more challenging. The politics of culture in news media is not only an academic lesson to journalism students, but a necessary step to have a fulfilling career in news media. And now, let us take a closer look at why culture, politics, and journalism have become such a relevant issue nowadays and what you, prospective journalists, should remember about.

Culture determines all this, the stories that can be covered, who is heard and even the manner in which things are reported. Journalism in India has always been a subject of the cultural point of view because the country is home to numerous languages and religions. The newsrooms do not remain neutral and only reflect the backgrounds and inclinations of the individuals employed there, as well as the expectations of the listeners and readers.

The necessity of cultural preservation and the role of media diversity has been highlighted recently in events such as Global Media Dialogue (GMD) held at WAVES 2025. The leaders of India and the world professionals are currently discussing the need to reduce bias, to democratise the content, and to promote ethics in journalism. The idea is to establish an inclusive and technologically superior media ecosystem, which cannot however lose the authenticity of culture.

The Indian mass media is becoming extremely pressurized. On the one hand, the press is supposed to challenge authority, as well as giving the voice to the marginalised. The threats are on the rise on the other end of the scale, namely censorship, control by corporate entities, and even aggression towards journalists. Investigative journalists are usually reported or beaten up and even killed, especially those who exploit the status quo by uncovering corruption.

To give one example, in the state of Uttar Pradesh or in other parts of the country such as Jammu and Kashmir the journalists have been subjected to criminal charges or to real abuse by physical defamation or even to cut off the internet sources to keep people quiet. The fact remains that there are forces of politics and culture that can be used to empower as well as limit journalism so it is essential that the students gain insight on what the threats and should be with regard to them. 

Media Consumption: Echo Chamber and Public Spheres

A study  titled, “Threats to Journalists in India: Journalism in the Age of Intolerance and Rising Nationalism” notes that news media usage is extensively determined by party and cultural affiliations. Indians tend to select news sources that reflect their worldviews, forming their own echo chambers where only like minds are affirmed. This selective consumption has the potential to even widen the social and political gaps because individuals rarely experience the thoughts of others beyond their domain.

This is the reason behind the idea of the existence of what have been referred to as public spheres; areas where individuals can openly reason and debate. It is the work of the journalists to unite these gaps, to introduce different voices to the conversation and get rid of their own biases.

The Digital and AI Era: Opportunity and Ethical Challenges

The media industry in India is experiencing a revolution as news generation and distribution methods are undergoing change owing to digital media and artificial intelligence assisted tools. Although such technologies allow accessing new audiences and personalising the content, they are also associated with such challenges as false information, algorithmic bias, and unequal revenue distribution.

AI models are now being trained on news content, sometimes without fair compensation to journalists and media houses. This raises questions about sustainability, ethics, and the future of independent journalism. As students, you must be ready to adapt to these changes, learning both the technical and ethical sides of digital journalism.

What should Indian Journalism students do?

Here are some of the practical advice on how to put up with the politics of culture in journalism:

1. Be culturally knowledgeable: Be aware of how you have your own biases and learn how to know the cultural background of your stories.
2. Be ethical: Never be sensationalist nor rely on rumours, but report in balance always checking the facts.
3. Connect with a variety of people: Address various communities through the digital space and hear their issues.
4. Keep abreast: Keep track of online journalism and artificial intelligence trends and regulation developments.
5. Advocate press freedom: Champion the right of the press to be open, democratic and to be safeguarded.

Due to the politics of culture in journalism, the future of news in India is being shaped. As journalism students, it is not only your role to deliver facts, but to comprehend and orient yourself in the world of culture, politics and technology that are intertwined in myriads of possible complexes. That means making yourself inclusive and embracing diversity, maintaining ethical standards, and being flexible to handle the emerging problems to contribute to the inclusion of the media in India by 2025 and beyond.

The dynamics of journalism in India are more vibrant in 2025 than ever before as they are even more challenging. The politics of culture in news media is not only an academic lesson to journalism students, but a necessary step to have a fulfilling career in news media. And now, let us take a closer look at why culture, politics, and journalism have become such a relevant issue nowadays and what you, prospective journalists, should remember about.

Culture determines all this, the stories that can be covered, who is heard and even the manner in which things are reported. Journalism in India has always been a subject of the cultural point of view because the country is home to numerous languages and religions. The newsrooms do not remain neutral and only reflect the backgrounds and inclinations of the individuals employed there, as well as the expectations of the listeners and readers.

The necessity of cultural preservation and the role of media diversity has been highlighted recently in events such as Global Media Dialogue (GMD) held at WAVES 2025. The leaders of India and the world professionals are currently discussing the need to reduce bias, to democratise the content, and to promote ethics in journalism. The idea is to establish an inclusive and technologically superior media ecosystem, which cannot however lose the authenticity of culture.

The Indian mass media is becoming extremely pressurized. On the one hand, the press is supposed to challenge authority, as well as giving the voice to the marginalised. The threats are on the rise on the other end of the scale, namely censorship, control by corporate entities, and even aggression towards journalists. Investigative journalists are usually reported or beaten up and even killed, especially those who exploit the status quo by uncovering corruption.

To give one example, in the state of Uttar Pradesh or in other parts of the country such as Jammu and Kashmir the journalists have been subjected to criminal charges or to real abuse by physical defamation or even to cut off the internet sources to keep people quiet. The fact remains that there are forces of politics and culture that can be used to empower as well as limit journalism so it is essential that the students gain insight on what the threats and should be with regard to them. 

Media Consumption: Echo Chamber and Public Spheres

A study  titled, “Threats to Journalists in India: Journalism in the Age of Intolerance and Rising Nationalism” notes that news media usage is extensively determined by party and cultural affiliations. Indians tend to select news sources that reflect their worldviews, forming their own echo chambers where only like minds are affirmed. This selective consumption has the potential to even widen the social and political gaps because individuals rarely experience the thoughts of others beyond their domain.

This is the reason behind the idea of the existence of what have been referred to as public spheres; areas where individuals can openly reason and debate. It is the work of the journalists to unite these gaps, to introduce different voices to the conversation and get rid of their own biases.

The Digital and AI Era: Opportunity and Ethical Challenges

The media industry in India is experiencing a revolution as news generation and distribution methods are undergoing change owing to digital media and artificial intelligence assisted tools. Although such technologies allow accessing new audiences and personalising the content, they are also associated with such challenges as false information, algorithmic bias, and unequal revenue distribution.

AI models are now being trained on news content, sometimes without fair compensation to journalists and media houses. This raises questions about sustainability, ethics, and the future of independent journalism. As students, you must be ready to adapt to these changes, learning both the technical and ethical sides of digital journalism.

What should Indian Journalism students do?

Here are some of the practical advice on how to put up with the politics of culture in journalism:

1. Be culturally knowledgeable: Be aware of how you have your own biases and learn how to know the cultural background of your stories.
2. Be ethical: Never be sensationalist nor rely on rumours, but report in balance always checking the facts.
3. Connect with a variety of people: Address various communities through the digital space and hear their issues.
4. Keep abreast: Keep track of online journalism and artificial intelligence trends and regulation developments.
5. Advocate press freedom: Champion the right of the press to be open, democratic and to be safeguarded.

Due to the politics of culture in journalism, the future of news in India is being shaped. As journalism students, it is not only your role to deliver facts, but to comprehend and orient yourself in the world of culture, politics and technology that are intertwined in myriads of possible complexes. That means making yourself inclusive and embracing diversity, maintaining ethical standards, and being flexible to handle the emerging problems to contribute to the inclusion of the media in India by 2025 and beyond.

People who have been keeping up with political news of Kerala by reading the daily newspapers and updates, they would have noticed the news about some uproar made by Congress fighter Shashi Tharoor in his latest article on the Emergency era. This article by Shashi Tharoor has not only found a space in drawing rooms and WhatsApp groups but has also put the Congress party in Kerala in a tight spot. 

What Has Tharoor Written?

Shashi Tharoor, a well-known MP of Thiruvananthapuram wrote an article in the Malayalam daily Deepika, a keenly worded editorial, bringing memories of the Emergency declared by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the period 1975-1977. 

Tharoor did not hesitate at all and called the Emergency a “dark period” in India’s democracy and highlighted the suspension of basic rights, the curbing of the press and human rights violation among others. He actually went to the extent of saying that it was Indira Gandhi who was responsible for taking such harsh actions and her son Sanjay Gandhi who had committed “terrible atrocities” such as forced sterilisation drives and brutal suppression of which rural localities witnessed a lot. 

What is the Emergency in India? 

The emergency (India) was a period of 21 months from 1975 to 1977. This was the time when Indira Gandhi declared the state of emergency in India due to the internal and external threats. During this time, civil liberties were suspended, the press was censored, and thousands of political opponents were jailed, making it one of the most controversial chapters in Indian democracy. 

This action, which was declared by President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed using Article 352 of the Constitution, granted the government extraordinary powers. More than 100,000 political dissidents, journalists, and critics were imprisoned and a great deal of basic rights were suspended. The Emergency can be recalled with cruel acts, one such is the forced sterilisation drive headed by Sanjay Gandhi and the destruction of slums. 

This move was made when the Allahabad High Court had declared the election of Indira Gandhi to be invalid and as a result there was political instability and increased resistance. It was in March 1977 when the Emergency was lifted and the democratic process thereafter normalized although that has been one of the most controversial and debatable events in the democratic history of India.

Why Is the Emergency Article a Big Deal by Congress?

Emergency remains a sore spot when it comes to the Congress party particularly given the fact that it came after their own leader Indira Gandhi imposed the situation. The party has in the years attempted to forget this chapter but it has been used against them by their political opponents particularly the BJP. The article by Tharoor, a top Congress leader has embarrassed the Kerala branch of the party. Opposing such open deflections argument, many in the party believe it supplies its opposition more ammunition and undermines the party itself.

What Were the Reactions of Congress Leaders?

Kerala Congress leaders have been swift to disassociate themselves with the thoughts of Tharoor. He has received open criticism by some and others have tried to be quiet in the hope that the controversy would die down. It has definitely placed the core leadership of the party in a fix yet they have not so far acted at disciplinary level in the matter. The impression is that the statements made by Tharoor are bound to widen the current cracks in the party as he has on earlier occasions questioned the party leadership and even participated in a party presidential race.

What is Tharoor's argument?

• Violation of Rights: Tharoor discussed the way the Emergency suspended the rights so that the press stopped working.
• Atrocities and Cruelty: He pointed at the forced sterilisation campaigns by Sanjay Gandhi and destruction of slums which rendered thousands of people homeless.
• Lessons that can be learnt today: Tharoor recalled how the Emergency must not only be recalled as a black mark, but it also should be a lesson that all democracies must be cautious and safeguard civil liberties.
• Effect on Congress: Raising such issues, Tharoor has compelled the Congress to face the past even when it attempts to present itself in the present day to be a harbinger of democracy.

Why is this Significant?

The timing of the article matters significantly. The 50th anniversary of the Emergency is being celebrated, political parties are cashing in on it to create the views of people accordingly. BJP observes June 25 as the day of Samvidhan Hatya (Constitution Murder) to remind its citizens of the role of Congress in Emergency. The article by Tharoor, although fair and introspective has ended up playing to the tune of BJP and caused new sleepless nights in his party as well.

What Happens with Tharoor and Congress?

At this point, the Congress leadership can only seem to be hoping that the controversy will pass away on its own. Tharoor, a man with his own opinions, remains popular among the general public in Kerala, despite the fact that some leaders in his party feel dissatisfied with him. It is still unclear whether this episode will have any grandiose changes in the party. However, one aspect is clear: the article by Tharoor has put back on the table a debate over the Emergency and made Congress reconsider its past once again.

To sum up, the Congress in Kerala has been caught in a quandary because of the bold approach to the Emergency put forward by Shashi Tharoor. The party is backpedalling in a bid to contain the repercussions, though the article is important in raising some discussions on democracy, accountability, and also the history. To the readers and the voters, it is a reminder that no issue discussed in politics is never just about the past but about the future as well. 

Manipur journalists organized a sit-in protest on Saturday and vehemently condemned the state government's silence regarding the Gwaltabi incident in which journalists allegedly were not given the chance to perform their professional duties.

The demonstration, organized by some of the press and media organizations, brought together writers from all over the state to protest what they termed as an unacceptable encroachment on freedom of the press. The demonstrators demanded that the government make a quick gesture after they were angered by the fact that it had hesitated to make a gesture against harassment of the journalists covering sensitive news in Gwaltabi, an already tense region under tension.

Protests under the slogans "Stop Targeting the Press", "We Want Answers, Not Silence", and "Free Press, Free Society" defined the outrage of the press members whose members warned that continued lack of action by the government would establish a vicious precedent.

As a response to the protest, experienced journalists averred that the media plays a critical role in war zones like Manipur and stifling its freedom damages not only democracy but also constitutes an invitation to untold stories. This governmental silence is not just disappointing—it's frightening, one FrogStreet protester proclaimed. If journalists cannot report, the people lose their right to know.

The symbolic sit-in brought to the fore the increasing danger for media personnel in Manipur, where ethnic tensions and govt. indecision has turned the state into a tricky area to report from.

Media houses have demanded an explanation to the public from an action taken against officials who were implicated in the blockade. Up until now, there has been no statement or word from the office of the Chief Minister.

The protest is a sign of growing issues with press freedom in India's north east, where reporters more and more challenge what they describe as systemic efforts to stifle the flow of good reporting from the ground.

India is experiencing a revolution in mass communication due to the steep rise in technologies accompanied with the shift in the choice of audience and the dramatic rise in the number of skilled people. In the case of students who are thinking of pursuing a career in this industry, 2025 is a very exciting year- full of opportunities, innovation and new challenges.

The Best Trends that will Influence Mass Communication in the Year 2025-26

1. Automation and Artificial intelligence (AI)

AI is revolutionizing the way content is made, news collected, revised and shared. Finally, with the help of AI, reports are faster to process, summaries generated, and stories translated into different languages meaning that the regional aspects are no longer a problem, and the number of readers or viewers can increase. Education about AI instruments and ethical aspects is gradually becoming a necessity to students.

2. Virtual Reality and AR/VR Storytelling

Technologies like augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are making the news and storytelling more interactive. These technologies can be seen in virtual newsrooms, immersive documentaries that media professionals can use to make their audiences more interested in what they are being shown.

3. Multi-Platform Journalism and Mobile-First Journalism

Most of the Indians receive their news on smartphones, so media houses have shifted their content to mobile-first, including short videos, live streaming, and social media updates. Students will have to learn how to adjust the material to such channels as Instagram, Youtube, and WhatsApp that have become essential in reaching the audience.

4. Hyper-Personalization and Big Data

Big data helps media organizations get to know the preferences of the audience and send individualized content. With the help of predictive analytics, it becomes easier to find the right stories in front of the right people and make the content more relevant and boost engagement. 

5. Target Press Freedom and Misinformation

Fact-checking, ethical journalling and partnership with watchdogs have become even more important. To ensure no loss of confidence by the population, the students will be advised to adopt competencies of verification, digital literacy, and ethical reporting.

6. Trauma-Informed and Mental Health Reporting

The current trend in journalism is traumatic and sensitive reporting instead of the sensationalized approach that existed in the past because modern journalism is no longer concerned with sales but wants to ensure the safety of both the reporters and the audience.

Why is Mass Communication one of the Best Career Choices?

1. Various Career Opportunities: The graduates have an opportunity to work in journalism, digital marketing, film and television production, public relations, event management, and others. With the emergence of OTTs and digital story-telling, it has provided more opportunities than the traditional print and broadcast tasks.
2. Skill shortage: Employers are interested in highly qualified specialists in SEO, content marketing, social networks management, and multimedia development. Graduates currently have practice training on those fields in mass communication courses and are thus ready to work in the industry.
3. Innovative and Effective Performance: Be it storytelling, film making, and political campaigning, the working bodies in this sector are in a position to influence government and social opinion.
4. Global and Local Opportunities: Indian media professionals are being employed both at national and international bodies and even the need of Indian TV content is increasing in the newer world markets. 

What should students do?

• Pick the Right Path: Seek out programs that combine theory and the hands-on experiences of such new technology as AI, AR/VR, and data journalism.
• Stay Updated: Stay with the trends in the industry, learn new tools, accumulate the portfolio containing various material; videos, podcasts, blogs, etc., create social media marketing campaigns.
• Soft Skills: This is a very dynamic field where technical skills are as important as the communication skills, critical thinking, and adaptability.
• Network and Intern: The internships and industry contacts may be an avenue towards the leading media houses, agencies as well as the digital platforms.

The opportunities of mass communication in India are promising, vivid and dynamic. Students should now become innovative to embrace technologies, be versatile in the job and join an industry that does not only inform the society but also uplifts and motivates them. Mass communication is the discipline to choose in 2025 and beyond if you are fond of stories, creativeness, and helping people. 

Note: To pursue mass communication from a top college in India, take GMCET and secure your seat in one of the best private universities in India. 

In a startling expose in the Madhya Pradesh Shahdol district, a government high school in the Sakandi village in the Byawari assembly constituency has been accused of a huge corruption scam. A bill which went viral on social media indicated that 168 laborers and 65 masons were apparently engaged to do the work of simply painting with 4 liters of oil paint which cost a mere Rs. 1,06,984. 

This huge sum was sanctioned and taken out of the government treasury by the in-charge District Education Officer, Phool Singh Marpachi. There have been grave concerns of misappropriation of public funds with residents of this area stating that not even a small percentage of the number of laborers and masons found in the bill are to be found in the village.

The revelations of this dubious act have caused uproar and an indication of structural flaw in management of government finances. District Education Officer Phool Singh Marpachi asserted in response to the viral social media posts that he was not aware of the matter until the wide publicity and expressed desire to have it investigated. 

Lack of simple verification, avoidance of background check, and approving the request officially with only paperwork provide the boldness of the alleged fraud. With these cases of Sakandi village and Nipaniya villages as an evidence, it shows a clear picture as to why the state of Madhya Pradesh is struggling against allegations of corruption on such a large scale in its government organisations.

The same kind of discrepancy was found at the Government Higher Secondary School in Nipaniya village, where 275 laborers and 150 masons were engaged to paint 20 liters, put up 10 windows and fix 4 doors at a cost of Rs. 2,31,685. To make the matter more suspicious, the bill submitted by Nipaniya was signed by the principal of the school on April 4, 2025, whereas the bill was made by Sudhakar Construction Odari on May 5, 2025, implying that the principal approved it a month before it was prepared. 

Moreover, even though there were regulations to be able to submit photos of before and after works on maintenance work there was no such evidence found on these bills but treasury officers still released the payment approving the said payment without looking at the evidence. This shows how the corruption works right in front without the government getting a hint of it.