‘No Diversity: Same five faces dominate discussions in today’s media’

The Write Circle’ engages with Rajdeep Sardesai

Morung Express News
Chümoukedima | March 25

From an era of accountability and editorial restraint, India today hosts over 400 licensed 24/7 news channels, excluding cable channels contributing to “a lot of noise” in the industry.

Since Rajdeep Sardesai began his journalistic career in 1988, he observed how India’s media landscape has undergone a seismic shift. “Now we have no pause button in life, and no accountability,” the award-winning author and journalist remarked while speaking at ‘The Write Circle’ event on Sunday at Zone Niathu by The Park, Chümoukedima. The literary session is an initiative of the Prabha Khaitan Foundation (PKF), a unique platform that allows literary enthusiasts to engage in intimate, enriching conversations about the life and works of some of the most remarkable authors of today. ‘The Write Circle’ offers a space where literature is celebrated, and where ideas are shared, debated, and cherished.

In a conversation with Ayieno Kechü, media secretary to the Chief Minister of Nagaland, Sardesai discussed his latest book, 2024: The Election That Surprised India. The book talk with a select audience offered insights into the evolving landscape of Indian media, politics and democracy.

With a career spanning over three decades, he reflected on the dramatic changes in journalism, the increasing dominance of political forces, and the challenges facing India’s democratic fabric.

He said that today’s fast-paced media world, dominated by social media and real-time reporting has left little room for fact-checking and in-depth journalism. “Today’s news is tomorrow’s history,” he remarked, pointing to the fleeting nature of today’s news cycles.

While stating there is always “something crazy and exciting” happening in some part of the country, today he was reminded of Nagaland’s bit of craziness where the state do not have an opposition. “When I thought about it, the first thing that came to mind was, ‘what Nagaland thinks today,’” he said while quipping anything can happen in India.

He said journalism in India has become overly focused on political narratives, often failing to capture the voices of the people. “When most journalists cover elections, they talk to politicians, not real voters,” he said, pointing out the centralisation of media coverage around Delhi, leaving regions like the Northeast feeling overlooked.

However, he noted that it was not just a Northeast issue, but an ‘India problem’ —a ‘media problem.’ He addressed this lack of coverage citing it to the ‘tyranny of distance,’ a concept used by an Australian writer Robert Hughes in his book, Fatal Shore, to explain why Australia falls off the map of the world.

“It’s not an excuse I’m offering, but I think it’s an explanation that the further you are from Delhi, the less relevant you seem to be to the mainstream,” he admitted.

The senior journalist said that news are covered more from a Delhi point of view, where we do not hear enough voices from the people concerned, particularly the grassroots.

He talked about the possibility of hyper local journalism and technology-driven linguistic solutions to bridge gaps in covering news from remote areas. “I believe this will be the future.”

Sardesai also examined the shifting power dynamics in Indian politics, particularly the rise of majoritarianism and the increasing difficulty of challenging incumbent governments. “We have become a cash-and-carry democracy,” he remarked, referring to the overwhelming influence of money and institutional power in elections. He stated that the lack of a level playing field makes it challenging for honest politicians to thrive, with ruling parties controlling resources, such as the police and funding.  

His latest book which completes a trilogy that began in 2014delves into these themes, analysing the unpredictability of Indian elections despite attempts by politicians and pollsters to “play god.”He acknowledged the resilience of India’s democratic framework, stating that while majoritarianism has gained ground, “India is bigger than individualism, and there will always be a pushback.”

When asked whom the 2024 elections surprised, as the book title reads, the witty news man said it surprised everyone, from the politicians, to the pollsters and pundits, the media. 

Reflecting on his experience as a journalist and storyteller, Sardesai underscored the importance of maintaining a human connection in media. “There is still space for human connection,” he pointed, cautioning against the increasing corporatisation of journalism. He addressed concerns about the shrinking diversity of voices in mainstream media, where “the same five faces” dominate discussions. “There is no diversity within the media in terms of opinions.”

When asked how he would like to be remembered, Sardesai simply said, “If I am remembered as a decent human being, I’ll be very happy.” He admired figures like former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, whom he described as embodying decency and integrity.  

He said that the book is his most ambitious writing project, yet covering a tumultuous period in Indian politics. Here mains committed to chronicling India’s ever-evolving democracy. He said that India is the most diverse country in the world, and its strength lies in “its diversity” as well. In a way, the book is a tribute and celebration of that diversity, he added.

The literary session was held in association with Zone Niathu and the Ehsaas Women of Dimapur—Viketuno Rio and Abokali Jimomi, and supported by Shree Cement Limited as their CSR initiative.