– Mohd.Naushad Khan
New Delhi:The Media Foundation and India International Center hosted a dialogue titled “Challenges Confronting the Indian Language Media” on Thursday evening. The event focused on the past and present of regional media, the rise of digital platforms, adaptation to technology, investment issues, lack of skilled manpower, subscription challenges, and the decline in media credibility.
Mahtab Alam, former Executive Editor of The Wire Urdu, said Urdu media struggles to deliver news on time. He noted that translation delays make the news irrelevant for Urdu-speaking readers.
He also pointed out the low investment in Urdu media, even from its supporters. He highlighted that top Urdu platforms Inquilab and Sahara are owned by non-Muslims. He added that journalism students show little enthusiasm for Urdu media, and some universities report vacant seats in journalism courses.
R. Prasannan, Resident Editor of The Week, Malayalam Manorama, said Kerala’s media regained ground after COVID-19. They quickly adopted technology and digital platforms. Their success lies in content tailored to all age groups and timely local, national, and global news. He mentioned that migration from the state has reduced subscriptions.
Vijay Naik, Consulting Editor at Sakal Papers Ltd, said regional media in Maharashtra is growing. He cited Sakal’s circulation rise from 1 lakh to 14 lakh. This was due to technology upgrades, market research, and strategy. He warned that paid news has deeply damaged media credibility.
Paresh Nath, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher at Delhi Press, also raised concerns about Urdu media. He said Hindi media faces readership, financial, and logistical problems too. On credibility, he questioned how media can stay trusted if it follows the government line and ignores journalistic ethics.
Samata Biswas, Assistant Professor at Sanskrit College and University, Kolkata, spoke about Bengali media. She said all major outlets have shifted to digital. Growth trends and challenges there match other regions.
During the Q&A session, the panel discussed the link between politicians and state agencies, financial struggles, advertisement issues, and the hardships of stringers across India.
The session was moderated by Vibodh Parthasarathi, Associate Professor at Jamia Millia Islamia.
