“There have never been as many information producers as there are today. Paradoxically, the media have never been in worse shape.”
Written in 2016, these words by Professor Julia Cagé seem prescient in these times. News organisations, worldwide and certainly in India, have seen massive layoffs and salary cuts in the wake of COVID-19.
But is that when the problem began for an industry that has been compromised by its dependence on advertising and influenced by ownership? And are there other models to consider? As Cagé explains, for democracies to survive, unbiased news reportage must be allowed to exist and flourish.