Role of media in Pahalgam incident: Spreading panic, rush to 'break' news and rage

Muhammad Nomaan Khan

NewsBits.in

The recent incident in Pahalgam has once again exposed the dark underbelly of mainstream media in India.

Instead of upholding journalistic integrity and investigating facts, several media houses have chosen to sensationalize the incident, stoke communal sentiments, and further divide an already polarized nation.

What is most condemnable is how certain channels and anchors rushed to paint an entire community with a broad brush—without verified facts, without official confirmation—fueling hate, fear, and mistrust. Rather than playing the role of responsible watchdogs of democracy, they acted as amplifiers of prejudice and propaganda.

In times of crisis, the media's job is to report the truth, question the powerful, and bring clarity to the public. Unfortunately, when narratives are shaped by bias and not by facts, it doesn’t just misinform the public—it endangers lives, breaks social harmony, and erodes the credibility of journalism itself.

In the aftermath, certain media outlets disseminated unverified information, including a viral video alleging stone-pelting on pilgrims. However, the Additional Director General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, clarified that the video was "misleading and baseless," intended to malign the image of the Jammu and Kashmir Police.cycle of misinformation and division?

Multiple examples can be given to suggest how media acted in a bizarre manner. At a time when need was to keep people aware, not let panic spread, there was reporting that was totally irresponsible and wild statements were given.

In several newspapers, the headlines lacked the sensitivity that is needed. The choice of words and the sentences were crafted in a way that there was less information and more rhetoric. Many articles were on lines that could sow seeds of divide within, rather, than bringing all communities together.

The main sources of traditional journalism include newspapers, channels and news agencies. The news agencies also rush to 'break stories' these days and it causes confusion when there is unconfirmed news that gets tweeted or shared on socia media handles and is picked up by other media outlets.

Despite loca residents in Kashmir putting tourists' lives first and even dying in this act, the reports were carried in a way that widens gulf between local community and the tourists. When focus should have been clear and onus must on attackers, the newspapers used language that didn't made this important distinction. 

Shockingly, certain vernacular and Hindi newspapers' headlines were more about generalized and carelessly used terminologies rather than letting the top leaders and government speak in such times of crisis. On sensitive issues, there is need to act in a measured way. More importantly, who pays the price?

When even in such times that the issue of media's recklessness has repeatedly been raised, the situation remains same, it is high time the section of media that acts irresponsibly must be is held accountable. India deserves journalism that unites, informs, and upholds justice—not one that thrives on fear-mongering and division. 

UPDATE: Later on, when the conflict took a serious turn and both the countries came on the brink of an armed clash, TV channels forgot all sense of responsibility and every day there were unverified reports that were shared and telecast, without even caring about norms, journalistic ethics and responsibility towards society. 

There were wild claims about 'destroying' a town on the other side of border or 'entering cities like Islamabad and Lahore'. The shameless and loud behaviour of anchors reached such a stage, that the government had to announce that the media must exercise caution and just carry the official reports.

Still, all the TV channels continued to be in a hyper mode and kept making false claims. In fact, there was not a single TV channel that was an exception. Almost all of them competed in exaggeration and airing the wildest possible fantasies. War was glamorized and glorified, without worrying about the condition of our own citizens in Punjab, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, all the bordering regions that were facing security related issues. 

In fact, the TV news media, including most Hindi and English news channels cared least about reputation or authenticity. They went to the extent of claims that bordered on delusion. Rumours and completely false, unattributed 'news' was telecast on the TV channels. Still, despite they becoming a laughing stock, many indeed believed because they thought how could every news channel be wrong.

The incident and its aftermath has showed that TV media has no interest in journalism. That it lacks credibility and seriousness. Besides, the regulatory bodies, the Editors' Guild and the TV media associations, are useless, incompetent and totally ineffective.