The News Minute (TNM), a prominent digital news platform, has often been at the center of debates over journalistic ethics in Bharat, particularly regarding its coverage of complex social and political matters in the southern states and issues related to Hindu dharma. Analyzing fourteen high-profile news incidents published between 2022 and 2024, distinct patterns of selective coverage and narrative shaping emerge, with significant implications for public understanding of critical issues.

Introduction

In recent years, public trust in media has become increasingly contingent upon transparency and impartiality. As digital news platforms gain influence, allegations of biased or misleading reporting have taken center stage, prompting careful scrutiny of editorial practices. Evaluating the reporting patterns of The News Minute between 2022 and 2024 sheds light on recurring editorial choices that have provoked controversy and public debate.

Patterns of Reporting: Key Cases

Dharmasthala Burial Case

Consider the Dharmasthala burial case, where sensational allegations of a mass burial cover-up and institutional complicity dominated headlines. The reality was more nuanced. Unclaimed bodies, a common scenario in high-footfall pilgrimage sites, were responsibly documented and buried by authorities—a detail largely missing from mainstream coverage. Further complications arose as central whistleblower testimony was discredited, complainants retracted their claims, and digital misinformation played a role. This incident illustrates how initial, dramatic reporting can skew public perception before the full facts surface.

Kalakshetra Harassment Allegations

A similar dynamic played out in the Kalakshetra sexual harassment case, where coverage foregrounded allegations while overlooking official retractions, alternative witness testimonies, and the lack of subsequent legal action. The resulting narrative, amplified by exclusive videos and unnamed sources, cast the institution in a persistently negative light, despite mounting contradictory evidence.

Framing of Archaeological and Social Narratives

Archaeological discoveries, like those at Keezhadi, were often presented within broader ideological frames, such as the claim of a purely secular, pre-Vedic Tamil civilization. Such narratives emphasized binaries—secular versus Vedic traditions—while overlooking evidence of cultural continuity from Sangam-era texts and neighboring sites, leading to a one-dimensional public understanding of intricate historical debates.

Legal and Educational Disputes

Issues at Clarence High School and land disputes in Tamil Nadu were also marked by selective reporting. In the former, alumni defences of religious instruction were highlighted, while significant legal concerns by statutory authorities received limited attention. In land disputes, institutional claims were foregrounded at the expense of landowners’ documentary evidence, leaving critical legal nuances unreported.

Handling of Crime, Identity, and Communal Angles

Patterns of anonymizing alleged perpetrators emerged in cases where naming would contradict perceived narratives regarding non-Hindu perpetrators, even as communal angles propagating negative image of Hindus were amplified. Coverage of crime and social conflict often shifted depending on the identity of those involved, contributing to selective public outrage or indifference.

The Kerala Story and Demographic Realities

In covering “The Kerala Story,” TNM highlighted narratives of communal harmony in Malappuram but overlooked significant demographic shifts and documented issues impacting minority and majority relations. The omission of census data and documented instances of radicalization was identified as another instance of bias.

Further Notable Incidents

• TNM amplified Waqf Board claims in Tamil Nadu land disputes, underreporting the legal documentation of private landowners.
• The platform’s portrayal of activist Mohammad Zubair’s police custody is another example of narrative engineering.
• Coverage of Halal certification and related food controversies predominantly emphasized secular and hygienic dimensions, sidelining ethical and cultural concerns.

Editorial Consistency and Political Framing

Over numerous incidents, consistent themes can be observed. There is a tendency to prioritize stories that fit preexisting ideological frameworks, underreport facts that might challenge those frameworks, and amplify narratives that bolster favored political or cultural viewpoints. This has resulted in a disproportionate focus on select aspects of issues—such as highlighting “victimhood” in some legal cases or sidestepping inconvenient details about policy disputes and legislative changes.

Implications and the Need for Balanced Journalism

These recurring patterns underscore the importance of balanced, comprehensive reporting—especially as public discourse in Bharat becomes ever more polarized. A media outlet’s responsibility is not only to relay information, but to present it with context, humility, and a commitment to truth. The observed editorial choices at TNM serve as a reminder that transparency and a multiplicity of voices are essential for an informed public, particularly in times of controversy or crisis.

In sum, as digital news platforms continue to shape narratives on issues of national importance, there is an urgent need for self-reflection, higher editorial standards, and openness to challenge and correction in pursuit of the common good.

Source: Profiling: 14 incidents of biased and misleading reporting by The News Minute (2022-2024)