Detailed analysis of articles and report of The News Minute makes is evident that the online news portal has been embroiled in numerous scandals, biases, and misleading narratives over the past few years. This article critically examines some major controversies from 2022 to 2024, highlighting patterns of partisan reporting, sensationalism, and ideological biases of the news portal.

Favoritism and Political Bias

One of the most prominent accusations against The News Minute (TNM) involves politically motivated biased reporting. The portal was criticized for selectively framing stories, such as ignoring a Rs 1 crore donation to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) by Torrent Pharma while highlighting electoral bond purchases exclusively to the BJP, implying corruption without verifying the full context. Furthermore, TNM’s coverage of the political funding landscape in Bharat is alleged to be skewed to favor certain parties while neglecting opposition ties, suggesting a pattern of half-truths intended to target the ruling government.

Bias in Communal and Crime Reporting

The portal’s reporting on communal issues and crime has often been flagged for bias. For instance, in the Dakshina Kannada and Telangana cases, TNM either downplayed or omitted the religious identity of accused individuals or misrepresented facts. An example includes labeling a Muslim suspect only as a “stalker” in a murder case, deliberately avoiding mention of his religion, while other outlets provided complete details. Similarly, incidents like Hindu students wearing saffron scarves or chanting slogans were either ignored or misrepresented, indicating a selective approach to news that favors a particular narrative.

Sensationalism and Propaganda

TNM has frequently been involved in sensationalized reporting of sensitive issues. Notably, the coverage of the Dharmasthala case in Karnataka, where false allegations of mass graves were propagated, illustrates a clear case of media-manufactured hoaxes aimed at defaming spiritual and community leaders. Such sensational journalism is further exemplified in the portal’s review of the film “The Kerala Story,” which it dismissively labeled as propaganda despite the film being based on testimonies of trafficked women, thus trivializing serious human trafficking and radicalization issues.

Incendiary and Hate Speech

The portal’s editors have engaged in provocative statements that have sparked outrage, such as calling Bajrang Dal members “terrorists” and suggesting that half of Bharat’s population should be sent to re-education camps. These comments, made by the Executive Editor, reflect a tendency toward hate speech and extreme rhetoric, particularly during politically charged periods like the Prime Minister’s roadshows. Such remarks amplify division and foster communal tensions rather than promoting balanced journalism.

Controversies Around Content and Sources

Additionally, TNM has been accused of spreading fake news, as in the case of the misreporting of a TRP manipulation scandal involving Republic TV, where the portal falsely claimed that the BARC audit implicated Arnab Goswami. After legal notice and scrutiny, TNM issued a corrigendum, admitting that the initial report was inaccurate and based on incorrect attribution of email exchanges.

Promotion of Specific Narratives

The portal’s handling of sensitive issues, such as the Shraddha Walkar murder or cases involving communal tensions, often shows a tendency to amplify one-sided perspectives. For example, in the Shraddha case, TNM avoided naming the accused or mentioning religious identities publicly, while sensationalizing other community-related incidents to stoke division. Similarly, in the PFI rally case, instead of condemning provocative slogans, TNM suggested they were “warnings” to Hindus and Christians, which can be seen as endorsing extremist narratives.

Conclusion

The compilation of these controversies—as analyzed herein—paints a picture of a news portal that has repeatedly compromised journalistic integrity and neutrality. The pattern of biased reporting, sensationalism, political and communal favoritism, and spreading misinformation suggests that The News Minute often operates more as a partisan actor than as an impartial news source. Its history of controversial content, selective focus, and provocative statements indicates a tendency to promote biased narratives that align with certain ideological agendas, often at the expense of factual accuracy and balanced journalism. This critical assessment underscores the need for viewers and readers to approach TNM’s content with caution, recognizing its consistent track record of bias and sensationalism.

Source: 13 Controversies surrounding “The News Minute”, an Online News Portal (2019-2025)