Warning that journalism in India has been in steady decline over the past three decades due to a “faulty financial model” that has allowed corporate and political interests to capture the media, Press Club of India (PCI) President Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty on Tuesday called on the public to actively finance independent media to safeguard democracy.
Addressing the silver jubilee celebration of the Kohima Press Club (KPC) at the Capital Convention Centre under the theme “Traversing 25 years of storytelling: Inspiring the future”, Pisharoty said legacy media had largely abandoned public-interest journalism in favour of business and political patronage.
“Over the last 30 years, journalism has only gone downward, and that is mainly because of the faulty financial model of journalism in India. This vacuum was filled by corporate houses. Editors lost their freedom, and legacy media began serving the government of the day – at the Centre or in the states – rather than the public,” she said.
She said while audiences were drawn into “daily news fights” and prime-time theatrics, “it never spoke about the issues that concerned the people.”
“Worse, we allowed politicians and their families, who have vested interests, to own or finance media houses. Today, the line between journalism and public relations has nearly disappeared,” she said, adding that media houses now perform the role of government publicity “as a quid pro quo for business and political interests.”
Pisharoty cautioned that the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules, 2025 posed a serious threat to accountability journalism, arguing that the law had been framed in a manner that weakens the media and dilutes the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
She noted that the bill was passed after the exemption for journalists was removed, and at a time when large sections of the Opposition were suspended from Parliament.
“If tomorrow I file an RTI asking who was given a PWD contract or who the competing bidders were, that information may be denied by citing the DPDP Act. This takes away one crucial level of accountability. The public is being denied information it deserves in a democracy,” she said.
Calling independent journalism “the last line of defence of democracy”, Pisharoty urged citizens to support media not only by reading and sharing stories but by financially contributing, even in small amounts.
“Even if you pay Rs 100 a month, you are supporting democracy. When I worked with The Wire, we asked people to give even Rs 2. News should be free, but don’t take it entirely for free,” she said, adding that public-funded journalism ensured accountability only to citizens and not corporations.
She cited platforms such as Scroll, Newslaundry, The News Minute and EastMojo as examples of alternative models, praising EastMojo for focusing exclusively on the Northeast. “Support such media. It will talk about you. Its allegiance will be to the region,” she said.
Highlighting growing state action against journalists, Pisharoty said the PCI had issued a record number of condemnations in the last two years. She announced plans to set up a legal cell to assist journalists facing cases for their reporting, as well as free training workshops on technology and digital security across the country, including Nagaland.
She also proposed the formation of a federation of elected press clubs, headquartered at the Press Club of India, and invited the Kohima Press Club to join the initiative.
Reflecting on her election as the first woman president of the Press Club of India in its 68-year history, Pisharoty said women journalists in the Northeast had broken glass ceilings much earlier.
“In the Northeast, women have led press clubs and newsrooms long before the country’s largest press club did,” she said, naming editor-owner Mona Lisa Chunky Zabido as one of the region’s trailblazers.
The Kohima Press Club, which has 66 members, marked 25 years of its formation, though journalism in Nagaland dates back to the 1920s. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio attended the valedictory program as special guest.
“We must join hands now to secure our right to do journalism – a right guaranteed by the Constitution and central to keeping citizens at the core of democracy,” Pisharoty said.
Former Vice President of Kohima Press Club (KPC), Vibou Seyie delivering greetings at the Club’s silver jubilee celebration, acknowledged the pioneers and visionary leaders who laid a strong foundation for the organisation.
She said the occasion was a time to introspect on the arduous journey of the Club, from holding meetings in small offices and government departments to becoming a strong institution with a permanent building coming up.
Expressing gratitude to God and the media fraternity, she said the press remains one of the key pillars of democracy.
Sharing nostalgic experiences from her years in journalism, Seyie highlighted the challenges of reporting in earlier days and appreciated the growing participation of women in the media today. She also congratulated the present KPC team led by the President for their achievements and encouraged journalists to continue upholding truth and ethical journalism, adding that the best was yet to come.
Earlier a minute’s silence was observed in memory of the deceased members of Kohima Press Club.
The inaugural event was followed by the Northeast Media Conclave themed “Reimagining Truth: Northeast Journalism for a Changing World” which brought together leading journalists and media professionals from across the region to deliberate on the evolving challenges facing journalism in the digital age.
The first session focused on “Evolving Nature of Media: Ethics under Pressure and Strengthening Credibility in the Age of Misinformation”. Moderated by Medolenuo Ambrocia Loucü of the Kohima Press Club, the session featured speakers Monalisa Changkija (Nagaland), Pradip Phanjoubam (Manipur), Geetartha Pathak (Indian Journalists Union), Karma Paljor (Sikkim), and Raymond Kharmujai (Meghalaya), who highlighted the need for ethical journalism and public trust amid the rise of misinformation.
The second session explored “Journalism as Peace Work: Navigating Divides, Building Bridges and Strengthening the Media Ecosystem in the Northeast”, Moderated by Dhiren A. Sadokpam (Manipur), the panel included Vanlalrema Vantawl (Mizoram), Utpal Parashar (Assam), Ranju Dodum (Arunachal Pradesh), and Debraj Deb (Tripura), who emphasized the role of media in fostering peace, dialogue, and regional cohesion.