Is Unbiased Journalism Still Possible?

It had been ages since news-watching was a habit in our home.
In fact, I would often tell my mother not to bother with the news; “Why stress yourself unnecessarily?” And as for the neighbor’s media (India’s), I never even glanced at it. NEVER!

But then something happened. Our “enemy” made its move, and after the Pak-India skirmishes, where, under the banner of “so-called revenge,” they tried to impose war on us—my interest in staying ba-khabar (well-informed) suddenly reignited.

And now, another problem won’t let me rest: where do I even find unbiased reporting?

Let’s put aside the moral debates for a moment. Forget about whether reporting is ethically right or wrong. The real question is simpler: can we still find reporting that is genuinely neutral, without hidden agendas?

In theory, yes. In practice, almost impossible.

To be unbiased, one must carry no preconceived notions, no subconscious leanings. But honestly, how many people can claim that? Reporters are human. They must interpret, filter, and decide what is factual when they investigate or interview. That very act introduces bias. And when they finally sit down to write, their choice of words, tone, and emphasis inevitably reflects their personal viewpoint.

Often, they are not even entirely original in their framing. One report influences another, and soon, a “meme” spreads across the journalism community. This is why we so often see the same story repeated across multiple mainstream platforms, almost like an echo chamber. The bias may be unconscious, but it is pervasive.

Then there is the bigger issue: ownership.
Most media outlets are controlled by a handful of powerful conglomerates—Bloomberg, Murdoch, and the like. These giants decide which messages reach the public. And whether they admit it or not, all media organizations carry agendas. Some lean left, some right. Some emphasize nationalistic pride, some religious sentiments, some push anti-China or anti-Russia narratives.

So where does that leave us, the audience?

We are forced to navigate between left-wing reporting and right-wing reporting, between nationalistic narratives and religious spin. But where is the middle ground: just reporting, plain and unbiased?

And then there’s the madness of TRPs (Television Rating Points – the measure of viewership that drives channel revenue). In the race to grab eyeballs, news has turned into a circus. Every breaking news flash raises the same suspicion:
Is this meant to inform us, or is it just another stunt for ratings?

The responsibility, however, doesn’t rest only with them; the channels, the journalists, the media houses. It rests with us too.

We tune in. We consume the drama. We reward mirch masala (literally “spice” – sensational exaggeration) and sansani khezi (literally “creating sensation” – shock-driven news). We give them the very TRPs that fuel this system.

Look at the neighborhood, for instance. The media landscape has gone beyond sensationalism, loud, politicized, and often divorced from ethics. What should have been a watchdog of democracy has become more of a political stage. The few sane voices that still exist are drowned out, mocked, or worse, branded traitors to the nation, a weaponized slur to silence dissent. The war-mongering is literally insane… perhaps the worst thing that could have been inflicted upon a nation. A bloodthirsty drumbeat of conflict, disguised as patriotism, poisoning public discourse. When every headline screams for battle and every debate is reduced to chest-thumping, you no longer have journalism — you have propaganda wrapped in the guise of news. And the tragedy is, the masses, fed on this constant diet of fear and fury, begin to believe that hostility is normal and peace is weakness. This, in the so-called “largest democracy” as it is proudly claimed, where instead of fostering dialogue and diversity of thought, voices are silenced and manipulated to serve a singular narrative.

And so, the bitter truth is this: unbiased journalism is a noble concept, but a fragile one. Every story is shaped by human perspective. Every newsroom is shaped by its ownership. And every rating is shaped by us, the audience.

That leaves us with a choice:

• Keep consuming without questioning, fueling the cycle of bias.
• Or watch critically, demand better, and refuse to settle for spice.

Because journalism will only change when we do.