Journalism Isn't Optional, It's Democracy's Immune System

When thousands of Indians gathered in Delhi in July 2026 to protest paper leaks, they asked themselves whether their voices mattered in the world's largest democracy. The very first post by the youth wing of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which went viral online, was sarcastic. However, it resonates deeply with many about malpractice in examinations, unemployment, and misplaced faith. International outlets quickly ran headlines about the protests, as Reuters, The Guardian, and Al Jazeera investigated the police response, protests, and student leaders' meetings. Still, even as the Education Minister resigned after days of nationwide protests and secret talks with protest organisers, one critical question remains:

If Journalism doesn't report, who will?

Even though the Indian Constitution does not explicitly mention freedom of the press, the Supreme Court has held that it is a fundamental right enjoyed under Article 19(1)(a) read with restrictions imposed by Article 19(2). Journalism is recognised as the fourth pillar of democracy because of its role in supporting democratic governance. Although the Indian Constitution does not specifically provide for it, journalism is inseparable from the working of the legislature, executive, and judiciary, the other three pillars of the Indian government.

While these organs of the government make and implement laws, journalism keeps a watch on all of them, empowering citizens with verified information needed to hold those in power accountable.

Many of India's Freedom fighters were also journalists, disseminating their messages via journals, as Tilak did with Kesari, Gandhi with Young India, Harijan, and Indian Opinion, and Dr Ambedkar with Mooknayak and Bahishkrit Bharat.

The British administration feared criticism from the Indian press, resulting in numerous censorship rules and jail sentences for journalists. India's free press was therefore recognised as crucial during the freedom struggle in India.

At the most basic level, democracy exists to amplify the people's voices. It can do so only when citizens have access to accurate, verified, and independent information. Investigative journalism has long been India's lifeline, uncovering scandals and abuses of power. Investigative pieces revealed the Bofors, 2G, Commonwealth Games, and Panama Papers scandals, among other things, resulting in the resignation and prosecution of numerous officials. Journalists possess neither the power to arrest nor to prosecute. Their greatest weapon is verified information.

The recent protests by the CJP exemplify journalism's role in keeping democracies honest.

What began as a student protest about paper leaks has since evolved into a nationwide movement and raises broader questions about youth unemployment, institutional accountability, and governance. Reuters wrote that it was the biggest challenge to Prime Minister Modi's administration since his 2014 election. The CJP protests started on social media and spread to traditional media, gathering a lot of global attention. Domestic television channels were criticised for not covering the unrest, but BBC, CNN, and other international outlets led the coverage. The domestic channels' coverage may be debatable, but the fact that citizens expect journalists to cover such issues independently is not. When it comes to reporting news, journalists have a responsibility to the public, particularly when it comes to disseminating information that allows people to form their own views.

Social media has transformed everyone into publishers and significantly lowered the barriers to entry for digital media. At the same time, India's disinformation machinery has grown more sophisticated with each passing day, employing bots and other technologies to disseminate false information. Fake news is now often blended with political propaganda, threatening to overwhelm and dilute the very news reports that are supposed to represent the truth. It is in this context that professional journalism acquires renewed urgency and importance. Reporters who maintain professional integrity enable society to differentiate between news and fake news.

The standards of professionalism that journalism has long maintained, although often ignored, nevertheless create objective criteria for distinguishing between the two. Checking facts before publication, verifying news items using multiple sources, allowing those accused of wrongdoing to respond to accusations, and distinguishing between news and commentary are just some of how the professional norms of the industry can help restore order to the chaos of the digital space. Though they may seem old-fashioned in an era of instantaneous information dissemination, these journalistic norms are an effective way to ensure that democracy functions smoothly by relying on trustworthy news.

India's democracy now operates in a far more complex information environment than ever before. Tilak and Gandhi would be astounded by the large number of social media platforms that enable Indians to express their views freely. However, fake news and deepfakes have hampered the credibility of authentic news reports in recent years. Even so, professional journalism continues to thrive, relying on principles such as double-checking and source verification that have been tested and proven effective over decades. Journalism's reputation for being correct makes it distinct from social media and other digital forums, which aids in distinguishing between the two. Democracy's health is inextricably linked to that of journalism. The two can't exist separately.

Healthy democracies do not fear criticism. Questioning government officials is not a threat to the Republic's security. Governments are accountable to citizens precisely because they exercise public power. Elected representatives, on the other hand, have a tendency to forget this. Independent journalism has the ability to keep them honest in their duties.

When a government official takes money meant for the welfare of the citizens, investigative journalism can assist in recovering the funds. Criticism of the government is not disloyalty to the Republic, after all; rather, it is loyalty to India's democratic ideals. Indian journalists investigated the Bofors, 2G, Commonwealth Games, and Panama Papers scandals, obtaining vital evidence that led to the resignation of several politicians.

India's democracy needs to understand that in order to function properly, it needs both citizens and institutions. India is the world's biggest democracy, with a population of over a billion, and more than a third of that is under the age of 35. The aspirations of this huge youth bulge will shape the country's future. Democracy does not end or begin with elections; it is a process that requires the involvement of institutions as well as citizens in order to thrive. Journalism is the institution that serves as a check and balance in society, ensuring that elected authorities do not stray from their sworn duties. Democracy has a responsibility to protect its citizens rather than the other way around. However, doing so is impossible without free and responsible journalism.

India stands at a critical democratic crossroads, and the choice about which path to take has to be made carefully. In this new era, journalism's role as democracy's immune system is more important than ever. This is why it's critical to grasp why journalism is so important to democracy.

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