Power, Politics & the Indian News Media

In politics today, communication is power. It shapes public opinion, manages crises, drives diplomacy, and fuels ideological battles. The ability to craft, control, and circulate messages is central to how power works, and how it’s challenged.

The news media is right at the heart of this. Nowhere is that more evident than in India. The country’s media ecosystem is huge, and often chaotic. But beneath the noise, deeper shifts are underway. Journalism in India is being reshaped by changing political dynamics, new technologies, and a battle for trust.

On this episode of The Great Power Show, I speak with veteran journalist Sachin Kalbag about how Indian media is responding to these changes. Sachin has held top editorial positions across some of India’s biggest newsrooms. He’s also reported from Washington, D.C. as a foreign correspondent. So he brings a rare and wide-ranging perspective to this conversation.

We unpack the good, the bad, and the ugly trends in Indian journalism. We talk about the evolving relationships between journalists, politicians, and civil servants. We also look outward, at the global media landscape. Why is journalism no longer seen as neutral, anywhere in the world? And does a country like India need its own credible, globally visible media platforms?

As always, I hope you enjoy the conversation. Please like and share the episode, and take a moment to rate the podcast. And if you’d like to support the show or the work I do, feel free to reach out to me.

About: The Great Power Show is a bi-weekly podcast featuring candid conversations and thought-provoking interviews with leading scholars, thinkers and practitioners on the geopolitical and geo-economic changes shaping our world.