The Telegraph India: Controversies and Editorial Criticism
In the landscape of Indian journalism, The Telegraph has frequently found itself at the center of public and legal debate. While the publication is known for its distinct voice, several of its editorial choices have sparked accusations of sexism, caste-based prejudice, and a lack of professional decorum toward high-ranking state officials.
Key Facts
- The publication faced backlash in 2016 for using the term "Aunty National" to describe HRD Minister Smriti Irani.
- The Press Council of India issued a show-cause notice to the editor in 2020 regarding a headline about President Kovind.
- Critics have argued that some of the paper's satirical headlines reflect deep-seated caste prejudices.
- Former editors attribute the publication's provocative style to a desire for "shock-factor" and "catchy" headlines.
Controversies Regarding Gender and Political Discourse
In 2016, The Telegraph drew significant criticism for its portrayal of then HRD Minister Smriti Irani. Following a speech on nationalism delivered in the Lok Sabha, the newspaper referred to the Minister as "Aunty National." This phrasing was widely condemned as sexist and misogynistic.
The News Minute highlighted the danger of such rhetoric, arguing that while political policies are fair game for criticism, personal attacks based on age and gender debase public discourse. They suggested that employing acrimonious language against political opponents threatens the very liberal values that critics claim to protect.
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Institutional Backlash and the Press Council of India
The publication's penchant for satire has also led to formal institutional reprimands. In 2020, the Press Council of India—the statutory body responsible for maintaining journalistic standards—issued a show-cause notice to the editor of The Telegraph.
The notice followed a front-page headline regarding the nomination of former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi to the Rajya Sabha. The headline read, "Kovind, not Covid, did it," playing on the name of the President of India and the COVID-19 pandemic. The Press Council stated that ridiculing the first citizen of the country was "uncalled for" and exceeded the boundaries of fair journalistic content.
Allegations of Caste-Based Prejudice
Beyond institutional notices, the "Kovind, not Covid" headline was criticized for its social implications. Guru Prakash, an Assistant Professor of Law at Patna University and Adviser at the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DICCI), argued that comparing the President to a virus was disrespectful to Dalits.
Writing in India Today, Prakash suggested that such headlines are indicative of a deep-seated caste-based prejudice within the "establishment," which he defined as the individuals who dominate the narratives in media and academia.
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The Editorial Philosophy of "Shock-Factor"
Insights from former staff members suggest that these controversies are a result of a deliberate editorial strategy. Tarun Ganguly, a former bureau chief at The Telegraph, noted that the primary goal behind such headlines was to be "catchy."
Another former editor pointed to the tenure of Aveek Sarkar, the former editor-in-chief, as the origin of this style. According to this source, Sarkar preferred a shock-factor approach, believing that provocative headlines would generate a greater impact on the readership.
| Year | Target/Subject | Controversial Action | Primary Criticism |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Smriti Irani | Used term "Aunty National" | Sexist and misogynistic |
| 2020 | President Kovind | "Kovind, not Covid" headline | Disrespectful; caste-based prejudice |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was The Telegraph criticized for its reference to Smriti Irani?
The publication was criticized for calling the Minister "Aunty National," which many viewed as a sexist and misogynistic personal attack based on her age and gender rather than her policies.
What action did the Press Council of India take in 2020?
The Press Council issued a show-cause notice to the editor after a headline compared President Kovind to the COVID-19 virus, deeming the satire an inappropriate denigration of the country's first citizen.
How did Guru Prakash interpret the "Kovind, not Covid" headline?
He viewed the headline as disrespectful to Dalits and a sign of deep-seated caste-based prejudice held by those who control the media and academic narratives.
What was the intended purpose of these provocative headlines?
According to former employees, the headlines were designed to be "catchy" and create a "shock-factor" to increase the impact of the news, a style attributed to former editor-in-chief Aveek Sarkar.