New Delhi – May 10, 2025 — In an explosive revelation that has sent shockwaves through Indian media circles, an influential television journalist admitted to broadcasting fake news during live segments – raising serious doubts over mainstream journalism and its credibility and ethics in India.
This incident unfolded during a prime-time news debate on a leading Hindi-language television channel when one of their anchors known for their outspoken political commentary unexpectedly admitted that one of their team’s stories wasn’t entirely grounded on verified facts.
“We were under incredible pressure to break the news first,” said Herrington. “However, the information we reported wasn’t confirmed and in hindsight it was wrong for us to go on air with it.”
The anchor did not directly name the story but alluded to a recent news report alleging foreign interference in domestic protests — an allegation which was widely amplified by several media outlets and later disproved by fact-checkers and independent journalists.
As soon as the journalist made her confession, there was stunned silence in the studio and then an outpouring of reactions on social media, with hashtags like #FakeNewsConfession and #MediaAccountability trending across Indian Twitter (X). While some viewers praised his honesty, others criticized her network for compromising journalistic standards and misleading their audiences.
Opposition leaders seized upon this admission as further proof of rising disinformation within Indian newsrooms. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor labeled it an outright breach of public trust: ‘[This admission is not just a mistake]-it betrays public confidence.” “Media should act as a source of truthful reporting, not propaganda machines.”
Press Council of India has initiated an initial inquiry into this incident and is expected to require an internal audit of their editorial practices. Media watchdogs have long warned about an increase in sensationalism, unverified content and politically biased reporting in Indian television news programs as they strive for higher ratings.
Journalist associations across the nation expressed alarm over this admission, noting it reveals deeper structural problems related to editorial independence, political pressure, and insufficient fact-checking procedures.
“This moment should serve as a wake-up call,” stated a senior journalist and editor-in-chief of a national daily. “We must return to the fundamentals of journalism: verify before publishing.”
As public trust in news institutions continues to decline, this explosive on-air confession has only served to further undermine it – underscoring the urgent need for reform, transparency and accountability within India’s media landscape.
[jhoot bolney a jhootiey aakaashwaniey kadi sech ve te bol ud pud janiey]