Television reporters reporting on the CJP protests in Delhi received constant heckling and even violent threats and confrontation from certain sections of the protesters. There have been widespread debates on the erosion of trust in mainstream television news as well as the safety of journalists reporting on public protests.

While the protests initially began due to issues related to examinations and accountability of the government, there was widespread participation of young protesters as well as the media. However, journalists who reached the sites of protest were greeted with slogans of “Godi Media,” a criticism levied against sections of the mainstream media for its perceived proximity to the government.

There are many video clips circulating about protesters confronting television reporters and questioning their news coverage. Reporters from a number of prominent news channels have reportedly faced heckling from the protesting crowd. One such attack took place on Times Now journalist Dev Kotak, who got physically attacked during his coverage of the protests in Jantar Mantar.

This was clearly due to the fact that the protesters felt that the mainstream television stations were not doing enough to cover their side of the story. It was alleged that while some of these stations were more interested in covering political stories and statements made from the top, others ignored the issues brought up by the students.

However, the journalists’ organizations have pointed out another issue – the hostile reception that reporters at the scene received from those present at the scene. While the criticism of media is a part of healthy democratic discourse, harassment or intimidation could prevent independent reporting by journalists.

Thus, the CJP protests brought to attention both the increasing expectations of Gen Z regarding accountability in journalism and the increasing difficulty faced by reporters covering demonstrations.

The debate highlights the increasing divide between regular TV news and younger generations of people who depend more on social networks and alternative digital outlets to get their news.

The question whether mainstream TV news is able to restore public trust will be determined by more transparent coverage, fair reporting, and interaction with the audience.

On the other hand, providing safe working conditions for journalists is vital. Criticism directed towards media outlets can be harsh, but it should not become violent or restrict journalists from their activities.