📰 Political Influence on Media in Odisha: Power, Pressure & Public Interest

Odisha, a state known for its deep cultural roots and resilient people, also carries a media landscape shaped by political undercurrents. While journalism in Odisha has evolved in both reach and medium, the influence of political forces on media institutions has grown steadily affecting both editorial independence and public trust.

🎭 Behind the Headlines: Media & Political Alignments

Odisha’s major political players — especially the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), which has been in power for over two decades — have had a strong indirect influence over media narratives. While there is no official state-run press controlling freedom, unofficial favoritism, access-based journalism, and selective government advertising create a tilted playing field.

Many regional newspapers and TV channels are either owned by business groups with political leanings, or rely heavily on government advertisements, which discourages critical reporting.

Some examples include:

• Channels avoiding strong criticism of state welfare schemes.

• Journalists often soft-pedaling issues like mining violations, land acquisition disputes, or bureaucratic corruption, especially in tribal regions.

📺 Sponsored Content & “Friendly Reporting”

During elections, it becomes even more visible:

• Paid news, glorified coverage of ruling party leaders, and uncritical praise of government projects flood screens and newspapers.

• Opposition voices and grassroots protest movements (especially by tribal or marginalized communities) are underreported or distorted.

As a result, people receive filtered narratives, not the complete truth.

🤐 Silent Pressures, Subtle Censorship

While Odisha does not often witness direct attacks on journalists as in some other states, pressures take more silent forms:

• Denial of access to government press conferences

• Withdrawal of ad revenue for critical stories

• Verbal threats and online trolling of dissenting reporters

• Lawsuits or defamation notices for those exposing scams

Journalists working in remote tribal areas like Kandhamal, Koraput, and Malkangiri, who cover sensitive topics like land displacement, mining rights, and police excesses, often face isolation and legal threats without institutional protection.

🛡️ The Role of Independent Media and BMA

Despite these challenges, Odisha has a growing number of courageous independent journalists, small digital platforms, and citizen reporters who are holding the powerful accountable.

Platforms like:

• Janatantra TV

• Odisha Sun Times

• Digital Odia portals on YouTube and Facebook

…are trying to bring alternative narratives, people’s voices, and fact-based investigations to the public.

The Bharat Media Association (BMA) aims to empower such voices with:

• Legal aid and protection

• Training on ethical and independent journalism

• Recognition for unbiased reporting

• Funding pathways for independent journalism

🧭 Conclusion: Media Should Reflect People, Not Power

For democracy to thrive, media must serve the people, not the powerful. Odisha’s media stands at a crucial crossroads — balancing between political influence and public responsibility.

The way forward is through strengthening grassroots journalism, building independent networks, and creating systems that protect editorial freedom.

The people of Odisha deserve a media that questions power, amplifies local voices, and tells the full story — without fear or favor.