News or Noise? The Rise of Shouting Anchors on Indian TV

A friend visiting from abroad recently asked me while flipping through Indian news channels, “Do you have news anchors or noise anchors? Why do they shout so much? Where is the actual news?”

I was at a loss for words. This is the daily reality across most Indian channels—whether it’s “Operation Sindoor”, the “Israel-Iran conflict”, or the sensational coverage of “Raja Raghuvanshi’s alleged murder in Meghalaya”.

It seems as if shouting is now a job requirement for Indian anchors. The louder they scream, the more important they believe the news becomes. It’s less about informing and more about outshouting the next person. Debates aren’t won with logic, but with lung power.

Specialist anchors today appear to be rated by their ability to create drama, often at the cost of facts and decency. Instead of educating viewers or critically analyzing government policies, most have turned news into a form of aggressive, sensationalist entertainment.

Compare this to the calm, balanced reporting of Doordarshan in the 90s. Anchors like Pratima Puri, Salma Sultan, Rini Simon Khanna, and Vinod Dua delivered the news with dignity and professionalism. There was no need for drama—just facts, context, and respectful presentation.

Today’s channels magnify minor issues, sensationalize stories with background music and flashing text, and thrive on provoking viewers. Indian TV news has become less about information and more about fear, manipulation, and spectacle. It feeds our national appetite for drama, something our cinema and television have long indulged.

Since the liberalization era post-1991, when private channels emerged, they capitalized on viewers’ fatigue with Doordarshan’s simplicity and shifted towards more theatrical, soap-opera-style news. And sadly, audiences have encouraged this shift by rewarding sensationalism with high TRPs.

Meanwhile, Western journalists typically maintain composure, focus on visual storytelling, and let their footage speak. Indian anchors, however, often drown images with excessive, exaggerated commentary.

Perhaps it’s time we, as viewers, stop feeding this cycle. News should inform, not assault our senses. If nothing else, at least Doordarshan’s news still respects our eardrums.