Lok Sabha MP Dr. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam has said that national media failed to report fairly during the early days of the Manipur crisis.
He was speaking at a discussion held in Imphal on Sunday for the launch of his new book, “National Media and Manipur Mayhem.” The book is based on a study of around 600 news reports from five major national newspapers, published in the first two months after violence broke out on May 3, 2023.
Dr. Bimol said most reports were one-sided, lacked facts, and ignored the real situation on the ground. He also said the coverage did not follow the basic rules of fair journalism.
Irengbam Arun, Editor-in-Chief of Imphal Free Press, said the Editors Guild of India remained silent when it should have taken a stand. Dhiren A. Sadokpam, Editor-in-Chief of The Frontier Manipur, said his interviews were often twisted by national and foreign media to suit their own stories.
The discussion was led by retired IAS officer RK Nimai. Other speakers included JNU professor Dr. Amarjit Sharma and Manipur University’s Dr. Natasha Elangbam. They also raised concerns about how the media shaped wrong opinions about the crisis.
