Hafta x South Central feat. Josy Joseph: A crossover episode on the future of media

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Oct 5, 2025

Josy Joseph, an award-winning investigative journalist and author, joins a dynamic panel to discuss the shifting landscape of media. He highlights the alarming decline of newspapers and TV due to outdated business models. Dhanya Rajendran tackles the challenges of funding environmental journalism, while Manisha Pande argues for journalism's role in fostering critical thinking amid sensationalism. The conversation dives into the need for innovative, subscription-based journalism and the impact of technology on storytelling, revealing the urgent need for support in independent media.

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INSIGHT

Politicisation Has Eroded Police Professionalism

Police and security forces have become politicised with careerist officers aligning to the centre. This politicisation undermines policing professionalism and public trust.

ANECDOTE

Sonam Wangchuk's Arrest Surprised Peers

Sonam Wangchuk's detention under NSA surprised many because he had praised PM Modi at an event. Niripama Subramaniam highlighted the inconsistency when Sonam was treated as anti-national despite prior praise.

INSIGHT

Legacy Media Is Rapidly Declining

Legacy newspapers and TV are dying faster due to tech and compromised business models. Balance sheets are artificially protected by government and corporate ads, masking real decline.

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This week, The News Minute's Dhanya Rajendran and Sudipto Mondal, and Newslaundry’s Abhinandan Sekhri and Manisha Pande áre joined by senior journalist Josy Joseph for a special and South Central and Hafta crossover episode on the future of media.

Josy begins the discussion by arguing that the decline of newspapers and television is accelerating, not only due to technology, but also because of a compromised business model. He points out that while balance sheets are “artificially protected” through government and corporate advertising, the reality is stark.

Dhanya shares hard lessons on what audiences pay for. While issues like climate change receive constant calls for coverage, they draw little financial support. “Everybody’s always asking why you guys are not reporting on the environment… but that is one fund people hardly pay,” she says.

Manisha adds that the future role of journalism lies in helping audiences think critically in an “age of reels and feels.”

“While others can trigger emotions, journalists can provide context, history, and perspective,” she says.

On the replacement for legacy media, Josy says, “What you people are doing at The News Minute and Newslaundry, to me, is a great laboratory of experiment. You are actually bringing journalism back as the intellectual property for which people should pay,” he says.

Timecodes

00:00:00 – Introductions and announcements

00:12:26 – Headlines

00:37:42 - Discussion on the future of media

01:28:17 - Recommendations

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Produced by Priyali Dhingra (Newslaundry), Bhuvan Malik (TNM), with production assistance by Ajay.

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