The Headlines Don't Tell The Whole Story: What I Took Away From Mumbai LitFest 2026 Session On 'Fearless Journalism'
I began my journalism career at 18, spending my first two years covering politics and city news. Those years exposed me to injustices, mistreatment and the realities that often unfold away from the camera, far from the headlines and stories that make it to mainstream media. Although I moved to lifestyle journalism three years ago, I have always believed that, at its heart, this profession is…
The Headlines Don't Tell the Whole Story: Lessons from a Mumbai LitFest Session on Fearless Journalism
Mumbai LitFest 2026 hosted the Shashi Baliga Memorial Session, emphasizing fearless journalism's importance. The event featured three exceptional journalists: Harinder Baweja, Kavita Bundelkhandi, and Faye D'Souza.
Baweja, with experience in conflict zones like Punjab and Kashmir, emphasized the importance of being a journalist, not a woman journalist. She highlighted how the landscape of journalism has changed, noting that today's newsrooms demand courage but also pose challenges. Bundelkhandi shared the story of Khabar Lahariya, a women-led initiative that published stories from rural areas. The project aimed to give voice to those often overlooked by mainstream media and addressed sensitive topics like violence against women.
D'Souza stressed that public trust in journalism has eroded, urging audiences to discern credible reporting from sensationalized content. She implored readers to support honest journalism to rebuild trust in the profession.
The session underscored that fearless journalism involves not just courage, but also the willingness to grapple with uncomfortable truths and the emotional toll of reporting hardship. For aspiring journalists, the session offered a sobering reality check while reinforcing the noble mission of truth-telling.
Written by urgent.news from Free Press Journal's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
