News coverage must evolve to reflect the changing concerns of Guwahati and its surrounding regions
In a city where headlines often revolve around political developments, crime incidents, traffic congestion and major public events, there are several stories that remain underrepresented in mainstream news coverage. From students struggling with scholarships and institutional infrastructure to the concerns of people living in remote areas, residents believe that news channels need to look beyond routine city-centric reporting and give greater attention to issues that directly affect people's lives.
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While breaking news continues to dominate television and digital platforms, many believe that journalism should also serve as a medium to raise public concerns, highlight overlooked communities and bring meaningful issues to the attention of those in power. Speaking about what they would like to see more frequently on news channels, individuals from different walks of life shared their expectations, pointing towards the need for more diverse, inclusive and issue-based reporting.
One of the major areas highlighted was student-related coverage. Nishanta Saharia believes that news channels should give greater importance to issues concerning students across different educational institutions. According to him, matters such as scholarship-related difficulties, inadequate infrastructure and other academic concerns deserve more consistent coverage. He feels that highlighting these issues through news reports could encourage the concerned authorities to take notice and respond to the problems faced by students.
Scholarship delays, difficulties in renewal, inadequate classroom facilities and other institutional challenges often affect students' academic journeys. However, such concerns do not always receive sustained media attention unless they develop into protests or major controversies. Saharia believes that regular reporting on these matters could help ensure that student voices are heard before their concerns escalate into larger disputes.
Moving beyond educational concerns, Sujay Mandal stressed the need for more detailed coverage of criminal cases, particularly incidents involving rape and other serious crimes reported in the city. He believes that news channels should go beyond merely reporting the occurrence of an incident and focus on providing detailed information about the case, its developments and the larger concerns surrounding public safety.
Crime reporting, particularly cases involving violence against women, requires sensitivity, accuracy and responsible journalism. Detailed follow-ups on investigations, police action and the status of cases could help audiences understand the developments rather than limiting coverage to initial reports. Such reporting can also draw attention to wider questions surrounding safety, accountability and the effectiveness of law enforcement.
Another area that Mandal believes deserves attention is economic and budget-related reporting. He feels that news channels should make greater efforts to cover stories concerning the economy, government budgets and financial developments. While budget announcements and economic policies often receive attention during major events, their implications for ordinary people are not always explained in an accessible manner.
From the cost of essential commodities and employment opportunities to government expenditure and public welfare schemes, economic developments directly influence everyday life. Explaining how budgetary decisions affect households, students, small businesses and the wider population could make such stories more relevant to viewers. Greater attention to these subjects could also help audiences understand the financial decisions shaping their city and state.
Meanwhile, Anindita Das pointed towards another significant gap in news coverage, highlighting the need to bring more stories from remote areas into the mainstream. According to her, news channels tend to concentrate heavily on Guwahati and developments within the city, while several issues affecting people in distant and less-connected areas remain unnoticed.
She believes that these regions face numerous challenges that deserve equal attention, including inadequate infrastructure, poor road connectivity, limited access to essential services and other public grievances. Despite their significance, such issues often struggle to receive the visibility they need.
Das feels that journalism should not be restricted to the geographical boundaries of a major city. Reporting from rural and remote areas could help bring local concerns to a wider audience and ensure that the difficulties faced by people outside urban centres are not overlooked. Such coverage would also provide a broader understanding of the realities and challenges experienced across Assam.
For many residents of remote areas, being featured in the news can be an important step towards getting their concerns acknowledged. Whether it is a damaged road, a lack of healthcare facilities, educational difficulties or administrative negligence, consistent reporting can help bring these issues to the attention of the concerned departments. A wider geographical focus, therefore, could make news coverage more representative of the population it serves.
Adding a cultural perspective to the discussion, Yakub Ali, a playwright associated with the cultural field, expressed the need for news channels to focus more on cultural activities, events and achievements. He believes that several developments taking place within the cultural community do not receive the attention they deserve, despite their contribution to the region's identity and heritage.
From theatre performances, literary gatherings and traditional art forms to the achievements of local artists and cultural practitioners, Ali feels that there is considerable scope for more consistent coverage. He pointed out that news channels often focus on major events, while smaller cultural initiatives, individual achievements and grassroots activities receive comparatively less visibility.
Assam has a diverse cultural landscape, with numerous artists, writers, performers and cultural organisations contributing to its artistic heritage. However, their work does not always find space in mainstream news bulletins. According to Ali, greater coverage of these activities would not only recognise the efforts of cultural practitioners but also encourage younger generations to engage with the state's artistic traditions.
Cultural reporting, he believes, should extend beyond event announcements and occasional festival coverage. Stories documenting the journeys of artists, the struggles of theatre groups, the preservation of traditional art forms and emerging talents could offer audiences a deeper understanding of the cultural developments taking place around them.
Taken together, these perspectives highlight a common expectation: audiences want news channels to move beyond repetitive headlines and give greater space to stories that reflect the concerns, aspirations and everyday experiences of different sections of society.
The suggestions also point towards the importance of balanced reporting. While political developments, crime and major city events remain essential components of journalism, education, public infrastructure, economic affairs, rural concerns and cultural achievements deserve a place in the broader news landscape.
Ultimately, the relevance of journalism lies not only in how quickly it reports an incident but also in how effectively it brings overlooked issues into public discussion. As Guwahati continues to grow and its surrounding regions face changing challenges, the question remains whether news coverage can evolve to reflect the voices of those who often remain outside the spotlight. What stories deserve to make the headlines, and how much more can the media do to ensure that every community gets its concerns heard?
