Press Freedom in Peril? India's Fake News Crisis with Ahmer Khan
Imagine a democracy in the dark. Whispers replace facts, and a rising tide of misinformation drowns out the truth. This isn’t science fiction; it’s the alarming reality of press freedom being attacked.
India, ranked highest globally for disinformation risk by the World Economic Forum, knows this all too well. Fake news spread like wildfire during elections and the COVID-19 crisis, fueled by AI and a vulnerable information landscape. This stifling of press freedom has devastating consequences for everyday people.
In this episode of “My Thoughts Exactly,” we are joined by journalist Ahmer Khan, who shares his firsthand experiences from the field. Despite being a democracy, India sees its journalists facing harassment, online trolling, threats, and even imprisonment – simply for doing their job in a supposedly free India.
Ahmer’s narrative uncovers the true essence of journalism and the manipulative use of social media by those in power. While the pre-election climate was grim, Ahmer envisions a glimmer of hope in the aftermath of the 2024 results. Despite the severe threat to press freedom leading up to the 2024 elections, the outcome has kindled a ray of hope for a brighter future for India’s democracy.
Tune in to “My Thoughts Exactly” to hear Ahmer’s story and rediscover the power of a free press in a thriving democracy.
Produced by Global Indian Series for the Global Indian Network.
Script by Rajan Nazran
original idea: Rajan Nazran
Introduction music: (https://freesound.org/people/SilverIllusionist)
About Ahmer Khan
Ahmer Khan is an award-winning and two-time Emmy-nominated independent multimedia journalist from Kashmir focusing on South Asia. He covers the region’s political and social conflict, humanitarian crises, human rights, religion, and migration. He has reported from India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka for media outlets, including The Guardian, Vice News, The New York Times, Al Jazeera, RFI, CNN and more. His stories have been nominated for prestigious awards, including international Emmys in 2021 and 2022. He was awarded an Overseas Press Club Award, DuPont-Columbia Silver Baton, Edward R. Murrow Award, and Human Rights Press Award, among others, for reporting, producing, shooting, and editing.
Khan is also a judge for the International Emmy Awards 2023 and a member of the Overseas Press Club of America.
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