Scientific, data-driven journalism key to fight disinformation, says N. Ram

A scientific, investigative, and data-driven approach plays a crucial role in reaffirming the value of journalism and in combating disinformation, said N. Ram, veteran journalist and Director, The Hindu Group Publishing Private Limited, during The Hindu Lit for Life 2026 in Chennai on Saturday (January 17, 2026).

Mr. Ram was in conversation with authors Rukmini S. and Samanth Subramanian on the topic ‘Skewed Perception: Fighting Bias in Journalism’, moderated by Varghese K. George, Resident Editor, The Hindu, New Delhi.

Responding to a question on how facts and objectives are perceived and presented differently by different people, Mr. Ram said journalism must adopt a scientific method of examining facts, analysing them, and arriving at reasoned conclusions. “It is not that facts can be looked at in any manner. In a pluralistic society, people come from different social, economic, and cultural backgrounds. But truth has an intrinsic value. Facts can be verified, challenged, and investigated,” he said. Mr. Ram also said social media today weaponises falsehood, hate, and toxicity. “It is not just social media. These also come from the so-called mainstream media,” he said.

‘Data journalism is one of the strongest areas of Indian journalism today’

Ms. Rukmini said the same set of facts can be interpreted in multiple ways. At a time when credibility is eroding, there is a tendency to treat nothing as fully credible or true. This demands deep introspection about how credibility is built, she said.

Speaking about the use of numbers in journalism, she said data journalism is one of the strongest areas of Indian journalism today and world-class work is being produced daily. “But why do people still feel that there are not enough viewpoints? I think the link that needs to be made from the perspectives that are coming from data to the data itself is work that newsrooms have not done enough work on. The link, in the case of data journalism, between what journalists are trying to argue and the underlying data itself is missing,” she said.

Fighting bias

Mr. Subramanian, while talking about bias, said all journalists are unconsciously shaped by bias. “Journalists are humans. They come with backgrounds, contexts, and prejudices. But the question every individual journalist should ask themselves is how to make one’s reporting fair despite the biases,” he said.

He said at the institutional level, media organisations too function within social and historical contexts. “Institutions are also biased in many ways. Some of it may be known to the people inside, some of it may be known to the people outside. But that acknowledgement should happen,” Mr. Subramanian said.

On fighting bias, Mr. Ram said India still has diversity in media ownership, and digital platforms are creating spaces to challenge bias. However, he drew attention to India’s poor ranking in the World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders. “The Modi government is completely intolerant, and some State governments are as well. Yet there is resistance. On the whole, southern India is in a better situation, with more space for criticism and fewer attempts to suppress voices,” he said.

Ms. Rukmini said numbers and data writing suffer from the same problems as other forms of journalism. Incomplete understanding and incomplete communication create a vacuum where misinformation flourishes, she said. “The responsibility for incomplete understanding and communication lies with producers of information. A major part of my work is to convince people that India has high-quality data, and that blanket suspicion of all data is lazy and unhelpful,” she pointed out.

Mr. Ram said journalism should reclaim its role in shaping public opinion and defending human rights, fundamental rights, and democracy. He cited The Hindu’s Data Point column, particularly the analysis of the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral roll exercise, as an example of using data to fight against bias.

The Hindu Lit For Life is presented by The all-new Kia Seltos. In association with: Christ University and NITTE, Associate Partners: Orchids- The International School, Hindustan Group of Institutions, State Bank of India, IndianOil, Indian Overseas Bank, New India Assurance, Akshayakalpa, United India Insurance, ICFAI Group, Chennai Port Authority and Kamarajar Port Limited, Vajiram & Sons, Life Insurance Corporation of India, Mahindra University, Realty Partner: Casagrand, Education Partner: SSVM Institutions, State Partner: Government of Sikkim & Uttarakhand Government

Official Timekeeping Partner: Citizen, Regional Partner: DBS Bank India Ltd, Tourism Partner: Bihar Tourism, Bookstore Partner: Crossword and Water Partner: Repute Radio partner: Big FM

Published – January 17, 2026 03:30 pm IST