Join the 'Newsreel Asia Community': Journalism That Serves People, Not Politics
Join the 'Newsreel Asia Community': Journalism That Serves People, Not Politics

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Articles
Commercial Spyware, Once a Military Tool, Is Now Routinely Deployed Against Journalists
Commercial Spyware, Once a Military Tool, Is Now Routinely Deployed Against Journalists

Governments worldwide are systematically deploying commercial spyware against journalists, and the business of building and selling such tools has grown into a global industry operating with little regulation or accountability, according to a study by the International Federation of Journalists, or IFJ, a Brussels-based organisation representing journalists globally.

Latest Videos

Videos
Why State Has Monopoly Over Legitimate Violence
Tradition of Marrying More Than One Woman | Inside Arunachal’s Polygamy Problem
A Mother’s Journey of Raising an Autistic Child

Newsreel Asia is an independent news media committed to rigorous journalism and narrative storytelling across governance, democracy, economy and society, focused currently on India. Founded on World Press Freedom Day 2021, it works to cut through the noise and bring clear, truthful reporting to the forefront.

Articles
Commercial Spyware, Once a Military Tool, Is Now Routinely Deployed Against Journalists

Governments worldwide are systematically deploying commercial spyware against journalists, and the business of building and selling such tools has grown into a global industry operating with little regulation or accountability, according to a study by the International Federation of Journalists, or IFJ, a Brussels-based organisation representing journalists globally.

Bengaluru Cannot Drain an Evening’s Rain and Still Calls Itself a World City

Bengaluru is no longer the Bengaluru many of us remember, or the one we still speak of with nostalgia. This was once the city people came to for its weather, its trees and lakes, and an easier pace of life. Today, summer feels harsher, water has become uncertain, and ordinary life has become more expensive and more exhausting.

U.S.-Israel-Iran War: Will India’s Fuel Prices Rise as Crude Oil Prices Climb?

As the Strait of Hormuz remains shut for nearly two months due to the Israel-U.S.-Iran war, crude oil prices have climbed by over 80%. India’s four-year freeze on domestic fuel prices may no longer be sustainable, with the state-owned companies mandated to hold those prices down already recording losses at a scale that points to a deepening profitability crisis.

India’s Monsoon Creates Fatal Mix of Heat and Humidity; How You and Government Can Stay Prepared

A study has found that India’s summer monsoon systematically produces the conditions for dangerous moist heatwaves, with humidity playing a larger role than temperature in pushing the body past its cooling limit and raising the risk of fatal heatstroke for a population already facing a worsening trend.

The Question Is Not Why Raghav Chadha Left AAP, But Where He Went

Raghav Chadha, a founding member of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and one of its most prominent Rajya Sabha faces, has left the party along with six other MPs from the same party to join the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The question his departure raises is not whether his stated grievances about AAP’s inner functioning were genuine, but whether those grievances, even taken at face value, explain why he chose to join the BJP.

Latest News Briefings

Articles
The Question Is Not Why Raghav Chadha Left AAP, But Where He Went
The Question Is Not Why Raghav Chadha Left AAP, But Where He Went

Raghav Chadha, a founding member of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and one of its most prominent Rajya Sabha faces, has left the party along with six other MPs from the same party to join the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The question his departure raises is not whether his stated grievances about AAP’s inner functioning were genuine, but whether those grievances, even taken at face value, explain why he chose to join the BJP.

‘Apology’ Accepted for Not Implementing Women’s Reservation
‘Apology’ Accepted for Not Implementing Women’s Reservation

After the Lok Sabha rejected the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, which sought to activate the 33 percent reservation for women by raising the House’s strength to 850 seats, Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued an apology, placed responsibility on the opposition, and vowed to remove every obstacle to women’s reservation. However, the most consequential barrier arises from within his own party.

News Commentaries

Videos
Stunted Futures: Malnutrition in Rural Karnataka
Stunted Futures: Malnutrition in Rural Karnataka

Kavitha, a mother in Raichur district, doesn’t follow the nutrition charts or growth tracking numbers. What she understands is hunger. The rice from the public distribution shop lasts less than a week. On some nights, there’s nothing but water and silence. For families like hers, malnutrition isn’t just a report—it’s dinner time.

Video Features

Videos
Inside Assam’s Bulldozer Politics Against Bengali-Speaking Muslims
Inside Assam’s Bulldozer Politics Against Bengali-Speaking Muslims

Suleman Ali lived his entire life in Hasila Beel, a village in Assam’s Goalpara district. He built his home brick by brick over years of labor, married off his daughters there, and believed his documents proved he belonged. But one morning in June 2025, bulldozers reduced it all to rubble.

Videos
The Hidden Threat To India's Workforce
The Hidden Threat To India's Workforce

To investigate if your 9-5 corporate job has labour laws for your safety and well-being, Newsreel Asia producer Jyoti Jangra travels to India’s Silicon Valley—Bengaluru—to find out a quiet crisis unfolding inside corporate cubicles: the crumbling mental health and legal protections of India’s white-collar workforce.

Videos
Tradition of Marrying More Than One Woman | Inside Arunachal’s Polygamy Problem
Tradition of Marrying More Than One Woman | Inside Arunachal’s Polygamy Problem

In Arunachal Pradesh, a predominantly tribal state known for its rich cultural heritage, certain traditional practices continue to shape everyday life. However, as conversations around rights, equality, and justice grow, many of these customs are being questioned. One such practice is polygyny—the system where a man can have more than one wife.

Videos
What 9 Communities Taught Me Over Dinner
What 9 Communities Taught Me Over Dinner


What do India’s persecuted communities go through behind closed doors? What happens when you sit across a dinner table and truly listen? Over the course of 9 powerful episodes, The Dinner Table, a docu-series by Newsreel Asia, brings together stories from communities who have long been silenced, sidelined, or targeted — simply for their identity, faith, or beliefs.

Docuseries

Videos
A Mother’s Journey of Raising an Autistic Child
A Mother’s Journey of Raising an Autistic Child

Antara Dey Chowdhury was a Squadron Leader in the Indian Air Force when her life changed course. In 2012, after her son Kabir was diagnosed with autism, she made the difficult decision to leave her military career to care for him full-time.

Videos
A Mother Who Lost Her Life: One Year of New Delhi Railway Station Stampede
A Mother Who Lost Her Life: One Year of New Delhi Railway Station Stampede

On February 15, 2025, a deadly stampede took place at the New Delhi Railway Station. It was triggered by a sudden surge of passengers, fueled by delays to three trains, including a special train bound for the Maha Kumbh mela - projected as the world's biggest religious congregation - that was being held in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj. One year on, students of Jamia Milia Islamia University revisit the family of Pinki Devi, who was one of the 18 victims who lost their lives in the tragic incident.

Videos
Unequal Earnings in Salt Farming
Unequal Earnings in Salt Farming

Gujarat stands as India’s foremost salt-producing state, contributing 85% to the nation's total salt output. Within Gujarat, 31% of this production originates from the Agariya community living within the Little Rann of Kutch. Despite being the primary contributors to the salt industry, the Agariya people find themselves receiving the smallest share of profits. Furthermore, they grapple with the adverse effects of climate change, directly impacting their livelihoods. In this narrative, Bhopa and Gunand, two Agariya salt farmers, shed light on the disparity in earnings within the salt farming sector.

Videos
UNEQUAL LIVES | Everyday Struggles of Dalits in Gujarat
UNEQUAL LIVES | Everyday Struggles of Dalits in Gujarat

Bhupat Bhai Sekhaliya, a diligent and hardworking rickshaw driver from Gujarat, belongs to the Dalit community. Despite his unwavering dedication, the respect he deserves eludes him, particularly from individuals of "upper" castes in his vicinity. Many daily activities, deemed "normal" for any resident, remain inaccessible to him. Defiance can lead to physical assault. However, Bhupat's story is not an isolated incident. In Gujarat, the spectre of violence against Dalits looms large, with an average of four cases reported daily. The past seven years have seen a staggering total of over 9,000 documented instances of such violence.

Videos
BREATHLESS IN DELHI | The Human Cost of Air Pollution
BREATHLESS IN DELHI | The Human Cost of Air Pollution

If you are living in Delhi, you might lose 12 years of your life because of air pollution. Jyoti Lavakare Pande, an author and a journalist from Delhi, writes an open letter to highlight the intensity of pollution in Delhi. She reflects on her mother's vibrant and resilient life, filled with smiles and melodies. Her mother, Kamale Pande, a classical vocalist, was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, struggling for every breath in Delhi's pollution. She pens down her mother’s journey to raise awareness about the invisible killer looming in Delhi’s air.

Videos
Why State Has Monopoly Over Legitimate Violence
Why State Has Monopoly Over Legitimate Violence

Why do we go to the police instead of taking revenge ourselves? Why does the court decide disputes instead of families settling them through force? The answer lies in the political science concept of “monopoly over legitimate violence,” explained by German sociologist Max Weber. A modern state claims the exclusive right to use physical force within its territory—but only within the limits of law. This principle helps maintain order, protect citizens, and prevent society from slipping into chaos where private groups, mobs, or powerful individuals decide justice on their own.

Why Governments Limit Freedom in the Name of Security
Why Governments Limit Freedom in the Name of Security

Do governments really need to limit our freedom to keep us safe? In this episode of We the People, we break down the concept of security politics and how states define threats, justify extraordinary measures, and expand their powers in the name of protection. From surveillance to anti-terror laws, we examine how urgency and fear can reshape the balance between freedom and control. Drawing on the idea of securitisation, this video explains how issues like migration, protests, or public health can be framed as security threats, allowing governments to act with fewer checks and less transparency.

Why We Don’t Act Together | The Collective Action Problem
Why We Don’t Act Together | The Collective Action Problem

Why do we all want better public services—clean air, safer roads, good schools, and accountable governance—yet fail to act together to achieve them? In this episode of We the People by Newsreel Asia, we unpack the collective action problem, a concept introduced by political economist Mancur Olson in The Logic of Collective Action. The video explains how individuals often choose not to participate in collective efforts because they believe the benefits will come anyway—what Olson called “free riding.”

What Is a Constitution and Why It Matters
What Is a Constitution and Why It Matters

What is a Constitution, and why must every citizen understand it? In this episode of We the People by Newsreel Asia, we explain the meaning of a Constitution, how constitutionalism evolved from ancient law codes to modern democracy, and why the Indian Constitution remains central to protecting our rights, liberty and equality.

We The People