Let’s get straight to it: Azadeh Moshiri’s report on the Cockroach Janta Party’s march for education reforms in India is the perfect embodiment of how the mainstream media, like the BBC, spins narratives to either diminish grassroots movements or use them as pawns in a larger agenda. The march isn’t just about education reform; it’s a battle for the future, yet Moshiri seems more focused on portraying it as a circus act.

Look at how she frames the thousands marching to India’s parliament—where’s the acknowledgment of their motivation? It’s easy for corporate media to erase the urgency of a demand by framing it as just another protest when in reality, these people are fighting for their dignity. Contrast this with how networks like CNN would sensationalize a protest in the West, painting it with bold headlines amid dramatic imagery. Instead of amplifying voices of dissent and the need for genuine reform, the BBC gets bogged down in the trivialities, treating the demonstrators more like a disruptive force than agents of change.

Moshiri’s piece is indicative of a larger pattern wherein powerful media houses dilute meaningful discussions as they prioritize clickbait and political correctness over truth. Big media loves to present simplistically digestible narratives, often at the expense of complexity. This is an affront to the very essence of journalism and a disservice to the public.