From Royal Scribes to Media Oligarchs: The Timeless Battle Over Narratives

When former NDTV journalist Ravish Kumar coined the term 'Godi Media' (lapdog media), it struck a deep chord across India. The phrase captured a widespread feeling that modern mainstream news had transformed into a cheerleader for the ruling establishment. Critics often present this phenomenon as a post-2014 political anomaly—a sudden corruption of the Fourth Estate.

However, as a history enthusiast, one question naturally arises: Is state-aligned media really a modern invention?

The short answer is no. A closer look at history reveals that propaganda and state-curated narratives are as old as civilization itself. What has changed is not the human impulse to control the narrative, but the institutional framework of the modern nation-state, the commercial incentives of big capital, and the public expectation that media ought to serve the citizens rather than the king.

The Ancient Paradox: Whose Line Is It Anyway?

When archaeologists decipher ancient tablets, stele, and rock inscriptions, they face a fundamental bias: writing historically belonged to the powerful.

In antiquity, common citizens were overwhelmingly illiterate. They left behind no written memoirs, no editorial columns, and no investigative reports. The recorded word was an exclusive privilege of the ruling elite. Consequently, the historical record constructed primarily from written sources often reflects the world exclusively as seen through the eyes of kings, priests, and generals.

Historical Archetypes of Media & Narrative

• The Divine Monarchs of Mesopotamia: Around 2750 BCE, King Enmerkar of Uruk commissioned epic tales on clay tablets. By establishing his lineage as the son of the sun god Utu and claiming the patronage of Inanna, Enmerkar used the newly invented tool of writing to legitimize his military ambitions against Aratta.

• The Moral Governance of Emperor Ashoka: In India, King Ashoka’s famous Rock Edicts spread messages of Dhamma, non-violence, and welfare. While revered today as noble philosophical proclamations, these edicts were also masterclass efforts in political stabilization and imperial governance.

In monarchies and ancient empires, court scribes praising the sovereign was natural. The sovereign was the state, holding an absolute monopoly over information.

The Modern Nation-State & The Fourth Estate

The fundamental shift occurred with the advent of modern democracies and the constitutional nation-state. Democratic theory positioned the news media as the 'Fourth Estate'—an independent pillar meant to check executive overreach, expose systemic corruption, and inform the electorate.

For a long time, investigative journalism around the world proved that it could indeed speak truth to power:

Key Global Benchmarks of Investigative Journalism

• 1. The Pentagon Papers (USA, 1971): Major newspapers published classified secrets, revealing that consecutive presidential administrations had systematically lied to the public about the Vietnam War.

• 2. The Watergate Scandal (USA, 1972): Investigative reporting by The Washington Post held the most powerful executive in the world accountable, eventually forcing President Richard Nixon to resign.

• 3. The Guardian & Edward Snowden (UK/Global, 2013): Journalists exposed mass global surveillance programs operated by Western intelligence agencies, forcing an international debate on civil liberties.

In India, too, the press has historically clashed with the state. During the Emergency (1975–1977) imposed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, press censorship was enforced with an iron fist. Yet, courageous journalists resisted, printing blank editorial pages as a protest. Even in the post-independence era under Jawaharlal Nehru, vibrant debates and critical journalism held the government accountable. Aligning with power is not a post-2014 anomaly; it is a recurring historic tension under every administration.

The Real Engine: Big Capital and Media Ownership

While political commentary focuses heavily on party ideologies, it often overlooks the true controlling force behind modern information ecosystems: Big Capital.

In a market economy, running a multi-channel news network or a high-traffic digital platform requires massive financial investment. The traditional news revenue model relies heavily on two sources:

• 1. Government Advertisements: Making media houses financially dependent on state goodwill for ad revenue.

• 2. Corporate Sponsors & Conglomerates: Aligning media interests with large enterprise capital and industrial conglomerates.

  
  

The Incentive Cycle: How Power & Capital Intersect

• A. Capital Investment → Large corporate entities provide capital, infrastructure, and ad revenue to news outlets.

• B. Curated Content → Newsrooms deliver content aligned with corporate interests and favorable to state policies.

• C. Public Perception → Public opinion is shaped towards maintaining existing economic and political structures.

• D. State Policy & Favorable Regulation → The state protects corporate interests through regulatory frameworks, closing the cycle.

  
  

When news channels are owned by massive business corporate houses, news ceases to be a public service and becomes an asset. Critical coverage of state policy or corporate practices risks lucrative advertising revenue, regulatory scrutiny, or access to power. Thus, modern media outlets are often bound not just by political alignment, but by corporate self-interest.

Conclusion: Reclaiming the Narrative for the Citizen

The term 'Godi Media' highlights a real issue, but framing it purely as a recent political shift misses the broader historical context. Ruling elites—from Sumerian kings to modern political parties—have always sought to control the narrative.

The real struggle of our age is not merely political bias; it is the structural squeeze placed upon public-interest journalism by state power and big capital. Reclaiming the narrative requires supporting independent subscription-backed news models, demanding corporate transparency, and recognizing that while ancient scribes wrote for the king, modern journalism must belong to the people.