Indian Press Union
Founded in 2004, the Indian Press Union (IPU) is an independent, member-driven media body dedicated to strengthening journalism across India. From our earliest days, our focus has been steady and simple: protect the dignity of journalists, promote ethical newsgathering, and give the public a clearer view of how news is created, edited, and amplified. We do this through a blend of support services for journalists, public-interest media monitoring, and an editorial desk that publishes original, organic news and analysis.
Independent by design
IPU is not a government department, not affiliated to any political party, and not a statutory regulator. Independence is our foundation. It enables us to examine official communication, election-season spectacle, and other high-visibility media events with a cool head. When public messaging turns into performance, we say so—openly, responsibly, and with evidence. Our position is simple: the press must be free, the citizen must be informed, and power—of any kind—must withstand questions.
What we do
1) Support for journalists.
We provide identity and community for reporters, editors, producers, photojournalists, and stringers working in cities and districts. Members get structured guidance on ethics, source protection basics, story framing, and risk awareness. Where feasible, we connect them to legal orientation and peer mentoring. Our goal is to ensure that a journalist—whether in a small town or a major newsroom—does not feel alone.
2) Self-regulation, not regulation.
IPU does not exercise state power. Instead, we advance self-regulatory practice through practical tools:
Ethics Checklists for newsroom use (conflict of interest, attribution, sourcing, corrections).
Peer Review Panels for voluntary feedback on sensitive stories.
Transparency Notes urging outlets to explain edits, updates, and retractions.
Public Interest Briefs that map verified facts when narratives heat up.
These create discipline without coercion—helping newsrooms get the story right, the first time.
3) Media monitoring & analysis.
We watch national and regional news carefully—TV, print, radio, and digital—tracking how narratives rise, morph, and fade. We highlight excellence, call out misleading frames, and document gaps between headlines and facts. Our analyses help audiences understand what they’re seeing and help journalists reflect on the craft behind it.
4) An editorial desk for original news.
Alongside observation, we publish our own original reporting. Our desk prioritizes public-interest topics, field-based updates, and clear explanatory pieces. The aim is not to chase every flash; it is to add context, show verifiable facts, and centre the citizen.
Why we exist
Two decades of rapid change have transformed Indian media. New platforms appear overnight; pressure on reporters is real; speed often outruns verification. IPU exists to slow the conversation just enough to let facts breathe, to keep reporters safe and steady, and to remind newsrooms that credibility is still their strongest currency.
Principles we live by
Truth before traffic. If the facts are not clear, we say so.
Fairness without favour. We won’t become a megaphone for any camp.
Courage with care. We ask tough questions and respect personal risk.
Correction as strength. When errors happen, timely corrections build trust.
Public service first. Journalism is a civic good; our work should reflect that.
Our promise to journalists
Identity & belonging: a recognized membership framework that signals professionalism without claiming any government accreditation.
Practical tools: checklists, brief guides, and peers you can actually reach.
Room to grow: resources that help you pitch better, verify deeper, and publish with confidence.
Visibility: when good work happens, we amplify it—because great reporting deserves an audience.
Our promise to readers
Clarity over noise. We explain what is known, what is disputed, and what is still unknown.
Sourcing you can see. Opinions are labelled, facts are cited, and context is never an afterthought.
Editorial independence. No hidden alignments, no borrowed agendas.
Legal and editorial independence
To keep this page accurate and safe for all readers:
IPU is an independent media body. We do not confer government accreditation and do not claim statutory authority.
We support self-regulation. Our tools, panels, and briefs are voluntary resources for ethical practice; they are not commands or legal directives.
We scrutinize official narratives. Where government or corporate communication resembles spectacle, we analyse it as editorial content, grounded in verifiable information.
Built for a long horizon
We scrutinize official narratives. Where government or corporate communication resembles spectacle, we analyse it as editorial content, grounded in verifiable information.
Since 2004, our work has been deliberately patient: build standards, build community, and build trust. We learn from field reporters filing from remote districts, from editors balancing deadlines and detail, and from audiences who want news that is both timely and true. The landscape will keep changing; our commitments will not.
How to engage
Journalists: Join the community, access tools, request a peer review, or pitch a public-interest story to our desk.
Newsrooms: Use our ethics checklists internally, invite a peer-panel for feedback on complex coverage, or publish transparency notes your readers can trust.
Readers & researchers: Explore our analyses, track narratives across outlets, and read original reporting that prioritizes facts over theatre.
The path ahead
The Indian press is one of the world’s most energetic ecosystems. Its health matters—because a healthy press keeps every other institution honest. At Indian Press Union, we will continue to support the people who make journalism possible, help audiences decode the day’s noise, and publish fact-first stories that hold up over time. If you believe in a press that is free, fair, and fearless, you already believe in what we do.