New Delhi: Digital news platform Newslaundry is facing renewed scrutiny over its workplace culture after former employees came forward on social media with allegations about their experiences at the organisation.
The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) has taken cognisance of allegations made by former Newslaundry employees concerning the digital news platform’s handling of workplace sexual harassment complaints and the functioning of its Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) mechanism.
According to information reported by Storyboard18, the commission has begun a preliminary assessment of the allegations and is collecting relevant information before deciding what further action, if any, may be required.
DCW Chairperson Lata Gupta confirmed that the matter is currently under consideration, describing it as a sensitive issue that requires careful examination.
"We are discussing and looking into the matter since the matter is very sensitive," Gupta said.
She said the commission is currently gathering and reviewing the available details and would decide on the next course of action after completing its preliminary
Former employees raise questions
Former trainee journalist Sayantan Ghosh, who worked with Newslaundry in 2016, has alleged that he encountered what he described as an “extremely toxic” newsroom environment and claimed that founder Abhinandan Sekhri subjected employees to harsh verbal treatment.
Ghosh shared his account on X, recalling his experience after moving to Delhi following college to pursue a career in journalism. According to him, the behaviour he encountered at Newslaundry was significantly different from the newsroom environments he had experienced during earlier stints at The New Indian Express in Bengaluru and The Telegraph in Kolkata.
He alleged that employees were often told that such treatment was part of the profession and that journalists were expected to develop a “thick skin”.
"I never heard any editor hurling abuses at reporters or interns in the way I experienced at Newslaundry," Ghosh wrote.
His allegations come amid a wider conversation involving former Newslaundry employees, some of whom have raised questions about the organisation's handling of workplace complaints, POSH compliance and the functioning of its Internal Complaints Committee (ICC).
The debate intensified following Newslaundry's removal of a controversial 2014 article concerning the Tarun Tejpal sexual assault case.
The developments have since prompted former employees and journalists to discuss their experiences at the organisation and raise broader questions about workplace culture in digital newsrooms.
The discussion surrounding Newslaundry has widened beyond former employees, with journalist Madhusree Goswami connecting the controversy to what she described as a broader problem of toxic workplace cultures within Indian newsrooms.
Goswami also referred to the renewed scrutiny surrounding Newslaundry’s handling of the Tarun Tejpal case and its 2014 coverage.
"The whole Tarun Tejpal being convicted episode and Newslaundry defending him in 2014 has turned the spotlight on toxicity in newsrooms. And boy oh boy, I could write a full-length novel on it," Goswami wrote on X.
In a subsequent thread, Goswami described her own experience at a newsroom where she previously worked. She alleged that the workplace environment became so difficult that her family grew concerned about her wellbeing.
She further alleged that the organisation’s editor-in-chief regularly treated her in a verbally abusive and dismissive manner, adding another account to the growing discussion around workplace conduct and power dynamics in Indian journalism.
Senior journalist Barkha Dutt has also commented on the controversy, arguing that the scrutiny surrounding Newslaundry should prompt media organisations to examine their own conduct and history before passing judgment on others.
In a post on X, Dutt criticised what she described as an attitude of moral superiority among news organisations, writing, "The problem begins precisely when you think you're so much better than others that you can start being preacher & pulpit, doing long pieces on other newsrooms, based on exactly the sort of testimonies... that are now challenging you."
Dutt did not directly refer to political affiliations or competition between media organisations. Instead, she framed the discussion as a broader question of accountability within journalism.
"Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones at others," she wrote, adding, "Sabki dhulai se pehle apni bhi dhulai," while warning against what she characterised as arrogance and double standards when news organisations scrutinise the conduct of others.
Former Outlook magazine editor Chinki Sinha has also entered the discussion, sharing her account of an earlier dispute involving Newslaundry and an Outlook issue published in October 2023.
In an Instagram post, Sinha alleged that Newslaundry had criticised and targeted her over the magazine's "All Is Well" issue, which she described as a satirical commentary on the so-called "happy news industry" and the media landscape following the raids on NewsClick.
"This is how Newslaundry went after me. And this wasn't the only time," Sinha wrote.
She alleged that the publication had failed to understand the use of "allegory" and "satire" in the issue and characterised its coverage of her work as a "ridiculous and malicious take".
Sinha maintained that she continued to stand by the controversial issue, saying she was "extremely proud" of it. According to her, the edition was intended to examine broader concerns surrounding media censorship, the shrinking space for press freedom and the growing corporatisation of journalism.
Her comments add another layer to the wider debate surrounding Newslaundry, with journalists and former media professionals now publicly revisiting their experiences and disagreements with the organisation.
The allegations have reignited a broader conversation about the working environment within journalism, particularly for young reporters and trainees entering the profession.
Newsrooms are often associated with demanding deadlines, intense editorial pressure and long working hours. However, former employees speaking out have raised a separate question: where should the line be drawn between professional pressure and unacceptable workplace behaviour?
For young journalists at the beginning of their careers, the culture of an organisation can have a lasting impact on their confidence, professional development and willingness to remain in the field.
The latest allegations against Newslaundry remain accounts from former employees and should be understood as such. The claims have nevertheless triggered renewed discussion around workplace conduct, accountability and the mechanisms available to employees when they feel their concerns are not adequately addressed.
The DCW has not yet indicated what specific action it may take following its preliminary examination.
For now, the commission is focused on collecting information and understanding the allegations before determining whether further intervention is warranted.
The development adds another layer to the growing scrutiny surrounding Newslaundry, as former employees and journalists continue to publicly discuss workplace culture, internal accountability and the handling of complaints within the organisation.
The allegations remain allegations at this stage, and the commission’s preliminary examination does not itself establish wrongdoing. Any further action will depend on the information and material reviewed by the commission.
Source: Storyboard 18