New Report Reveals Stark Disparities in India's Pollution Coverage, Urges Year-Round Media Focus on Air Quality Crisis

Wizikey, the leading AI-powered media intelligence platform, has commissioned its latest Wizikey Pollution News Analysis Report 2023-2024. The report spotlights significant disparities in media coverage on air pollution across India by analyzing over 500,000 articles from 50,000 publications. The report highlights how under-reporting in some regions may delay critical public awareness and timely measures. 

The report appreciates Delhi’s media for setting a gold standard in pollution reporting, with over 75,000 news articles that capture the severity of the city’s air quality crisis. However, the findings also reveal that several high-pollution cities, such as Hapur and Faridabad, struggle with minimal coverage, exposing a troubling gap in India’s media landscape. Furthermore, over 87% Cities and Towns in India lack required Air Quality Monitoring systems leading to an unclear picture of Air Quality throughout the nation.

“Wizikey’s report uncovers both successes and blind spots in pollution-related reporting across India,” said Aakriti Bharagav, Co-founder of Wizikey. “While Delhi’s extensive media attention is commendable, equally impacted cities without similar coverage face serious public health risks. The media plays a crucial role in highlighting these issues, and we hope this report inspires broader and more consistent pollution coverage.”

Key Findings:

• Crisis Cities: Cities like Delhi dominate pollution news, with coverage 7.5 times that of Noida and 13 times that of Ghaziabad, despite similar pollution levels.

• Silent Sufferers: Cities such as Hapur (AQI 361) and Meerut (AQI 377) suffer high pollution but low media visibility, risking unaddressed health consequences.

• Invisible Danger Zones: Regions like Firozabad and Fatehpur Sikri exhibit dangerously high AQI levels yet receive minimal media coverage, posing significant public health risks.

• Liveable Cities: Cities with favorable air quality, such as Bhopal and Indore, demonstrate effective air quality management and represent models of sustainable urban development.

Seasonal Trends

The report reveals a 70% drop in pollution coverage peaks from 2023 to 2024, highlighting the need for sustained, year-round reporting beyond the usual winter months. Analysis of Delhi's news coverage shows a reactive spike in reporting during winter, largely driven by seasonal issues like stubble burning and firecracker pollution. However, pollution persists year-round due to factors such as vehicle emissions and industrial activity.