'Independent Journalism cannot survive without reader support': Scroll.in’s Naresh Fernandes
Exclusive interview with Vartha Bharati
Scroll.in, India’s trusted digital magazine, was launched in 2014 when the mainstream media seemed to be shying away from its primary responsibilities in a democracy. At that time, social media, especially Facebook, was expanding rapidly in India. The new digital platform’s thrust on ground reporting and its lucid story-telling style caught the attention of readers and Scroll.in could cultivate 10 million readers in a short span of time, which a print publication would have taken many years. Slowly, but steadily, the independent digital magazine buttressed its unique position in the crowded media landscape scooping 64 coveted journalism awards, outsmarting many of the legacy media houses in the country.
The independent publication was the brainchild of Naresh Fernandes, a versatile writer and editor who worked at many media houses in India and the US. “My own background includes experience at The Times of India, Associated Press, Wall Street Journal and Time Out. I wanted Scroll.in to reflect the rigour I learnt from these places,” he says in a freewheeling interview for Vartha Bharati’s 2025 annual special issue. He also talks extensively about Scroll.in’s fabulous journey over the last 12 years, importance of subscription model for independent publications, right-wing trolls and abusers, impact of artificial intelligence on journalism and the future of independent media in India.
Edited Excerpts:
Scroll.in will turn 12 in January, 2026. Could you tell us the reasons for launching the platform in 2014?
In 2014, it seemed that the mainstream press was no longer fulfilling the role that many of us had long believed it should play in a democracy. The major pressure on the press at that time seemed to be corporate censorship, with large companies influencing editorial priorities and shaping the media agenda.
Meanwhile, the internet was becoming increasingly vibrant. Starting a digital publication was far less expensive than setting up a print newspaper. There were none of the logistical challenges of distribution. In addition, we wanted to ensure that ground reporting, which many newspapers had begun to abandon, continued to be done. It felt as if readers did not have enough granular coverage of events unfolding across the country.
We decided that our role would be to cover sectors of Indian life that mainstream media was ignoring. This included particular geographical regions such as Kashmir, the North East and Central India, as well as sectors like labour, public health, caste and communal tensions.
We also chose to cover culture with the same seriousness as politics. Films, books and even the quirky stories that capture the whimsy and creativity of human experience were important to us. That is why we have always had a strong features section.
Although our budgets have reduced over time, we have tried to maintain this focus, even if our network of reporters is no longer as wide as it once was.
When Scroll.in began in 2014, what editorial standards did you set?
It is difficult to define editorial standards precisely. My own background includes experience at The Times of India, the Associated Press, a television channel, the Wall Street Journal and Time Out. I wanted Scroll.in to reflect the rigour I learnt from these places.
Our approach was to ensure that everything was reported thoroughly. We insisted that reporters go into the field and speak to people who had witnessed events directly, rather than relying solely on telephone conversations. We also aimed to write in a style that was clear and accessible to ordinary readers. We avoided jargon and ensured that every term was explained simply. I often reminded our colleagues to explain stories in a way that their grandmother would understand.
We assembled a strong team that embraced these values. In our attempt to ensure that we were not perceived as leaning towards any particular political party, for example, we decided that politicians would not write op-eds for us. That has been one of our principles from the beginning.
Scroll.in carved out a niche very quickly after its launch. Did you expect it to gain popularity so soon?
The positive reception was a pleasant surprise. Social media, particularly Facebook, was expanding rapidly in India at the time, so distribution was very wide. We reached around 10 million readers in a short time, which would have taken a print publication many years.
We adopted a slightly unconventional approach. Instead of hiring journalists for standard beats, we approached people whose work impressed us and who we wanted to work with. As a result, we lacked reporters covering certain conventional beats such as defence or the home ministry. But we had passionate writers covering subjects that genuinely interested them, and readers could sense that enthusiasm.
Our first major project that received recognition was Supriya Sharma’s ‘Window Seat’. During the 2014 election campaign, she travelled by train from Assam to Kashmir, getting off each day and writing a story. It was rigorous field reporting, and her storytelling was lucid and engaging. It set the standard for us.
Was there a void for such stories? Or were readers longing for them?
At that time, Rediffusion had been one of the few online publications, but it was beginning to decline. Firstpost was the largest website, but it mainly focused on breaking views, offering instant takes on events. We believed that instead of telling readers what to think, we should provide them with the facts. That is what we set out to do.
Who supported Scroll.in in the beginning, and who supports it now?
We began with investment from a company that was supporting media and other ventures. Today, our revenue comes from a combination of subscriptions and advertising. We are trying to secure as much reader support as possible.
Is reader support sufficient?
We hope Indian readers will recognise that independent journalism requires financial support, especially if they want unbiased news. It is a struggle for all independent publishers.
Does that mean readers are reluctant to pay for news?
This is a universal challenge. Many people still expect online news to be free, even though they would not expect to receive a printed newspaper without payment.
Then how has Scroll.in survived for 12 years?
It has been a journey of ups and downs, which is why we are now a small team, comparable to a small magazine, but working at the pace of a news wire. Every day, we must decide what stories we can reasonably pursue with limited resources. Our commitment to keeping our audience informed has depended on using those resources wisely.
Many independent media outlets are relying on subscription models. Will this model work?
Ultimately, it is the only sustainable model. Some independent publications have reported that it has been successful for them. We are all trying in our own ways to persuade readers to subscribe.
There is a paradox. People accept that print newspapers cost money, but on the internet they expect everything to be free. We must convince them that producing high-quality journalism online is just as expensive as printing a newspaper.
Is that persuasion working?
It is working slowly. For decades, people have been accustomed to free online content. Even in developed markets, media outlets struggle to get readers to pay. This is a global issue.
Can independent media overcome this crisis through collaboration? Scroll.in has collaborated with The Wire, The News Minute, News Laundry and The Caravan, for election coverage and on electoral bonds, for example.
We have collaborated on significant occasions such as election coverage and the electoral bonds investigation. However, it is important for each of us to retain a distinct identity. Each publication has its own focus, which benefits readers.
Collaboration does not fundamentally change the economics, nor does it automatically create a self-sustaining model. Ultimately, each organisation must support itself.
A media landscape with only one independent digital publication would be monotonous and unhealthy. Having diverse voices is essential.
Independent outlets like Scroll.in often outperform legacy media in major journalism awards. Does this increase their credibility?
I hope so. Supriya Sharma was the first digital journalist to win a Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism, which was only 12 years ago. Since then, as you note, digital and independent outlets have increasingly dominated awards. Scroll.in has received 64 awards so far, which is not a bad record for a relatively young, independent organisation.
However, politics and media discourse in India have become so polarised that trolls sometimes claim these awards are biased. I am not sure awards alone convince Hindutva supporters to take independent journalism seriously.
What challenges do you face from right-wing media and critics?
In the earlier days, negative articles about us on right-wing propaganda sites like OpIndia would upset me. Now they have become water off a duck's back. They offer ideological rhetoric rather than substantive critiques. When we are criticised by people we respect, we certainly take note. But there is nothing of value in this kind of name-calling.
How difficult is it to survive after criticising the current government?
One major issue is that information has been increasingly restricted. The Prime Minister does not hold press conferences. Regular national surveys have stopped. We still do not have updated census data. The Right to Information Act has been weakened. Evaluating the government’s performance is difficult when data is unavailable.
There are also legal pressures. Supriya Sharma and I have protection from arrest granted by the Allahabad High Court over stories we reported from Varanasi during the lockdown. We have been charged under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
You must be receiving many abusive messages as well…
In the early months it was upsetting, but now it has become routine. Most of it comes from social media trolls. But even through our letters to the editor we receive messages accusing us of being misguided or anti-national. It has become part of the job.
Where do you want to see Scroll.in in five years?
Still around, still alive, still keeping our audience engaged. In addition to political and economic pressures, we face technological challenges. Algorithms influence what audiences see, and artificial intelligence is transforming media consumption. AI could wipe all of us out. Readerships everywhere are declining because of AI-driven changes.
How will you confront the AI challenge?
There is little we can do beyond continuing to practise journalism as we believe it should be done. We must trust that thoughtful and engaged readers will continue to find us.
What advice would you offer to Vartha Bharathi?
When we started, many publications focused heavily on analytics, trying to tailor stories to what they thought audiences wanted. I believe this is condescending. You must trust readers to be intelligent. Credibility is built through consistent, honest journalism, not by chasing trends. A relationship of trust forms gradually, through diligence and transparency, including acknowledging mistakes. You simply have to keep doing good journalism, day after day.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Latest: Trump calls for help to reopen Strait of Hormuz
Dubai (AP): US President Donald Trump said he has demanded that about seven countries send warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz open as Iranian strikes continued to rain down on Gulf countries on Monday.
Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest, gradually restarted operations after a drone struck a fuel tank and started a fire. Authorities said it was quickly contained, and no injuries were reported.
Tehran has accused the United States, without evidence, of using “ports, docks and hideouts” in the United Arab Emirates to launch strikes on Kharg Island, home to the main terminal handling Iran's oil exports, as oil prices soared. Brent crude oil was trading near USD 105 per barrel on Monday.
Trump said the US is negotiating with countries heavily reliant on Middle East crude to join a coalition to police the waterway where about one-fifth of the world's traded oil normally flows, but declined to name them.
Israeli strikes have deepened Lebanon's humanitarian crisis, with more than 850 people killed and over 850,000 displaced.
Here is the latest:
Bahrain reports missile and drone attacks
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Bahrain's Defence Ministry says air defence systems have responded to attacks on Monday morning.
The ministry says four missiles and three drones were fired.
Israel sends troops into Lebanon for a limited operation
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The Israeli military says it sent additional ground troops into Lebanon for what it calls a “limited and targeted operation.”
Military spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani says the latest deployment is meant to defend Israeli border communities against attacks from the Hezbollah militant group.
Shoshani says Hezbollah has sent hundreds of fighters from its elite Radwan unit toward the border since the militant group entered the war two weeks ago.
He says Israel carried out artillery and airstrikes on multiple sites before sending in the troops.
Earlier in the war, Israel beefed up the presence of ground troops inside Lebanon in what it says is an attempt to prevent attacks on its northern border towns.
Israeli strikes on South Lebanon kill 3, including 2 paramedics
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Lebanon's state-run National News Agency says one person was killed by an Israeli airstrike early Monday on a home in the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Sir.
The agency says another strike occurred after paramedics from the Islamic Health Society, Hezbollah's health arm, arrived at the scene.
The agency says the second strike killed two paramedics and wounded another person.
Israeli military says 70 per cent of Iranian launchers destroyed
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The Israeli military says it has destroyed an estimated 70 per cent of Iran's missile launchers during the first two weeks of the war.
Military spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani told reporters Monday that while Iran continues to fire missiles at Israel, the number of launches has been greatly reduced.
He says Israel has carried out some 7,600 strikes in Iran, knocking out 85 per cent of Iran's air defences and targeting a number of Iranian nuclear sites.
Shoshani says the war will go on “for as long as needed” and says Israel still has thousands of targets it is prepared to strike.
China has no comment on Trump's Strait of Hormuz request
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A Chinese government spokesperson did not respond directly to questions about Trump's request for military support from several countries to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The Foreign Ministry's Lin Jian, at a daily briefing in Beijing, instead repeated China's calls for an end to the fighting, noting the impact on energy and goods trade.
Trump said in an interview with The Financial Times that the US would like an answer from China before his planned trip to Beijing in about two weeks, and that “we may delay.”
Lin said China and the US have maintained communication on Trump's visit.
“Head-of-state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable strategic guiding role in China–US relations,” he said.
Drone strike starts fire at UAE oil facility
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A fire broke out Monday following a drone attack on an industrial oil facility in Fujairah, one of the United Arab Emirates' seven emirates, authorities said.
The Media Office in Fujairah said a drone targeted the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone, causing an “advanced” fire.
No casualties were reported.
UAE says Palestinian killed in Abu Dhabi missile attack
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A Palestinian civilian was killed in a missile attack early Monday in the United Arab Emirates capital Abu Dhabi, authorities said.
The Abu Dhabi Media Office said a missile fell on a civilian vehicle in the Al Bahyah area.
The death raised the toll to seven people in the UAE since the beginning of the war on Feb. 18, authorities said.
EU weighs naval missions to reopen the Strait
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The European Union is weighing two types of naval missions to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
“It is in our interest to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, and that's why we are also discussing what we can do in this regard from the European side,” said Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief.
She made the announcement ahead of a gathering of the bloc's foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday.
Rising prices for energy and fertilisers have brought the war in Iran to the top of their agenda, she said.
Kallas said the EU could expand its Aspides naval mission to protect shipping in the Red Sea up into the Persian Gulf or form a “coalition of the willing” with member nations contributing military capacity on an ad hoc basis.
