Hacks and Headlines: A Novel

Hacks and Headlines: A Novel by Rashme Sehgal is a sharp, insider's satirical novel set in the world of Indian journalism — a world the author knows intimately from her own long career as a journalist and media commentator. Published by Rupa Publications, this book uses the conventions of fiction to examine the ethical compromises, political pressures, personal ambitions, and institutional failures that have shaped the Indian press in an era of rapid and not always healthy transformation.

The novel follows journalists navigating the intersection of political power, commercial pressure, and the vanishing space for genuine public-interest reporting in a media landscape increasingly dominated by corporate ownership, political alignment, and the relentless demand for content that drives digital news. Through its characters' choices and conflicts, the book illuminates what journalism is, what it should be, and the gap between those two things in contemporary India.

Written with the authority of someone who has lived the world she describes, Sehgal's novel is both an entertaining read and a serious piece of social commentary. For anyone interested in Indian media, press freedom, and the politics of information in the world's largest democracy, Hacks and Headlines is a valuable and thought-provoking work.

Product Details

Author: Rashme Sehgal
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Publisher: Rupa Publications
ISBN-13: 9788186939208
Dimensions: Approx. 20 × 13 × 2 cm
Weight: Approx. 0.28 kg
Delivery Time: 3–5 Business Days