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We live in an age where information is abundant, but clarity is rare. One would expect reputed newspapers like The Times of India to serve as trusted interpreters of complex issues. Yet, far too often, their articles leave readers confused — not due to lack of intelligence, but because of the way the information is presented.
Take, for instance, the headline below from the April 10, 2025 edition:
“S’pore SC quashes ex-CJI Misra’s ‘copy-pasted’ arbitration award”
While the headline is sensational enough to grab attention, the actual body of the article descends into a tangled mess of legal jargon, disconnected references, and paragraphs that fail to flow logically. Readers are left hunting for answers: Who did what? Why was the award quashed? What role did the ex-CJI play? What has Singapore SC to do here ?
This is not just a matter of style — it’s a disservice to public understanding.
So why does this happen?
1. Legal caution: Journalists tend to quote legal language verbatim to avoid misrepresenting court rulings.
2. Layered editing: Multiple hands in a story often disrupt its flow.
3. Space constraints: Print formats push content into boxes and headlines, distorting narrative structure.
4. Assumptions about the reader: Writers assume prior knowledge, skipping essential context.
5. Style over clarity: Complexity is often mistaken for authority.
The result is that important stories lose their impact — or worse, spread misunderstanding.
A Better Way Forward
Newspapers need to rethink how they explain nuanced developments — especially in law, finance, or policy. Timelines, bullet points, and plain language can go a long way.
Until then, it falls to readers — and bloggers like us — to decode, interpret, and demand better.
Image Attribution & Disclaimer
Headline from The Times of India, April 10, 2025 edition. Used under fair dealing for purposes of critique and commentary. The body text has been intentionally blurred to avoid reproduction of copyrighted material and to emphasize the theme of this article.
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