By Editors
Members of the Hyderabad chapter of the Network of Women in Media, India (NWMI) were among a collective of women journalists from Hyderabad who released a letter to media organisations on 30 June 2025 in the wake of the tragic death of their colleague, anchor and reporter Swetcha. Her death was sensationalised by both mainstream legacy media and YouTube channels, using clickbait thumbnails and by conducting a media trial.
Swetcha, a single woman, died by suicide following a difficult personal relationship, and is survived by a minor child. The media coverage of her death was deeply disturbing—reporters dug into her past failed marriages, interviewed her minor child, and used her visuals without masking her identity. This insensitive reporting has upset many, including women journalists and activists. In response, the collective of women journalists held a press conference on 30 June 2025 and appealed to media managements to act responsibly.
