Media Coverage of BRICS Summit Sparks Backlash Over Visual Framing

Source: Deccan Chronicle | Original Published At: 2026-09-20 09:06:55 UTC

Key Points

• The 18th BRICS Summit was held at the Bharat Mandapam venue in New Delhi under India's 2026 chairship.
• Leaders from the expanded 11-member bloc participated, including Chinese Premier Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
• Summit discussions focused on trade, technology, energy security, and global governance reforms aimed at amplifying Global South influence.
• Coverage by outlets such as The New York Times, France 24, and Al Jazeera included images of cyclists, moped riders, and informal laborers alongside summit banners and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• Critics said the visual framing reflected a persistent Western media bias and ignored India's expanding economic footprint, digital infrastructure, and diplomatic weight.
• Other outlets, including Reuters and the Financial Times, emphasized the summit's geopolitical outcomes, India's diplomatic gains, and stronger bloc cohesion.