{{short description|Indian news organisation}}{{pp-extended|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}} {{Use Indian English|date=October 2019}} {{undue weight|date=September 2025}}{{synthesis|date=September 2025}} {{Infobox publisher | name = Firstpost | image = Firstpost.com Logo.svg{{!}}class=skin-invert | image_size = 180 | parent = Network18 Group | status = Live | traded_as = | predecessor = | founded = {{Start date and age|2011|05|09|df=y}} | founder = <!-- or | founders = --> | successor = | country = India | headquarters = Mumbai, India | distribution = | keypeople = | publications = | topics = | genre = | imprints = | revenue = | owner = | numemployees = | website = {{URL|firstpost.com}} }}
'''Firstpost''' is an Indian news website forming part of the Network18 Group, owned by Reliance Industries and Mukesh Ambani.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kannan |first=Indira |title=Network18: The Audacious Story of a Start-up That Became a Media Empire |publisher=Penguin Random House |year=2017 |isbn=978-93-86057-85-3 |language=en |chapter=Part 2: A Channel is Born}}</ref> Firstpost has posted misinformation on multiple occasions.{{undue inline|date=April 2026}}<ref name="Chatterjee">{{cite web | last=Chatterjee | first=Swasti | title=News18, Firstpost Tweet Old Video of Waterspout as Cyclone Nisarga | website=BOOM | date=3 June 2020 | url=https://www.boomlive.in/fake-news/news18-firstpost-tweet-old-video-of-waterspout-as-cyclone-nisarga-8354 | access-date=10 July 2023 | archive-date=11 July 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711134204/https://www.boomlive.in/fake-news/news18-firstpost-tweet-old-video-of-waterspout-as-cyclone-nisarga-8354 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Alt News">{{cite web | title=Media misreport: Viral photo of grave with iron grille is from Hyderabad, not Pakistan | website=Alt News | date=30 April 2023 | url=https://www.altnews.in/media-misreport-viral-photo-of-grave-with-iron-grille-is-from-hyderabad-not-pakistan/ | access-date=10 July 2023 | archive-date=18 July 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718011006/https://www.altnews.in/media-misreport-viral-photo-of-grave-with-iron-grille-is-from-hyderabad-not-pakistan/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
The Network18 Group was originally founded by Raghav Bahl in 1993. In January 2012, it received an investment from Reliance through a rights issue, and lost control to it by 2014.<ref>{{cite web |title=Reliance enters media by opening purse strings for Network18 |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/web/reliance-enters-media-by-opening-pursestrings-for-network18/ |newspaper=The Indian Express |access-date=11 January 2014 |date=4 January 2012 |archive-date=12 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112080432/http://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/web/reliance-enters-media-by-opening-pursestrings-for-network18/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Ashish K. Mishra, [https://www.livemint.com/Companies/rqT2Oi8fwv4XVjJcHzlcVN/Inside-the-Network18-takeover.html Inside the Network18 takeover], Livemint, 25 June 2014.</ref>
==History== {{unbalanced section|date=April 2026}} Firstpost began in 2011 as an online news portal of Network18.<ref name="Jha 2019"/> In May 2013, the news group was merged with the Indian edition of ''Forbes India'' whose four top editorial heads, including editor in chief Indrajit Gupta, were dismissed.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/forbes-india-editors-sacked-for-demanding-stock-ownership/article4795699.ece|title='Forbes India' editors sacked for demanding stock ownership|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=11 January 2014|date=9 June 2013|last1=Menon|first1=Meena|archive-date=6 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106170909/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/forbes-india-editors-sacked-for-demanding-stock-ownership/article4795699.ece|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/business/special/why-forbes-editors-in-india-were-sacked/20130614.htm|title=Why Forbes' editors in India were sacked|publisher=Rediff|access-date=11 January 2014|archive-date=11 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111154924/http://www.rediff.com/business/special/why-forbes-editors-in-india-were-sacked/20130614.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The event led to a media furor.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/no-country-for-good-journalists-113111600236_1.html|title=No country for good journalists?|date=16 November 2013|work=Business Standard|access-date=20 February 2014|last1=Aravind|first1=Indulekha|archive-date=26 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226111443/http://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/no-country-for-good-journalists-113111600236_1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Thereafter on 31 May 2013, Firstpost took over a satirical website Fakingnews.com for an undisclosed amount.<ref>{{cite news |title=Firstpost buys current affairs satire portal FakingNews.com |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/business/firstpost-buys-current-affairs-satire-portal-fakingnews-com/story-wdMGZAVsDc1C2o1CBpBycJ.html |access-date=26 August 2020 |work=Hindustan Times |date=31 May 2013 |language=en |archive-date=7 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207073051/https://www.hindustantimes.com/business/firstpost-buys-current-affairs-satire-portal-fakingnews-com/story-wdMGZAVsDc1C2o1CBpBycJ.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2015, ''The Caravan'' reported on censorship in Firstpost over criticism of political leaders such as Arun Jaitley.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dev |first=Atul |title=Why is Firstpost Being Asked to Refrain from Criticising Three Top Leaders from the BJP? |url=https://caravanmagazine.in/vantage/why-firstpost-being-asked-refrain-criticising-three-top-leaders-bjp |date=15 August 2015 |website=The Caravan |language=en |access-date=8 July 2023 |archive-date=8 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708145016/https://caravanmagazine.in/vantage/why-firstpost-being-asked-refrain-criticising-three-top-leaders-bjp |url-status=live }}</ref> In January 2019, a weekly English-language print edition of ''Firstpost'' began,<ref name="Jha 2019">{{cite news |last1=Jha |first1=Lata |title=Firstpost newspaper targeted at niche, discerning audiences |url=https://www.livemint.com/industry/media/firstpost-newspaper-targeted-at-niche-discerning-audiences-1548230093820.html |access-date=8 July 2023 |work=Mint |date=23 January 2019 |language=en |archive-date=8 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708150008/https://www.livemint.com/industry/media/firstpost-newspaper-targeted-at-niche-discerning-audiences-1548230093820.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sirur |first1=Simrin |last2=Bajpai |first2=Shailaja |last3=Choudhary |first3=Ratnadeep |title=Making news — Zee's financial woes, Firstpost launch and BJP's WhatsApp 'fake news' |url=https://theprint.in/plugged-in/making-news-zees-financial-woes-firstpost-launch-and-bjps-whatsapp-fake-news/184231/ |access-date=8 July 2023 |work=ThePrint |date=28 January 2019 |archive-date=23 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231023172707/https://theprint.in/plugged-in/making-news-zees-financial-woes-firstpost-launch-and-bjps-whatsapp-fake-news/184231/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and then ended in June 2019, with publication of ''Firstpost'' continuing online.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jha |first1=Lata |title=Network18 suspends publication of Firstpost newspaper |url=https://www.livemint.com/industry/media/network18-suspends-the-publication-of-firstpost-newspaper-1559813616620.html |access-date=8 July 2023 |work=Mint |date=6 June 2019 |language=en |archive-date=8 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708144638/https://www.livemint.com/industry/media/network18-suspends-the-publication-of-firstpost-newspaper-1559813616620.html |url-status=live }}</ref> As of April 2020, Jaideep Giridhar is the executive editor of ''Firstpost'' in Mumbai, while Sanjay Singh is the deputy executive editor.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/about-firstpost|title=About Firstpost - Firstpost|website=Firstpost|access-date=31 August 2018|archive-date=31 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831141222/https://www.firstpost.com/about-firstpost|url-status=live}}</ref> On 26 January 2023, the prime-time show ''Vantage'' was launched, hosted by managing editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay, formerly of WION.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Srikanth |first1=Swarna |title=Palki Sharma's Vantage - Changing geopolitical landscape through the Indian lens |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/fpj-exclusive-palki-sharmas-vantage-changing-geopolitical-landscape-through-the-indian-lens |website=Free Press Journal |access-date=13 February 2023}}</ref>
Fact-checkers have found Firstpost to have posted incorrect information on multiple occasions. In 2019, it published a misleading article claiming that Parineeti Chopra was removed as brand ambassador from Beti Bachao campaign after her comments on the CAA regulation.<ref name="r940">{{cite web | title=Parineeti Chopra Removed As Beti Bachao Ambassador & Other News You Almost Believed | website=BOOM | date=2019-12-22 | url=https://www.boomlive.in/fake-news/parineeti-chopra-removed-as-beti-bachao-ambassador-other-news-you-almost-believed-6375 | access-date=2026-04-06}}</ref> On 19 November 2020, it republished a report by ''Press Trust of India'', which claimed that the Indian military had carried out "pinpoint strikes" that day in Pakistan administered Kashmir, a claim that was later refuted by the army, which clarified that the report was based on analysis of ceasefire violations on 13 November, and not the 19th.<ref name="w529">{{cite web | last=Chaudhuri | first=Pooja | title=Indian army refutes PTI-led media reports of "pinpoint strikes" in PoK | website=Alt News | date=2020-11-19 | url=https://www.altnews.in/indian-army-refutes-pti-led-media-reports-of-pinpoint-airstrikes-in-pok/ | access-date=2026-04-11}}</ref> In 2020, it falsely reported that the Indian Government has launched a video conferencing called "Say Namaste" app.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200520122744/https://ifp.co.in/busting-fake-news-no-say-namaste-app-being-launched/|title=Busting Fake News: No 'Say Namaste' app being launched|publisher=Imphal Free Press|year=2020}}</ref><ref name="j989">{{cite web | last=वर्मा | first=अजय | title=NAMASTE नाम से सरकार ने लॉन्च नहीं किया है कोई वीडियो कॉन्फ्रेंसिंग एप, जानें सच्चाई | website=Amar Ujala | date=2020-04-23 | url=https://www.amarujala.com/technology/mobile-apps/say-namastey-video-conferencing-app-soon-launch-give-tough-competition-to-zoom-app-know-about-it | language=hi | access-date=2026-04-11}}</ref> In 2022, it misreported a farmers protest in Balochistan, Pakistan, against the government's decision to buy onions and tomatoes from Afghanistan and Iran, as 'Sunni' farmers destroying tomatoes because they came from 'Shia' Iran as aid.<ref name="v955">{{cite web | last=Alphonso | first=Anmol | title=Zee News, Firstpost Misreport Tomato Protest In Pak With False Shia-Sunni Spin | website=BOOM | date=2022-09-14 | url=https://www.boomlive.in/fact-check/politics/fake-news-viral-video-tomatoes-discarded-protest-pakistan-shia-sunni-angle-iran-zee-news-factcheck-19260}}</ref> In 2023, it falsely claimed Pakistan denied airspace to India's plane carrying relief aid for Turkey.<ref name="g868">{{cite web | title=Media reports that Pakistan denied airspace to IAF aid plane to Turkey are false | website=Alt News | date=2023-02-08 | url=https://www.altnews.in/media-reports-that-pakistan-denied-airspace-to-iaf-aid-plane-to-turkey-are-false/ | access-date=2026-04-11}}</ref> In 2023, it used an unrelated photo from Hyderabad, India, in a report about several real-life necrophilia cases in Pakistan.<ref name="Alt News"/> In 2023, an Italian man who spreads hoax tweets using fake accounts made an account impersonating Nobel Laureate Claudia Goldin and claimed that Amartya Sen had died in a tweet that went viral and was reported by several news agencies in India, including Firstpost.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbctv18.com/india/amartya-sen-death-tommaso-debenedetti-twitter-x-nobel-prize-economics-18011371.htm |title=The man who shared hoax tweet on Amartya Sen's 'death' |work=CNBCTV18 |date=10 October 2023}}</ref><ref name="t078">{{cite web | last=Majumder | first=Shinjinee | title='News' of Amartya Sen's passing false, confirms Nobel Laureate's family | website=Alt News | date=2023-10-10 | url=https://www.altnews.in/news-of-amartya-sens-passing-false-confirms-nobel-laureates-family/ | access-date=2026-04-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/baba-is-totally-fine-amartya-sens-daughter-denies-rumours-of-his-death-13230202.html |title='Baba is totally fine': Amartya Sen's daughter denies rumours of his death |date=10 October 2023}}</ref> In 2023, it falsely reported that Atiq Ahmed's vote had 'saved' the United Progressive Alliance government in 2008.<ref name="Varma">{{cite web | last=Varma | first=Aishwarya | title=Fact-check: Did Atiq Ahmed's Vote 'Save the Upa Govt' in the 2008 Trust Vote? | website=TheQuint | date=18 April 2023 | url=https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/atiq-ahmed-saved-upa-government-fact-check | access-date=10 July 2023 | archive-date=11 July 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711134202/https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/atiq-ahmed-saved-upa-government-fact-check | url-status=live }}</ref>{{dubious inline|date=April 2026|Claims of misinformation and inconsistencies with sources}} In 2024, it reported the claim of the Indian government's Ministry of Culture that Narendra Modi had inaugurated UAE's first Hindu temple, which turmed out to be false since UAE already had three Hindu temples in Dubai; Firstpost later clarified that the temple was the first Hindu temple in UAE's capital Abu Dhabi and not in UAE in general.<ref name="a842">{{cite web | last=Bhattacharya | first=Oishani | title=BAPS Mandir inaugurated by Modi is not the first Hindu temple in UAE; false claim by govt amplified by media | website=Alt News | date=2024-02-23 | url=https://www.altnews.in/baps-mandir-inaugurated-by-modi-is-not-the-first-hindu-temple-in-uae-false-claim-by-govt-amplified-by-media/ | access-date=2026-04-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/inside-baps-mandir-the-first-hindu-temple-in-uae-to-be-inaugurated-by-pm-modi-13717312.html |title=Inside BAPS mandir, the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi, to be inaugurated by PM Modi |date=26 February 2024 |work=Firstpost}}</ref> In 2024, Firstpost reported a claim from ''The Economic Times'' that Sheikh Hasina had alleged American involvement in regime change in Bangladesh, which was later disputed by Hasina's son, Sajeeb Wazed, who claimed that Hasina had never made such a statement.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.firstpost.com/world/sheikh-hasina-accuses-us-bangladesh-crisis-saint-martin-island-13803363.html |title=Sheikh Hasina accuses US of ousting her for refusing to surrender Saint Martin Island |date=11 August 2024}}</ref><ref name="t757">{{cite web | last=Mehrotra | first=Khushi | title=Fact-Check: Sheikh Hasina Accused the USA of Ousting Her From Power? Son Denies Claim, Calls It "False" | website=TheQuint | date=2024-08-15 | url=https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/sheikh-hasina-did-not-make-st-martins-usa-quote-alleges-son-fact-check?_gl=1*j58e4v*_ga*SWNpR3ZFVXRGN2xELXB2T01NcEhZNEdsaGJkVnBLQ0tHSklZcXZTdVNlSnZlMVBNMERlZkJqQkxZRnRELVB0WQ..#read-more}}</ref> In 2024, it circulated false claim that deceased Bangladeshi Saiful Islam as lawyer of ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das’ lawyer.<ref name="l911">{{cite web | last=Majumder | first=Shinjinee | title=Indian Media misreports deceased Bangladeshi advocate Saiful Islam as Chinmoy Krishna Das's lawyer | website=Alt News | date=2024-11-27 | url=https://www.altnews.in/indian-media-misreports-deceased-bangladeshi-advocate-saiful-islam-as-chinmoy-krishna-dass-lawyer/ | access-date=2026-04-09}}</ref> In 2025, it passed off an unrelated image from a 2021 video as being that of the perpetrator of the 2025 Pahalgam attack.<ref name="x955">{{cite web | last=Majumder | first=Shinjinee | title=Kashmir Terror Attack: Media outlets use screengrab from 2021 video, claim it shows terrorist from Pahalgam incident | website=Alt News | date=2025-04-24 | url=https://www.altnews.in/kashmir-terror-attack-media-outlets-use-screengrab-from-2021-video-claim-it-shows-terrorist-from-pahalgam-incident/ | access-date=2025-05-12 | archive-date=21 May 2025 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250521234824/https://www.altnews.in/kashmir-terror-attack-media-outlets-use-screengrab-from-2021-video-claim-it-shows-terrorist-from-pahalgam-incident/ | url-status=live }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{official website|firstpost.com}}
{{Network 18}} {{Media of India}}
Category:2011 establishments in Maharashtra Category:Conservatism in India Category:Conservative websites Category:Godi media Category:Indian news websites Category:Internet properties established in 2011 Category:Mass media in Mumbai Category:Network18 Group Category:Right-wing politics in India