India: Mapping Journalism in the World’s Largest Democracy

Daya Kishan Thussu*, Anilesh Kumar

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in book/report/conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

This chapter explores the interplay between democracy and journalism in India, the world’s largest democracy, with one of its most complex media systems. With a brief excursion into the historical context, the chapter focuses on the transformation of the Indian news media beginning in the late 1990s, particularly in broadcasting, which has grown from a state-controlled monopoly to a multiplicity of private television news channels. The expansion and consolidation of media corporations have transformed India’s media landscape and significantly affected broadcast journalism. The chapter argues that this marketized, multi-channel television environment is dominated by a scramble for ratings, resulting in news content increasingly taking the form of infotainment. The informational role of television in India, where millions of people still cannot read or write, has been undermined by this market-led journalism and the privatization of television news is eroding the public sphere in the world’s largest democracy.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationDifferent Global Journalisms
Subtitle of host publicationCultures and Contexts
EditorsSaba Bebawi, Oxana Onilov
Place of PublicationCham
PublisherPalgrave Macmillan Ltd.
Chapter6
Pages107-125
Number of pages19
Edition1st
ISBN (Electronic)9783031189920
ISBN (Print)9783031189913, 9783031189944
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 10 Feb 2023

Publication series

NamePalgrave Studies in Journalism and the Global South
PublisherPalgrave Macmillan
ISSN (Print)2662-480X
ISSN (Electronic)2662-4818

Scopus Subject Areas

  • General Arts and Humanities

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