Media and its Transformation in India: Syntax of Corporatisation and Exclusivity

by V Bijukumar, John Brittas, Omprakash Mahato

ISBN: 9789371706599
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Imprint : Daya Publishing House
Year : 2027
Price : Rs. 7995.00
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Author Profile

V. Bijukumar is the Professor and Chairperson at Centre for Political Studies, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India. He has published three books and more than a hundred research articles in various peer-reviewed national and international journals, edited volumes, and contributed articles of current relevance to different regional and national dailies and magazines. John Brittas is a renowned journalist, managing director of Kairali TV and former Business Head of Asianet Communications. He holds Ph.D. from Centre for Political Studies, School of Social Sciences, JNU, New Delhi. Currently, he serves as the Member of Parliament representing the State of Kerala in the Rajya Sabha. Omprakash Mahato has completed his Ph.D. at Centre for Political Studies, School of Social Sciences, JNU, New Delhi. He has led two projects to examine caste and gender diversity in Indian newsrooms at Newslaundry. His research areas include identity politics, media and politics, and issues related to social justice.

About The Book

In liberal democracy, media plays a critical role in democratic transition and consolidation. It is also known as the 'mind industry' precisely because of its power to influence people, where it plays a critical role in articulating and mobilizing public opinion in favour of and against the governments of the day. The message, which in the case of the media is the reporting of an event, is often messy, partisan, and far more sensational and prone to agenda creation than when public broadcasters and newspapers separate news from views. Over time, news and views merge in India and abroad, becoming indistinguishable to the extent that falsehoods or half-truths are peddled as truth in peacetime. The globalization of media and the control and ownership of media further demoted its constructive role in society. Though the media is the fourth estate supposed to strengthen democracy like other institutions such as the legislature, executive, and judiciary, it became increasingly socially exclusionary, diluting social justice principles.

Table of Contents

Prefacev Introduction1 Media’s Democratic Role2 Mass Media as a Public Sphere3 Media as a Cultural Industry4 The Marxian Conception of Mass Media5 Freedom of Press – A Misconceived Notion 6 Corporatisation of Media8 From Media to Sensational News11 Challenges to Contemporary Media13 Print Media in the Indian Situation13 Regional Surge of Print Media16 Emergency and Curtailment of Press Freedom17 Print Media and Public Sphere in India19 Conclusion20 Media Globalisation and its Transformations23 Corporate controls over the Information and Communication Technology24 Vertical and Horizontal Integration26 Media-Industrial Complex26 Media as an Agent of Cultural Globalisation28 The Corporatisation of Media29 Global Capitalism and Global Media30 From Media Control to Media Ownership30 Corporatisation and Media Imperialism 32 Conclusion34 Corporatisation of Print Media and News as Commodity37 Economic Liberalisation and Media41 FDI in Indian Print Media42 Business –State Nexus and Media46 Emergence of Media Industry and Ownership47 Commodification of Media and News as Commodity49 Advertising and Control over Media51 Cumulative Growth in Advertising Revenue52 Erosion of Media Content53 The Sunset of Editors 55 The Menace of Price War56 From Real issues to Reel Issues57 Paid News as an Attack on Media Morality58 Neoliberalism, Hindutva and Media58 Neoliberalism, New Middle Class and Hindutva61 Changing Media Culture62 Erosion of Press Council of India63 Conclusion65 Indian Media and its Exclusivity: Caste, Religion and Gender67 Mandal Effect on Indian Media70 Communalising the Public Sphere71 Inadequate Debate on Issues74 Underlooking the Rural India75 Meagre Representation in Newsrooms 79 Methodology 80 Caste Representation in News Media81 Religious Representation in News Media84 Gender Representation in Media95 Conclusion102 Conclusion103 Degeneration as Propaganda Machine108 Real Issues Ignored109 Institutional Erosion of the Fourth Estate110 Challenges to Media110 Inculcating Newspaper culture111 Bibliography113 Glossary133 Index135