Polarization of Indian media in communicating public policies – content analysis of headlines.”

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the contemporary media landscape of India. It examines and contrasts the headlines from the three most prominent English language dailies of India - Times of India, Hindustan Times, and The Hindu—focusing on the headlines of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of 2019. The study, which uses a mixed-method approach, looks at differences in reporting’s tone, wording, and emphasis to spot any potential biases in favour of or against the government’s policy. The study investigates how such contentious reporting may affect how the CAA is perceived and understood by the general public, as well as its broader effects on democracy and public discourse. This study offers helpful insights for media practitioners, politicians, and researchers negotiating the complexities of media-government interactions in India’s diverse and dynamic democracy by challenging the alignment of polarized reporting with responsible journalism and media ethics.