Expanding public debate? Examining the impact of India’s top English language political talk shows

Bhat, Prashanth; Chadha, Kalyani

doi:10.1080/01296612.2022.2140953

Cited by 3 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…Fearing the consequences, journalists have silenced themselves and avoided criticism of the government. Besides, to impress the BJP leadership, many of India’s mainstream news media have become mouthpieces of the government by constantly endorsing the Modi administration’s policy initiatives and promoting Hindutva ideology (Bhat & Chadha, 2023).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since its inception, some media watchdogs point out that most of the guests on the channel’s shows are either directly or indirectly associated with the ruling BJP, making the program’s tone extremely partisan (Sam, 2017). Choosing jingoism and high-decibel brand of nationalistic news coverage over nuanced and balanced reporting, Goswami’s brash, aggressive, and partisan-style journalism has earned him fans and an enormous following among Hindu nationalists (Bhat & Chadha, 2023).…”

Section: Emerging Right-wing Media In Indiamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…News media are often forced to compromise and voluntarily take down articles critical of the BJP government from their websites to avoid being punished in the form of cuts in advertisements (Bhat & Chadha, 2023). Moreover, right-wing media outlets and online Hindu nationalists put pressure on the BJP government to cut-off ads to the news organizations they think are "biased," "anti-Hindu" and "anti-India," and instead reward partisan outlets that favor Hindutva ideology.…”

Section: Implications Of Anti-media Populismmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, very few studies examine such media criticism by right-wing media in the Global South, particularly in countries where professional journalists are facing systemic attacks from both state and non-state actors. Indeed, in many countries where populist leaders are in power, their supporters (non-state actors) exert their collective influence on the government and engage with the state to intimidate journalists, disinvite them to government-sponsored events, and put them under surveillance (Bhat & Chadha, 2023). To provide insights into the workings of emerging right-wing media in a major non-Western democracy, this study explores skepticism expressed toward the mainstream press by right-wing news outlets in India.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hindu-Nationalism and Media: Anti-Press Sentiments by Right-Wing Media in India

Bhat

2023

Journalism & Communication Monographs

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This monograph investigates the expression of anti-media populist sentiments by right-wing news media in India and the socio-technological, historical, economic, legal, and political factors that aid right-wing efforts to delegitimize professional journalism. Thematic analysis of 545 articles from Swarajya.com and OpIndia.com, a qualitative content analysis of Republic TV debates, and interviews with 24 Hindu nationalists on Twitter reveal the discursive strategies they use to discredit journalism. Themes in media criticism include claims that the mainstream media are corrupt and partisan, suppress Hindu voices, favor Muslim and Christian minorities, undermine national interests, and spread false narratives. These expressions aim to undermine journalists’ credibility and position right-wing actors as challengers to the established media’s hegemony. Meanwhile, the Modi government employs coercive measures to co-opt the media into providing favorable coverage to the BJP. These endeavors cause journalists to self-censor to safeguard personal safety and livelihood. Consequently, mainstream news content is increasingly homogeneous, eroding diverse perspectives. This shift weakens the media’s watchdog role and shrinks the space for open debate and public deliberation in India.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Emerging Right-wing Media In Indiamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Implications Of Anti-media Populismmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hindu-Nationalism and Media: Anti-Press Sentiments by Right-Wing Media in India

Bhat

2023

Journalism & Communication Monographs

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“…Chakravartty and Roy (2015); Subhajit and Pegu (2021) found that a majority of prime time debate shows in India exhibit a pro-government bias. Bhat and Chadha (2022) conducted an analysis of television shows in India and discovered that instead of facilitating meaningful deliberation on important civic issues, these shows often prioritize promoting religious majoritarianism, defending the policies of the Modi government, and advocating hyper-nationalism. The hosts of most TV debate shows employ a combative style and polarizing tone to stifle dissenting voices and impede free expression.…”

Section: Related Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unraveling the Dynamics of Television Debates and Social Media Engagement: Insights from an Indian News Show

Garimella,

Datta

2024

ICWSM

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The relationship between television shows and social media has become increasingly intertwined in recent years. Social media platforms, particularly Twitter, have emerged as significant sources of public opinion and discourse on topics discussed in television shows. In India, news debates leverage the popularity of social media to promote hashtags and engage users in discussions and debates on a daily basis. This paper focuses on the analysis of one of India's most prominent and widely-watched TV news debate shows: 'Arnab Goswami -- The Debate'. The study examines the content of the show by analyzing the hashtags used to promote it and the social media data corresponding to these hashtags. The goal is to understand the composition of the audience engaged in social media discussions related to the show. The findings reveal that the show exhibits a strong bias towards the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with over 60% of the debates featuring either pro-BJP or anti-opposition content. Social media support for the show primarily comes from BJP supporters. Notably, BJP leaders and influencers play a significant role in promoting the show on social media, leveraging their existing networks and resources to artificially trend specific hashtags. Furthermore, the study uncovers a reciprocal flow of information between the TV show and social media. We find evidence that the show's choice of topics is linked to social media posts made by party workers, suggesting a dynamic interplay between traditional media and online platforms. By exploring the complex interaction between television debates and social media support, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the evolving relationship between these two domains in the digital age. The findings hold implications for media researchers and practitioners, offering insights into the ways in which social media can influence traditional media and vice versa.

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The civility crisis: incivility, impoliteness and the descent of TV news debates in India

Kumar,

Dutta

2023

Media Asia

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Expanding public debate? Examining the impact of India’s top English language political talk shows

Cited by 3 publications

References 36 publications

Hindu-Nationalism and Media: Anti-Press Sentiments by Right-Wing Media in India

Hindu-Nationalism and Media: Anti-Press Sentiments by Right-Wing Media in India

Unraveling the Dynamics of Television Debates and Social Media Engagement: Insights from an Indian News Show

The civility crisis: incivility, impoliteness and the descent of TV news debates in India

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