ABSTRACT

This book examines the historical trajectory of the growth of the television news and critically analyzes the role of private television news in framing the nature of public discourse in contemporary India.

Set in the context of a transformed media landscape, the book attempts to understand and analyze the role of two private national news channels, NDTV 24×7 and Aaj Tak, in producing mediatized narratives that offer a commentary on the various social, political, cultural, religious and economic issues in the public domain. This is achieved by critically examining the process and techniques of production, representation and consumption of current affairs programs such as studio debates, panel discussions, audience talk shows and documentaries aired on both the channels. Highlighting some of the key trends that impinge on the structure and mode of operation of television news media in contemporary India, the book offers a simultaneous examination of how the production, representation and consumption of the mediatized discourses shape the nature of public discourse and have social-political ramifications for the functioning of Indian democracy.

The book will be of interest to researchers in sociology, media and communication studies, popular culture and South Asian Studies.

chapter |10 pages

Introduction

chapter 1|14 pages

Media, Democracy and Discourse

A Conceptual Framework

chapter 2|19 pages

Television News, State and Market

The Changing Dynamics

chapter 3|32 pages

Television News in Contemporary India

Charting the Field

chapter 4|27 pages

Production of Current Affairs Programming

A Study of NDTV 24×7

chapter 5|24 pages

Production of Current Affairs Programming

A Study of Aaj Tak

chapter 6|46 pages

Representation of Current Affairs Programming

A Thematic Analysis of NDTV 24×7 and Aaj Tak

chapter 7|36 pages

Consumption of Current Affairs Programming

Mapping Voices of Viewers

chapter |11 pages

Conclusion