Role of the Press in a Democracy: India Votes for Newspapers, Only Just

Volume : IV, Issue : III, March - 2015

H. Naresh Rao

 The May 2014 parliamentary election in India is considered a turning point in the history of democracy in the country. 

Not only did a political party get a majority for the first time since 1984 but it rode to this victory on the back of an 

unprecedented support from the mainstream media. The role of the media and in particular the press in a democracy 

has been the topic of many a debate and research. The backdrop of elections provides a fertile ground to once again study the role played by 

the media, its impact and implications in a democratic polity. As more percentage of the electorate is young– below the age of 35– the question 

of adequacy of political communication in the midst of varied media choice in the form of traditional newspaper to television and all forms of 

digital media needs to be understood. The 24 hour news channels bombard us with eaking news, twitter on the other hand is always a minute 

faster in giving the latest. Newspapers have traditionally served the role of political commentator informing and educating the masses on the 

political landscape that is India. Has this role been replaced by television and or new media or are the newspapers still relevant to the present 

generation for serving their ever increasing need for political news and views? This paper tries to search for answer to question about the role 

played by press in serving Indian democracy, especially from the point of the young Indian voter. 