Papers by aishwarya chatterjee
Global media journal, 2018
'Secular' India has around 79.8% of the population of Indians practicing Hinduism and 14.2% adher... more 'Secular' India has around 79.8% of the population of Indians practicing Hinduism and 14.2% adheres to Islam, while the remaining 6% adheres to other religions (Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism and various indigenous ethnically-bound faiths). The minority population has always tried to maintain amiable relationship by sharing their culture and history with all other communities. This is apparent through the fact that Indian films based on the largest minority background have always remained extremely popular among viewers and has been treated as one of the leading parameters of cultural and sociological expression throughout the world. It is not difficult to imagine and experience the effects of films in various aspects of societies-cultural, sociological, psychic and political. The Hindi mainstream cinema undoubtedly has a tremendous influence on Indian psychology. Literature behind the history of Indian cinema can be traced back from the 1920s when the era had seen the colonial rule. On top of this, observers claimed that during this period the Hindi film was a melting pot of cultures and Indian 'secularism'. Hindi cinema is neither politically innocent nor conveys an unequivocal secularism. It has many times predicated the politics of inequality and escapism. 'Minority' in India have faced marginalization and discrimination since postcolonial foundation. The situation in India can thus function as an example for the West, as the effects of the war on terror may replicate the transformations Indian 'Minority' go through elsewhere. Despite the nation's proud self-identification as secular and democratic, 'Minority' who defied partition and remained in India are tacitly considered second-class citizens and their loyalty is always questioned. This paper is in an attempt to study the shifting trend in representation of the 'Minority' in popular culture and mainstream cinema. It is also an attempt to study the change through the pre independence era, then through the first 25 years after independence and finally from the 90s till date.
The rise of Citizen Journalism is paradigmatic of how journalism and the media are evolving. It c... more The rise of Citizen Journalism is paradigmatic of how journalism and the media are evolving. It can also be identified as a chronicle shift in the nature of news gathering. "Citizen or Civic Journalism" is a modern form of distributing news through digital or electronic communication (new media), where the media and message both are related to the audience. Social media maintains a journalistic principle of "serving the public interest". It not only disseminates home-grown information to audiences, but also works as a support to mainstream journalism. The Citizen Journalism or Civic reporting websites or even the social media platform work as information transporter on digital media and a cost effective resource involving the public as reporters. The new trend of journalism and democracy together challenge the orthodoxy arguments of traditional reporting and the authority of professional media news producers. Modern society has adapted digital media and social media platforms to share all kinds of information, local to global. But authenticity, trustworthiness and credibility of the information are yet to be accepted as a reliable source for news disseminated by the citizen journalists over social media platforms. The present study highlights the development of citizen journalism on social media. It focuses on its growth, development and impact, considering social media platforms in India. Civic Journalism is "a fundamental change in the way of modern journalism". Challenges such as one-sided views in politics and current affairs, publications of defamatory material frequent in citizen journalism practices tarnish journalism and portray professional journalists in bad light. It has set up new limits for freedom in communication through the social media platform. The present study evaluates the relationship, influence and contribution of Civic Journalism on mainstream journalism through the social media platform. The study attempts to comprehend the trustworthiness of Civic Journalism among the audiences and to understand whether citizen journalism is just an adventure treat or a real responsibility.
This study explores the revolutionary effects of digital media on public opinion formation and po... more This study explores the revolutionary effects of digital media on public opinion formation and political consciousness formation, focusing on the impact of this medium on the impressionable group of Indian young. The purpose of the paper is to highlight how, in a technologically driven age, digital media has become the main channel for distributing news about politics and international events, analysing them and making them comprehensible for the mass. This study's primary goal is to shed light on the critical role that digital media play in creating political awareness and political consciousness, and thereafter influencing the same often. The study argues that the immediacy and accessibility of digital platforms have eclipsed traditional media making them crucial for the dissemination of political affairs-related information. The analysis also looks at how unique digital media is in its capacity to reach the mass. Additionally, the study investigates the hypothesis that fact-sharing via digital media operates as a catalyst for the development of public opinion. In particular, social media serves as a virtual forum for the creation of political narratives, the exchange of information, and the shaping of attitudes. The study looks into how the quick dissemination of information made possible by the digital environment affects the viewpoints of a wide range of readers. The research includes case examples that demonstrate the diverse use of digital media beyond simple political propaganda in order to support these assertions. This study will show that social media platforms can do far more than just creating echo chambers, where users are exposed only to viewpoints that align with their own. These examples provide factual proof that digital platforms can be used as instruments for public engagement, opinion mobilization, and information authentication. The purpose of the study is to present examples of how digital media has significantly shaped political narratives over the time now. In conclusion, this research paper illuminates the paradigm shift brought about by digital media in the realm of political consciousness and public opinion formation. By shedding light on its influence, particularly among the youth in India, the paper aims to contribute to a nuanced understanding of the contemporary dynamics of political communication in the digital age.
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Papers by aishwarya chatterjee