Changing Face of Mass Communication in India

Abstract

This study contends that journalism in India is evolving as a result of an analysis of the history of Indian newspapers from 1780 to 2011. Since its origin, the Indian press has been a symbol of protest against the East India Company and the British administration. However, in the twenty first century, the Indian press has formed partnerships with both private companies and the government. Journalism in the modern day is more about promoting companies and crafting an image than it is about challenging established authorities.

Over the course of two centuries and more, newspapers have undergone dramatic shifts in their ownership, function, organizational structure, content, and regulatory narratives. Today, however, newspapers in India have shifted their focus from political mobilization and nation building to making money. The commoditization of newspapers and the proliferation of "paid news and private treaties" indicate that the news industry is more for sale. Journalists no longer care about using their craft for the greater benefit; instead, they are more interested on making money.