Constructing a Comprehensive Coverage Criterion of Indian States and Union Territories News

UMESH ARYA
Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology, India

Abstract
The study posits a twelve pronged formulation of indices to measure the over coverage and under coverage of the Indian states and union territories by newspapers on socio-economic, demographical and political aspects. Union territories (UT), mainly Delhi and Chandigarh were unjustifiably favoured on all twelve counts which clearly points out media’s biased leanings to cater to the regional aspirations and preference to the power center. Northern states were most favourably covered and the coverage reduced with increasing distance of the state from the power center i.e., the capital of India whereas north eastern states suffered severe coverage blackout. Quantitative and spatial indices were developed to see news coverage in a new perspective.

Keywords: Indian states, union territories, press coverage, media research

References

Ahmed, A. (1996). Quoted by Bansal, K. (2002). International news coverage in four Indian newspapers: A content analysis study. Media Asia 29(3), 31–40.
Arya, U. (2011a). Uneven Cultivation of states and union territories’ news coverage on Indian print media landscape. Media Asia, 38(2), 98-109.
Arya, U. (2008b). Economics dictating representation:news coverage of states and union territories in Indian print media. Media Asia, 35(4), 250–258.
Background note (2007), Retrieved from http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3454.htm.
Constitution of India (2011), Retrieved fromhttp://india.gov.in/govt/constitutions_india.php
Census post (2011). Govt of India. Retrieved from http://censusindia.gov.in/
Central Intelligence Agency (2011). The World fact book. Retrieved fromhttps://www.cia.gov/library/ publications/the-world-factbook/geos/in.html
Dominick, R., &Wimmer, D. (1994). Mass media research: An introduction. Belmont, California: Wadsworth Publishing Company.
Dwivedi, M. (2007). The media charade: “We” are also part of the world simulacra. Communication Today, 10(3), 1–7
India (2008). A reference manual. Retrieved from www.publicationsdivision.nic.in/others/ india_2008.pdf
Kishore, S., & Gupta, K. (2009). Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in India. Retrieved from http://www.nfhsindia.org/a_subject_report_gender_for_website.pdf.
Lerner, D. (1958). The passing of traditional society, modernizing the Middle East. New York: Free Press.
Perse (2001). Quoted by Mosebach, J. I., & University of Nevada, R. J. (2007). A content analysis of gender differences in newspaper book reviews: University of Nevada, Reno.
Publication Division. (2010). India 2010: A Reference Annual. Retrieved from www.publicationsdivision.nic.in/others/india_2010.pdf.
Whitney, F., Jones M., &Rakow (1989). Geographic and source biases in network television news 1982– 1984. Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media, 33(2), 159–174.
Watson, J. (1998). Media communication: an introduction to theory and process, St. Martin’s Press.
Shaw, D., & McCombs, M. (1977). The emergence of American political issues. St. Paul, MN: West Group.
State (2011). Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved fromhttp://www.britannica.com/bps/ dictionary?query=state
Union of India (2002). Union of India. Retrieved 17 November, 2011 from http://www.rishabhdara.com/ sc/view.php?case=18061
Zito, G. (1975). Methodology and meanings: varieties of sociological inquiry. New York: Praeger. 1. Author biodata (2-3 lines)

Dr. Umesh Arya is an associate professor in the Department of Advertising Management and Public Relations at Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar-125 001, Haryana, India. His research interest include computer mediated communication, ICT-related issues and corpus linguistics