Research study finds National media reporting biased
'Parachute journalism resorted to'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 03 2024: Reportage of several leading National media houses on the Manipur crisis have violated Press Council of India's code of conduct and norms, says the findings of a research study conducted under the supervision of JNU Professor Angomcha Bimol Akoijam and published by Media and Policy Analysis and Advocacy Loisang, Imphal.

The research was conducted on the reportage of five leading National media houses and it studied and examined reportage during May 2023 to August 2023 .

The findings have been published in a report titled "National Media and Manipur Mayhem" today.

Research study finds National media reporting biased

Utilizing ethical codes delineated by the Press Council of India (PCI), 2022 as the framework of the assessment and using theoretical and methodological tools of media studies, the study assessed the reportage regarding the Manipur crisis to see whether the reports were fair, accurate, objective, and ethical.

The findings of the study which covered 1,599 news reports during the 4 months found that the media houses did not adhere to their own codes of conduct at many instances during their reporting about the crisis.

For instance, one of the key patterns that was found in the news reportage was the use of 'sources' being quoted in the news items.

The study notes that the 'Kuki' sources were quoted far more than the Meitei sources in the news reports and this difference is statistically found to be significant.

The study also sheds light on the biases in the vocabulary employed.

For instance, the loss of life of the 'Kuki' (or tribal) was often described as "killed" and that of the Meitei as "died" .

The use of "killed" to describe the 'Kuki' deaths implies an intentional, unjust, and unnatural loss of life, hinting at those responsible for these deaths, says the study.

Even when referring to an incident involving firing, it remains vague, deflecting attention from attributing responsibility to the 'Kukis' for the deaths of the three Meiteis who were actually killed by them on 2nd July 2023 .

Such biased reportage may have aggravated the situation instead of focusing on the core issues based on factual reporting, says the study.

In terms of the correspondents reporting on the crisis, it was noted that out of 588 reports in the month of May and June, 518 were from outside the State whereas only 70 news reports were from the local correspondents.

This was a clear case of 'parachute journalism' wherein reporters are dispatched from distant regions or with limited local knowledge to cover crises or events, often lacking in-depth understanding of the area's historical context, cultural nuances, and intricate societal dynamics, says the study.