Newspaper Coverage of Gender, Environment and Development Issues in India

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the coverage of gender, environment and development (GED) issues in the Indian English-language newspapers. A main hypothesis is that the high rate of gender discrimination in India contributes to a gender bias in the coverage of GED stories. The newsworthiness of GED has been examined by use of a frequency analysis. Some key concepts in the study of gender and media, namely gender typifications and gender stereotypes were used to examine the contents of articles and news stories. The results of the frequency analysis were discussed in relation to evaluations and assessments made by newspapers' editorial staff, gender scholars, international and Indian NGOs, and Indian government representatives. The possible selection biases were also discussed. Material for the study was collected through interviews and observations at the sorting desk of the Indian Express during a two month's field study in India. The results show that the press does not reflect the actual needs of people in India and is influenced by certain biases in the coverage of GED issues. NGOs, gender scholars and press watch organizations believe that the press performance regarding the coverage of GED is weak.