"Symbol of pride": subjugation of journalism under power
Date
2023
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract
This study explores the influences journalists encountered in Bangladesh, a developing country under an "authoritarian" regime while covering the opening of 6.15 kilometers long Padma Bridge. Using Shoemaker and Reese's hierarchy of influence model, Herman and Chomsky's propaganda model, and Bourdieu's field theory, it seeks to answer the question: How does the Bangladeshi media's coverage of the Padma Bridge opening reflect forms of government influence on journalists? Drawing on 12 in-depth interviews with reporters and news managers working from four media outlets, the findings suggest that, in the case of the coverage of the Padma Bridge opening in the Bangladeshi media, the government used several tools to influence. This reflected the authoritarian nature of the government, the censorship, and the self-censorship of the media, which ultimately resulted in the media's inability to provide any critical or even objective coverage of the Padma Bridge and its inauguration.
Description
Rights Access
Subject
field theory
media
propaganda model
hierarchy of influence
Bangladesh
Padma Bridge