Thematic analysis of representation of India in Dawn.

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore the representation of India in the prominent Pakistani newspaper Dawn. India and Pakistan have long been in conflict and the media play a crucial role in representing that relationship and prioritizing issues for the general public, including foreign policy priorities. This study also aims to expand the work on the relationship between media and state by providing a case study of Dawn’s media practice. It uses a thematic analytic approach to investigate the representation of India in the opinion pages of Dawn during India’s general election 2019. A total of 88 editorials and columns were sampled and coded in NVivo, generating six main themes: 1) India is reluctant to resolve the Kashmir dispute, 2) the two countries are perpetual adversaries, 3) Hindu majoritarianism is rising in India, 4) Prime Minister Modi is hostile and aggressive toward Pakistan, 5) presence of secular political forces in India and 6) tendency to establish moral parallels. This study finds that Dawn focuses mostly on differences between the two countries and on conflicts, particularly the long-standing dispute over Kashmir. It also represents India in narrow terms, framing it as a Hindu majoritarian state while downplaying its democratic credentials, and mostly viewing India with the Pakistani ruling establishment’s perspective. Indeed, although contradictory views are also reflected in the opinion pages at times, this study finds a high degree of convergence with Dawn’s editorial content and official Pakistani perspectives on India. Despite Dawn’s independence as a private media outlet, it’s congruence with official viewpoints on many counts suggests it’s not as much of a source of diverse and balanced discussions on issues of conflicts with India.