Divided by Language is a story of the newspaper in India
and an examination of its role in India’s democracy and
multicultural, multilingual society. The newspaper is considered a central purveyor of public discourse in India and
until the 1990s was the only “free” media. Developments of
the 1990s--satellite and computer media technologies, and
economic liberalization in the country brought unprecedented
changes in India’s socio-economic landscape and significantly
altered the media landscape. The documentary underlines
these significant changes in India and details contemporary
practices in Indian press. In doing so the film explains why the
newspaper industry that is waning in the Western world is still
highly profitable in India.
Nearly 6000 dailies are published in India. A unique feature
of India’s press is the existence of a thriving regional-language press (in India’s many languages), along with English
language papers that have a national and international
readership. This media division reflects a socio-linguistic
and cultural diversity in India. In other words, media reflect
society in many different ways. Yet the relationship between
language, press and society in India has rarely been detailed.
The film is first of its kind that essentially illuminates on the
press-society relationship in contemporary India. Through
interviews with prominent newspaper editors and social
critics, the film describes the cultural/political influence of the
English press compared to regional language press. It also
explains the recent commercial imperatives of the press and
its impact on readership; as well as broad trends in Indian
society that have influenced practices in the media.
The documentary is entirely shot in India. In making this
documentary Vandana Pednekar-Magal (Associate Professor
of Journalism and Communication at Grand Valley State
University; she has also previously a journalist at The
Economic Times, Mumbai ) and Alan Bell (Associate Professor of Broadcasting) extensively traveled in various cities in
India (Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore) and gathered
interviews and original footage.
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Discussion Guide
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Discussion Guide
Audience
Divided by Language
Notes
Age/Grade
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The documentary provides a critical perspective of India’s newspapers, features of democracy and
broad economic and social trends in contemporary India. The documentary will be of particular interest
to students of International media studies, media sociology, International Communication/Journalism,
International Business and International Political Economy.
College and above
Instructions/Advice
The film offers many insights into India’s media/newspapers and its role in India’s democracy. It also
useful to note and point out to the students that the film offers points of comparison between the
United States and India on the following aspects:
• Media/society relationship in the U.S. and that in India
• Criticism of India’s English press that can be compared to criticism of press in the U.S.
IMPORTANT FEATURES
Preliminary Remarks
Draw attention to the following key ideas before screening this film as background information
(these ideas are elaborated or discussed in the film):
• India is the largest democracy.
• India was a British colony until 1947--influence of colonialism.
• Although 39 percent of Indian adults are not literate, approximately 6000 daily newspapers are
published and read in India. Newspapers were published in India since 1850s and considered a
predominant public sphere/forum for public discussion in India.
• India is a multi-cultural and multi-lingual society. The states and regions in India are carved out
based on language and culture.
• The criticism leveled against India’s English newspapers parallel the criticism of the press in United
States--for example, commercialization of the press, dumbing down of content, decline of the
Public Interest principle.
• The film reveals a clear relationship between media and society.
Understanding
The interviews in the film are editors of prominent newspapers in India. It would be beneficial for
students to check/read at least one of the newspapers after the film--most English dailies featured in
the film are available online.
The political structure of India described in the film (animated map of regions and languages).
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India’s Newspapers
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Discussion Guide
Activities
Divided by Language
Notes
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• Students could read any of the following English newspapers on-line before watching the film and
get a sense of English dailies in India.
The Hindu <www.hinduonline.com/>
Tehelka <Tehelka.com)
The Times of India <TimesofIndia.com>
Indian Express <Indianexpress.com>
The Asian Times <Asianage.com>
• Conduct some basic research about India and democracy in India--Political framework, languages
in India, cultural difference between states/regions in India; How many languages does an Indian
speak? Why is India multilingual?
• Talk to Indians in local community and find out how they get news about India.
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT /
THOUGHT-PROVOKING QUESTIONS
1. Describe the role of regional language newspaper in India--as elaborated in the film.
2. The English language is described as “aspirational language” in India.
What do you think this means?
3. The English newspaper is “influential” in India, as some editors have said in the film.
In what way?
4. What did you gather about “Public Interest” from the film?
OTHER RESOURCES
Books
India’s Newspaper Revolution: Capitalism, Politics and the Indian Language Press by Robin Jeffrey
(Oxford University Press, 2000)
Internet
General site for India’s English newspapers <www.Samachar.com>
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India’s Newspapers
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