Press Coverage on human rights violations: Case study of “the hindu”

Newspapers are the ultimate tool to conscientise the readers about their rights and construct their slanting towards different human rights violations. In a parliamentary democracy like India, newspapers play the role of the watchdog and gatekeepers. As mediators of contemporary society, news media set the agenda on different issues and influence the public about their rights and responsibilities. The present study is aimed at analysing the newspaper's content by applying frame analysis technique. A sample of 46 newspapers of The Hindu from 01 January to 30 June 2017 pertaining to human rights issues were studied by applying systematic random sampling mechanism. The content analysis indicated pervasiveness of the incidents of human rights violations covered by The Hindu. A few news items portraying positive aspects of human rights were also covered during the period under study. Though, more responsible depiction of human rights issues is required to publish in the newspaper; yet the selected newspaper tried to spread a sense of consciousness in its readers through covering good number of stories related to human rights. The placement of news items, quantum of prominence and proximity level fastened with these stories was thoroughly examined.