The Elite American Media's India Agenda: A Study of The New York Times' Coverage of India - 2017 to 2019.

Media bias is not restricted to one type of media or in one location. However, the nature of bias and its origins are different and have different impacts. In this study we consider the role of the elite American media and the role they play in shaping the views of their readers. Using Said's (1978/1991) concept of "orientalism," Inden's (1986, 1990/2000) concept of "hegemonic agents," and Adluri and Bagchee's (2014) work on "occidentalism," we analyze a selection of The New York Times' editorials, news reports, and opinion pieces/commentaries (January 2017 to December 2019) on India, Hindus, and Hinduism. The critique here is not only about the use of the authoritative voice in the editorials, reports, and commentaries that dominate the elite American media which circulate representations of Hindus and Hinduism selectively but also of the denial of agency to Hindu individuals. The New York Times offers partial representation of events and people, and prejudiced commentaries on Indian government policies, presenting the Bharatiya Janata Party, Hindus, and Hinduism as illiberal, majoritarian, non-secular, and violent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]