Ideological Narratives in CNN’s Coverage of the Indian General Elections: A Critical Analysis

Abstract

Elections of the world’s largest democracy, India, inevitably attract global media attention due to its potential to shape the future of 1.4 billion Indians. The latest 2024 Indian Lower House elections thus received extensive coverage by Western media outlets, among which the American organisation, Cable News Network (CNN), is one of the most renowned. The current study critically examines the coverage of the 2024 Indian General elections by taking CNN as a sample. It focuses on how its coverage differentiates between India’s national political parties. Using Cormack’s five indicators of Ideological Critique, i.e., Content, Structure, Style, Mode of Address and Absence, this research analyses CNN’s website content from the announcement of Indian election dates to the Prime Minister’s swearing-in ceremony. The findings from the ideological critique highlight the lacunae in CNN’s reporting, reflected through their selection of news stories and sources, the presentation of interpretations, the structuring of information, the approach to addressing issues, and notable omissions of relevant facts. By doing so, the research unravels the ideological lens through which this renowned American media house views and represents Indian politics.