Media on Violence Against Dalits

Abstract

This article examines the media coverage of violence on dalits. Available literature suggests that the Dalits in India have long been ignored by the media as a reflection of their status in the socieh;. There has been an exclusion of Dalits from the mainstream media coverage and their representation in the newsroom (Anand (2005), Uniyal (1996), Prasad (2002) and Jeffrey (2000)) . Dalit issues which receive space in the media are often the issues which revolve around violence. Dalits are portrayed as instigators of violence or victims of violence. The present study intended to explore the treatment of violence on Dalits by Media. The findings reveal that Media often omits violence against Dalits in the name of proximity. Dalit issues are confined within the news value “proximity”. The Dalit news is considered only as local news and the atrocities against Dalits find difficulty in reaching other places. Media neglects to cover the caste based violence against Dalits.