Locating Kashmir in Mainstream Print Media

Abstract

This study explores the hidden complexities and agendas in the functioning of the local, newline national and international English mainstream print media on Kashmir. To critically examine newline the media s gaze on the disputed region, publications that are influential in the corridors of newline power and have high circulation have been chosen. Over decades, these publications have newline shaped Kashmir in the national and global imaginations. For a discussion on how Kashmir has newline been portrayed from 1990 to 2010, articles on certain newsworthy incidents from well- newline established English publications such as The New York Times (USA), Time magazine (USA), newline The Guardian (UK), Dawn (Pakistan), Kashmir Times (Kashmir), India Today magazine and newline The Times of India (India) which are widely read have been critically examined. The study newline discusses not only the politics of the media and the various themes emerging from Kashmir s newline reportage by publications at international, national and local levels, but also critically examines newline their frameworks, the convergence and the divergence in their stances based on the shifting newline geopolitical postures of the countries of their origin. The research then links the impact of the newline Cold War thaw, India s economic liberalisation, the September 11 th attacks, the subsequent newline War on Terror and the Mumbai attacks to emergence of new geopolitical alliances that newline influenced the reportage of international media on the contested region. newline Keywords: media, Kashmir, conflict, war journalism, reportage, geopolitics, India newline