Analyzing intermedia citations in the press of India and Pakistan

Abstract

In this study, the researchers have investigated the practice of intermedia citations in the leading newspapers of India and Pakistan over an extending time period from 2005 to 2022. The case of these two countries is important because relationships between them have been acrimonious since the division of the subcontinent in 1947 over a number of contentious issues. In line with the existing literature, we found that the press of two countries relied on each other to provide information about the happenings on the other side of the border. Intermedia citations increased when important events happened like eruption of violence or initiation of peace process. However, despite the practice of intermedia citation, the press of the two countries expressed reservations about the authenticity of such information. Moreover, we found that reservations were expressed more on security issues as compared to the non-security issues like socio-cultural events. The press of the two countries do not objectively inform readers about the perspective of opponent side on critical bilateral issues.