A participative and representative democracy like that of India cannot deny media’s
significant role in strengthening its democratic fabric. However, while media has
offered a huge platform for creating awareness, educating and sensitising people,
the quality of knowledge disseminated, the kind of awareness created, the way of
connecting with the masses as also, the content flashed and the intention behind
it are clouded with dubiousness. This paper proposed to conduct a qualitative
study into analysing the role and performance of media towards nurturing
democratic principles in Indian context through narrative analysis of certain
instances picked deliberately for the purpose; and suggested certain measures
for enhancing the effectiveness of media in this context. The paper reaffirmed
media in the country, contrary to the expected role, to be biased, indulging in
blatant fabrication of news, manipulating facts and spreading propaganda, hence
fast losing its credibility, integrity and sanctity under the garb of reinforcing
democracy