4. The Intersection of Change: Decoding the Media-Democracy Dynamic in South Asia in the ‘Social’ Times

Democracy, as a political system, protects civil liberties and the rights of citizens and people like no other approach. This is where journalism plays a vital role, by reporting incidents and events, creating verifiable information, shaping public opinion and trust, reflecting in the election of government and exerting pressure on them to perform. Within the South Asian regions in the past decades, access and reach to the internet, social media and other communication platforms have increased. Diverse geographical and linguistic masses characterise the region. Social media, where content is generated and shared by users, significantly impacted the overall political communication, public discourse, public policy and bilateral relations among countries in South Asia. With their rising popularity, they are certainly a force, giving rise to alternative content platforms. Innovative platforms like the Glance lock screen have changed the way millions of people access and consume news content, proving to be a disruptive force for the traditional model of media political economy. This chapter looks at the role of journalism in South Asian democracies, the flow and reach of politically relevant information, and presents a few best practices for getting it right for the future.