The Role of Television Programmes in Promoting Political Participation of the Youth in Bangladesh

Abstract

Questioning the level of active social and political engagements of youths in Bangladesh, this study has attempted to identify the role of the political contents of STV (News and Talk shows) in boosting youths’ engagements in the social and political arena, concerning the debate of media malaise and mobilization. Mixed method approach has been followed in this study. Questionnaire survey and focus group discussion have been used to collect the data in a purposive mode. The data have been analysed in a qualitative manner, where cross tabulation and insight from the qualitative data have been entangled to draw the findings. The study has revealed that youths of Bangladesh moderately engage in political and social activities. The contents of STV play a relative role in the promotion of their political participation. It has been observed, that political contents of STV are offering political information and cognition to youths, but all the time these matters do not translate into political participation. It seems that youths of Bangladesh are becoming the spectators of public affairs than joining practically. The study has outlined that not only TV contents, but other social and demographic variables like patterns of TV watching, socioeconomic differences, attitude towards politics and overall political culture may intervene the level of political participation of youths. More comprehensive research should be initiated in pursuit of determining the relation of political culture with media–which might be the driving force of political participation. In addition, concentrated study could be initiated regarding the overgrowing media diffusion and its impact on citizens’ engagements in the political arena.