Media gatekeeping and the construction of newsworthiness are inherently subjective processes that often privilege urban events over rural concerns, reinforcing urbannormative biases in news production. Such patterns of coverage not only shape public perception but also influence the historical record, as archives built on urban-centric reporting risk obscuring or omitting rural experiences. In the context of the rapidly blooming digital media landscape in India, new opportunities have emerged for expanding the visibility of rural issues and strengthening civic engagement. This study examines how three major regional digital news platforms in Nagaland, India- Hornbill TV, Global Window, and NLTV report on developments across the state. Employing content analysis, the research systematically reviews and thematically categorizes news videos from each platform’s YouTube channel, focusing on key development indicators including infrastructure, education, healthcare, livelihood, agriculture, governance, policy, and the distribution of urban versus rural coverage. The findings reveal a marked imbalance, with media outlets prioritizing urban-centric regional, national, and international stories over those originating from rural areas. The study highlights the strengths and limitations of digital media in fostering inclusive journalism and underscores the need for improved representation of rural issues to support equitable information access and more responsive policymaking.

Authors:
Wapangsungla Longkumer, Nagaland University, India

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Wapangsungla Longkumer, Guest Faculty at Nagaland University, researches rural broadcasting and community communication. She co-leads an ICSSR project on Indigenous women and seed banks. She enjoys cooking, baking, travelling, and long walks.

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