Making sense of political discourses through television debates: A study among university students of Prayagraj, India

Abstract

A large population of India consists of young students, who are the country's biggest voter group. It has often been seen that these young people are not very politically aware, and this has become a common perception. Television is a medium whose presence in every home confirms its impact and credibility. In this context, the presented research has studied how television news and discussion programs are influencing the voting behavior of students at the University of Allahabad regarding their political understanding, awareness, and political leadership. New media is a new means of mass communication that effectively influences a large segment of the public. Among students, new media is also influencing their electoral behavior and choices. It has been found that new media plays an important role in spreading political awareness. It was also found that university students like to spend time on social media, and most students studying at the university are politically influenced mainly by social media. After coming into contact with new media, most students admitted that their voting behavior has changed. It is true that various types of new media tools have influenced the voting behavior of young people. In this study, undergraduate, postgraduate, and research scholars studying at the main campus of Allahabad University took part, coming from the Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Commerce, Faculty of Science, and Faculty of Law.