Role of Media on Political Participation of Youth: A Study on Khulna City Corporation of Bangladesh

Abstract

Media has been playing a pivotal role in Bangladesh's political sphere since its emergence. Politics also has a significant impact on media. So, the relationship between media and politics is a crucial focus for study. With the advancement of media, the trends of information flow have changed significantly. Consequently, politicians use media to convey their messages to potential voters and to achieve their goals. In this continuity, the study explores the media's role in youth's political participation. By purposive sampling, Khulna City Corporation of Bangladesh has been selected. Data have been collected from 31 Wards in Khulna City Corporation of Bangladesh to examine the objectives. The theoretical frameworks of this study are based on political participation theories and media effect theories. Here, 124 in-depth interviews were conducted with the participants, selected by convenience sampling as part of the primary data collection process. The study's findings reveal that 80% of youths must actively participate in politics due to their lack of interest. This is primarily attributed to the perception that the current political environment is unfavorable. The study also found minimal media influence in encouraging youths in politics. However, data shows that 79% think that media has the power to influence people and society. Apart from that, the responses about media were predominantly negative, with youths mentioning concerns about biased news dissemination by Bangladeshi media outlets.