Abstract

Growing political polarization has significantly reshaped the relationship between journalism and democracy in India between 2018 and 2022. The increasing ideological divide among news organizations has blurred the boundaries between factual reporting and political commentary. Media ownership patterns partisan narratives and algorithm-driven content distribution have collectively transformed newsrooms into ideological battlegrounds. As public trust in journalism weakens political communication has become more performative and less deliberative. The study underscores the urgent need for media literacy transparency in ownership and regulatory frameworks to safeguard journalistic independence and democratic accountability. Through critical analysis of national and regional news coverage the research identifies how polarization erodes journalistic ethics and influences the structure of political discourse in contemporary India. Keywords: Media Polarization Political Communication Journali