Documentary by GVSU communications faculty to air on WGVU

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- "Divided by Language," produced, written and directed by School of Communications faculty members Vandana Pednekar-Magal and Alan Bell will air on WGVU-TV on Sunday, October 28, at 3 p.m.

The film examines the role of the English language newspaper in multilingual India. It details a unique feature of India’s press — newspapers published in India’s many languages are attentive to regional/local issues in India’s linguistically divided regions; and the English press serves a pan-Indian readership. The film also examines the argument that this language division in the press reflects a socio-economic and cultural division in contemporary India. 

The film is first of its kind that highlights the media-society relationship in contemporary India and examines the links between India’s democracy and the media. Through interviews with prominent newspaper editors and social critics in India, the film describes the cultural/political influence of the English press compared to regional language press; and considers recent commercial imperatives of the press in light of its role in post-colonial India.

“Divided by Language” has been screened at World Journalism Education conference in Singapore, and is being distributed by the National Film Network.

Pednekar-Magal and Bell can be contacted at (616) 331-3668.