Wiki-Leaks-An Enigma of Information Sensation Sans Accountability: A Case Study of India

Abstract

The world of academics and the media professionals looked at the WikiLeaks as a greater champion of freedom of expression (Sifry M 2011). No deeper academic study/discourse has emerged as yet on this positing. Questions arise whether mere reproduction of cables as free and transparent flow of information will lead to any agenda setting as do the conventional media within the meaning of media theories or will it only tend to herald an era of global disorder and chaos. Given the questions raised on the subjectivity involved in the drafting of these cables emanating from the US consulates across the globe, the present study shows how India had already overcome the crisis that WikiLeaks temporarily created in the sub-continent. The study, which has adapted content analysis of the WikiLeaks published in The Hindu, leading English news daily under a tie-up with the WikiLeaks since March 15, 2011 to April 30, 2011, revealed that WikiLeaks failed to generate any effect on Indian public represented by its political representatives in the Parliament, let alone an agenda setting.

Keywords: WikiLeaks, The Hindu, Freedom of expression, Response of Political Establishment, Agenda Setting, Subjectivity of the Cables, etc.