From ‘raid’ to ‘clashes’: How Western media covered CJP protest in India and student demonstration in France | Today’s news
October saw two different student-led protest movements in two different parts of the world. One took place in India after the satirical group Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The second is in France, where peaceful student protests demanding adequate funding for education and measures to tackle teacher shortages have gained widespread support and spread into a wider movement against the high cost of living, with violence breaking out in some places. Two different protests, two different groups, but a somewhat similar agenda: the search for structural reforms. And while the ideas behind the protests share similarities, was their coverage different?
“Clash” and “crackdown” may seem similar at first glance, but they tell different stories. The clash suggests a confrontation between the two sides, while the crackdown shows that the authorities are acting to suppress or limit the protests. This difference begs the question: does the Western media describe the student-led protests in India differently than in France?
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How did the western media cover the Indian protests?
On 10 October, ahead of the CJP’s planned protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, where thousands of people were expected to join, Delhi Police personnel detained over 2,000 protesters along with some leaders of the organization organizing the demonstration before they could enter the venue. Reuters, while covering the same incident, headlined its story “India detains thousands, locks down Delhi to thwart election chief’s protest”.
The report detailed police deployments, internet restrictions and traffic closures, placing the authorities’ actions at the center of the account. It said: “Thousands of police and paramilitary personnel were deployed across the city, mobile internet services were suspended in the central business district and dozens of metro stations and markets were closed as authorities decided to stop the demonstration organized by the Cockroach movement.”
Similarly, The Guardian reported on the protests and headlined the story as “leader of ‘cockroaches’ among thousands detained in Delhi crackdown.” It read: “Indian authorities have placed Delhi under strict quarantine and detained tens of thousands of people, including the leader of the youth-led ‘Croach’ movement, in an attempt to stop the anti-government protest.”
Earlier, on July 20, CJP supporters demanding the resignation of then Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan attempted a ‘Chalo Sansad’ march. The Associated Press headlined its report: “Indian police use tear gas to stop cockroach movement supporters from marching on parliament.
Similar headlines highlighting police and government actions were seen in several Western media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal. In reference to the October 10 protest, the WSJ headlined the story: “India Blocks Heart of Capital to Thwart Voting Rights Protest”. Another report read: “Young protesters put India’s Modi on the defensive”.
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How did the Western media describe the protests in France?
An Oct. 2 Reuters report focused on “clashes” between students and police as France tried to quell school protests that began in September. The news headline read: “Students and police clash as France tries to quell school protests.” While initial reports were of tear gas, fireworks directed at police and burning trash cans, the coverage did not focus solely on the behavior of the protesters. The news agency later said France had suspended stun grenades after a teenager lost an arm during protests. This account included allegations of excessive police force and government announcements of an investigation.
Similar reports in The Guardian scrutinized French police, including allegations that officers used excessive force against students. In his Oct. 6 report, titled “This is state violence: Paris students rage against politicians and heavy-handed police,” he emphasized the protesters’ accounts.
On October 25, AP coverage of the weekend’s protests in France was headlined: “More than 400,000 protested across France, challenging Macron as clashes erupted in Paris. The story went on to highlight how ‘Students and workers are angry.’
A WSJ report covering the protests in France headlined its report: “What’s up with the protests in France and what’s next.” A similar, milder headline appeared in The Washington Post on October 6: “Protests engulf France as student walkouts spark public discontent.”
Coverage of the French protests combined explanations of student demands and wider economic grievances with reports of violence, damage to businesses and allegations of excessive police force. Emphasis varied between outlets and reports rather than following a uniform approach.
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What is the difference in formulation?
Pradip K Bagchi, senior journalist and media educator, argues that historical inequalities influence Western media coverage of the Global South. He said: “Historically, Western media has reflected a degree of bias towards the Global South. Perhaps this has more to do with the continued cultural dominance of the West, which is reflected in the media ecosystem.”
Bagchi also said that subtle differences in wording can shape the larger frame of an event. “The different use of words creates a larger story, like the difference between collisions and hard hits,” he said.
Meanwhile, Abhijit Mazumdar, an assistant professor at FLAME University in Pune, questioned whose experiences were being represented in the coverage of the Indian protests. He said: “What is missing from the Western press are the views of ordinary people who have been affected, those who have missed their flights, those who have not been able to take their loved ones to hospital.”
