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The Punjabi Diaspora in a Time of Media Hybridization: the Empowering of ‘Counterpublics’

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The Punjabi Diaspora in a Time of Media Hybridization: the Empowering of ‘Counterpublics’ The Punjabi diaspora in a time of media hybridization: The empowering of ‘counterpublics’ By Paul Fontaine A Thesis in The Department of Journalism Presented in partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts (Journalism Studies) at Concordia University Montreal, Quebec, Canada June 2012 @ Paul Fontaine, 2012 CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY School of Graduate Studies This is to certify that the thesis prepared By: Paul Fontaine. Entitled: The Punjabi diaspora in a time of media hybridization: The empowering of ‘counterpublics’ and submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (Journalism Studies) complies with the regulations of the University and meets the accepted standards with respect to originality and quality. Signed by the final examining committee: Dr. David Secko Chair Dr. Jim McLean Examiner Dr. Rachel Berger Examiner Dr. Lisa Lynch Supervisor Approved by Graduate Program Director Dean of Faculty Date: June 15th, 2012 ABSTRACT The Punjabi diaspora in a time of media hybridization: The empowering of ‘counterpublics’ Paul Fontaine This thesis explores the ways in which three Punjabi-Canadian news outlets in British Columbia push back against negative representations in the mainstream press, while drawing attention to causes of concern to members of that diasporic community in Canada and around the world. I argue that the three outlets reflect the formation of “public sphericules,” which both provide counter-narratives to mainstream discourse and offer coverage that attempts to integrate members of that diasporic group into mainstream Canadian society. These are important roles for a number of reasons; because of the negative representations of South Asians that have characterized the Canadian mainstream press’ coverage; and because multicultural news outlets help people to negotiate between their physical and cultural homes. Scholars in the areas of diasporic studies, South Asian studies, and counterpublic formation inform this thesis. Through qualitative interviews with the editors at each of the publications, as well as through a two-month framing analysis of the coverage at the outlets, this study explores how multiple public sphericules can be bonding agents, building a sense of cohesion within a cultural community, while at the same time bridging that cultural community with the larger communities in which they live. iii Acknowledgements I extend my sincere gratitude to the entire staff, both teaching and administrative, in the Journalism Department at Concordia for making my time in the program so rewarding. I would like to thank, first of all, my supervisor Lisa Lynch for being such a steady source of guidance and support throughout the thesis writing process. I would also like to thanks professors Jim McLean and Rachel Berger for challenging me to make my thesis better. Special thanks must be made to those friends who read my thesis and gave me valuable suggestions. Your efforts will always be remembered. Finally, I thank my parents Edward Fontaine and Anne Hulberg. They offered love and had endless patience as I searched for a fulfilling career path. Once I found it, they were always quick to encourage. To them I dedicate this thesis. iv Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 Theoretical framework and goals of the thesis ....................................... 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Punjabi-Canadian press outlets as “public sphericules” ..................................................................... 7 Personal Motivation .................................................................................................................................... 15 Methodology ....................................................................................................................................... 16 Qualitative methods employed in a multiple case study ................................................................... 16 Grounded theory and the semi-structured lived world interview ................................................... 22 Framing analysis: finding themes in the coverage ............................................................................. 23 Defining diaspora ............................................................................................................................... 25 History of South Asian immigration to Canada ................................................................................. 28 A home away from home ........................................................................................................................... 33 Chain migration in the face of changing immigration policy ......................................................... 35 Air India bombing ......................................................................................................................................... 37 Sikh organizations in Canada .................................................................................................................... 39 History of South Asian media in British Columbia ........................................................................... 41 Punjabi-Canadians and diasporic belonging ......................................................................................... 42 CHAPTER 2 Diasporic communities and the formation of “counterpublics” ......... 47 The formation of ‘counterpublics’ ................................................................................................ 47 Online diasporic communities .................................................................................................................. 50 Building online connections……… ........................................................................................................ 51 What constitutes an online public? .......................................................................................................... 54 Exploring online and offline diasporic linkages ......................................................................... 56 The operation of a ‘virtual newsroom’ ................................................................................................... 58 Getting eyes on the content ........................................................................................................................ 61 Distribution through the Web is inevitable…and affordable .......................................................... 62 A more holistic examination of online diasporic communication .......................................... 65 CHAPTER 3 The Punjabi-Canadian media: origins, roles and motivations ........... 69 The power of media discourses ...................................................................................................... 69 Trends in Canadian mainstream news coverage of South Asians ................................................. 70 Diasporic media as areas of contestation and consensus .................................................................. 78 The contemporary South Asian press in British Columbia .................................................... 81 Punjabi successes and the ‘hero’ narrative ............................................................................................ 84 The power of the diaspora and migration to India .............................................................................. 90 Pushing back against stereotyping and providing context ............................................................... 94 v Drawing attention to abuse of South Asians, in Canada and abroad ............................................ 97 Visibility of success and failure in the Punjabi-Canadian press .......................................... 100 CHAPTER 4 Punjabis in Canada: discussion and action......................................... 103 The economic and political influence of the South Asian-Canadian diaspora ................. 103 Working within institutions to form “strong publics” ........................................................... 104 Competition and the importance of social capital ................................................................... 111 Reshaping what it means to be politically active...................................................................... 116 The presentation of locality in the Punjabi-Canadian press ................................................. 117 Engaging with ‘multiple locales’ within the Canadian institutional framework ............. 119 CHAPTER 5 Canadian diasporic media: new directions ......................................... 123 The Punjabi-Canadian press and multiculturalism ................................................................ 123 Editors’ views on the future of the diasporic press in Canada ............................. 127 Suggestions for further study in the area of diasporic communication ............................. 132 Conclusion: towards a more equitable media landscape ....................................................... 136 WORKS CITED ........................................................................................................... 139 vi Chapter 1 Theoretical framework and goals of the thesis “Without a faith, justified or not, in self-organized publics, organically linked to our activity in their very existence, capable of being addressed, and capable of action, we would be nothing
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