The critical political economy of media and investigative journalism during Sri Lanka’s 2022 mass protests

Abstract

This study examines how perceived life threats, legal challenges, and government pressure shape the effectiveness of investigative journalism during the 2022 mass protests in Sri Lanka. Grounded in the Critical Political Economy of Media framework, survey data from 200 journalists were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling. The findings reveal statistically significant negative direct effects of government pressure, legal intimidation, and life threats on the perceived effectiveness of investigative journalism. External pressures heighten ownership control while reducing journalists’ ethical commitment, both of which indirectly diminish journalism’s impact. Government pressure emerged as the most influential determinant, reflecting the deep entanglement between state power and media institutions. These results empirically affirm the mechanisms proposed by the Critical Political Economy of Media, showing how structural and institutional dominance restricts journalistic autonomy even in democratic settings.