November 16 the National Press Day is symbolic of free and responsible press in the country and is observed by holding Seminars/symposia/workshops/debates/discussions on topics relating to the press throughout the country.
The National Press Day, 2007 was observed by the Council in the capital
on November 16 by organizing a Seminar on “Media As People’s Voice—Pre and
Post
A number of distinguished and eminent personalities including veteran journalists, jurists and legal experts took part in the inaugural Seminar.
Text of addresses delivered during
the occasion and proceedings of panel discussion follows.
*****
Hon’ble Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Shri Somnath Chatterjee, Sir, it is a privilege, pleasure and honour to welcome you to this inaugural function today. It is also an honour for me to welcome Shri Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, Hon’ble Minister of Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, who is the Guest of Honour of this event, the Chairman of the Press Council Honble Justice G N Ray and Smt. Vibha Bhargava, Secretary, Press Council.
On this occasion, we have this
function to celebrate the National Press Day. Friends, the Press Council of
India has decided that the most interesting way of celebration would be to have
a Panel Discussion on “Media as People’s Voice – Pre and Post Independence”.
What we are about to discuss here today is a subject that not only
Wherever there are free men and
women, their voice has to reach to the end of the world through the media. So
indeed it has been in
As Gandhiji said, the journalist’s peculiar function is to reach the mind of the country and to give definite and fearless expression to the mind”. Gandhiji himself showed the way and was a prolific writer and fearless editor, who was both the voice of the people as well as the interpreter of the people’s voice. In the environment of foreign rule and many acts of injustice, Gandhiji’s writing in his newspapers and journals were a call to battle as well as a beacon of hope to people who could not otherwise voice their voices.
*Member
Elect, Press Council of
For Gandhiji the press media was
definitely a potent weapon of struggle and Satyagraha, and he was not alone in
this. Many great political and social
leaders of that time found journalism and newspapers an effective way of
conveying the voice of the millions of Indians to those who needed most to hear
it. Among them were Lala Lajpat Rai,
Feroz Shah Mehta, Dadabhai Naoroji, Swami Sraddhananda, Deshbandu Gupta and others. They all associated themselves with the
media. There are many other unsung
revolutionaries of
Having played a revolutionary role
during the freedom struggle, after independence the media settled down to a new
role as the information provider. That was a period of calmness and sobriety
for most of the media, and those who still took up and fought a cause or spoke
in a loud voice were quickly dubbed as instances of yellow journalism. But
wherever there were wrongdoing and injustice, the dark side of the society,
once again in
The media in
Mr. Justice G.N. Ray*
*[1]G.N. Ray
With the evolution of mankind was
born the urge to know and to communicate. The earliest reference to an
organized collection of news in ancient
Evolution of human civilization moved with the expansion of freedom of masses and their right to free speech which included freedom of the communicator, the precursor of present day media, and took the form of dance, drama, ballets etc. The media is, in the ultimate analysis, the culmination of participatory democracy.
The
modern press marked its beginning only after the advent of European
Civilization in
The struggle for freedom of speech has marched hand in hand in the growth of civilization with the struggle for other human liberties. History shows that human liberty cannot be secured, unless there is freedom to express without fear or favour. The history of the Indian press truly reflects this belief. Indian freedom fighters and reformists during period of subjugation to foreign rule naturally fought for the liberty of the press.
Though
the press in
The Indian national press was the backbone of the freedom struggle. Its historical importance is linked to the awareness and creation of public opinion.
Even though it is very interesting
to trace the history and development of print media both in English and
regional languages in pre independent era but time constraint does not permit
such exercise and cataloguing such news papers.
The earliest newspaper published in
Between
the birth of Hicky’s Gazette on
The later years of 19th century witnessed newspapers consistently reporting on challenges ahead of the nation. Moving away from the genre of reporting societal events of the Britishers, the country saw the birth of different kind of journalism, a new journalism which stood for social reforms and public welfare, and creating opinion on issues like education, child marriage, widow marriage and sati.
Pioneer reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy did not challenge colonial governance but aimed at social orthodoxies through well reasoned writings. Journalists like Subba Rao fiercely supported the Gandhian mission, also produced journalism of the highest standards ----- frequently controversial, but rooted in their conviction of purpose of journalism’s purpose, which they believed was to mould public opinion.
The press soon became the most powerful weapon of freedom movement under the leadership of personalities like Tilak and Gokhale who stood for progressive journalism and liberal notions and believed in the strength of the press to mould public opinion, to shape the destiny of the nation and safeguard the rights and civil liberties of its citizens.
The arrival of Mahatma Gandhi on the
Indian political scene after his return from
Gandhiji had set rules for the functioning by the press. Gandhiji advocated for ‘truth’, ‘honesty and ‘fearlessness’ in journalism. In his autobiography, Mahatma Gandhi defined the following objectives of the journalists:
“One of the objectives of a newspaper is to understand the popular feelings and give expression to them; another is to arouse among the people certain desirable sentiments, and the third is to fearlessly expose popular defects.”
Editor of ‘Young India’,
and ‘Harijan’ Gandhiji had edited ‘Indian Opinion’ in
The strong belief of our freedom fighters that the power of their pen can challenge the political establishment injected the Indian journalism with a sense of purpose that never weakened and holds ground till date.
National political struggle
alongwith the advocacy of social reforms and emancipation in the years before
independence contributed to the creation of the core strength of the press in
the free
Statistically
the press has grown by leaps and bounds since independence. In the early years
of independence the circulation of dailies was 5.4 per 1,000 populations. From such a low base, India’s daily newspaper
circulation increased from 5,91, 29,000 in 2001 to 7,29,39,000 in 2003 and to
7,86,89,000 in 2005. Recent survey of World Association of Newspaper has placed
Indian democracy has grown and shaped itself radically in the sixty years of independence through various struggles on the path of development. The press has mirrored the march of this journey of democracy.
But let us not forget that media has
major responsibility of functioning as the conscience of the nation. In a
country like
To quote the First Press Commission
“Democratic society lives and grows by accepting ideas, by experimenting with
them, and where necessary, rejecting them. It is necessary, therefore, that as
many as possible of these ideas which its members hold are freely put before
the public. We would, however, emphasize that the right of free expression is
derived from the responsibility for the common good. Acceptance of that
responsibility is the only basis for this right which has been accepted as
fundamental freedom of the press does not mean freedom from responsibility for
its exercise. Democratic freedom in
Over the years there has been
perceptible decline in the values that the free Indian press inherited from its
predecessor. Regional media especially the Hindi press which played a critical
role during
The greatest threat that the Indian press faces at present as a result of the globalization, is market driven economy. Serious decline in news values, lack of interest in real issues, sensationalism, trivialization, profit motive, consumerism are some of the unfortunate characteristics of the press today. Press, it is rightly said has become the other face of entertainment. Mainstream newspapers are increasingly turning to strategies that tend to erode news values and the independence of editorial functioning. Journalists today are more loyal to the market, owners, advertisers rather than to the journalistic ethics. Concerns for the marginalized, less powerful and underprivileged have taken the back seat. Focus today is more on celebrities, sensationalism rather than on issues.
In the words of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, “It is very important for the media to be partner in national mission. They should highlight the positive aspects and provide solutions to difficult aspects through nation wide consultations”
By highlighting the needs and aspiration of the grassroot level of the society the media can truly contribute to the creation of an India where every citizen would be equal and bridge the chasm between the so called elite and the under-privileged and not so fortunate section of the society on the national level.
The
press in
I, invite the media of today to be the torch that shows the way and not the fire that destroys, although both give light.
Let me conclude by recollecting the great thoughts of Swami Vivekananda, “All power is within you, you can do anything and everything. Believe in that, not believe that you are weak. All power is there, stand up and express the divinity within you.”
Namaskar
Mr. Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi*
Hon’ble Speaker of Lok Sabha and our distinguished Chief Guest of the Press Day, Hon’ble Chairman of the Press Council of India, Mr. Justice G N Ray, Shri Ramesh Gupta distinguished guests, friends, ladies and gentlemen:
It really gives me great pleasure and it is an honour for me to address all of you here today.
Clearly, in a democracy the most criticized agency or body is the executive and government. In every democracy, the Information and Broadcasting Minister is also in it and has to face a lot of scrutiny, and that should continue. Therefore, on this National Press Day, I come here with an open heart to address you and to support your cause.
The rights of the media, like any other rights, are enshrined in article 19 of the Constitution of India. Our Constitution provides those rights which are enforceable. If they are not observed, then the writ court has to intervene. This is a very unique system in our parliamentary democracy, in our judiciary, in our legal system.
During my tenure, I found some changes in the Constitution, which added some fundamental duties, which are not obligatory. They are not being enforced, nor being scrutinized or talked about. I am not here to give any advice on that issue.
I must say, I am highly enlightened and educated by the address of the Chairman of the Press Council of India. It is not only educative and illuminating; it sets out a vision for the future.
*Hon’ble
Minister of Information & Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs
During the days of the freedom movement, the Indian Press had played a very crucial role in taking the message of the freedom struggle to the masses and thereby broadening the mass support during the freedom movement. During the occasion of the war of independence, newspaper Tayara Azadi published in Hindi and Urdu asked the people to fight against British rule. The paper was soon confiscated and anyone found with a copy of that paper was prosecuted. The first Hindi daily, Samachar Suddabhasha, newspaper Durmai in Urdu and Sultan Lakhar in Persian faced trials during the national freedom movement. These are part of our freedom struggle and history.
In the struggle against the
Britishers, some newspapers played a very notable role in 1861. The newspaper
Hindu Patriot published a play Neel Darpan, written by the great writer of
The history of the evolution of the
free press in
Kesari was started by Lokmanya Bal
Gangadhar Tilak on
Gandhiji started publication of
Indian during his stay in
One of the foremost Hindi
journalists, who had earned his name for patriotism, was Ganesh Shankar
Vidyarti, whose name we have read in our student days in the classes. In 1913 he brought out Dainik Pratap from
There is not a single province in
The print media has changed beyond
recognition during the last decades. There has been a phenomenal rise in the
number of newspapers and their circulation. The expansion of literacy and
rising quest for information resulted in the rapid growth of newspapers,
weeklies and periodicals. According to the Registrar of Newspapers of India,
65,000 newspapers and periodicals were registered in
The largest number of newspapers and
periodicals registered were in Hindi, almost 25,000. With 10,000 newspapers and periodicals, UP has
the largest number of registered newspapers in the country. I may add, the
reading habit of all kinds of newspapers is substantially more in the villages
and the rural areas than in the urban areas in
In any democracy, the print media
has a vital role in building public opinion by way of dissemination of
information to the public. Uncensored
news, fearless editorial criticism and other articles published in the newspapers
and magazines influence day to day governance of the country to a great
extent. In
Often we talk about a vibrant media. But when we talk about the freedom of the press today, when we talk about the freedom of their rights, I am sorry to say that we all feel depressed. Is it free? Apparently, it is free; yes. Which are the components of the press? The first part is the administration and management, the publisher, the chief proprietor and the accountant. But the real component of the press is the editor, the sub-editor, the principal correspondents, the correspondents and the journalists.
After hard work, if a journalist or a field correspondent prepares a story, how much justice does he get for his talent by the exposure of the story in the real page of the paper? Is it not curtailed, is it not deleted, is it not shortened or truncated? Does it not undergo the desired censor of certain parts by some part of the management at some point of time or the other? Therefore, it is often checked or curtailed. When we talk of the free press, are the journalists free to prepare their story and to present it with all the facts on the editorial page or any other page?
I am not exaggerating. Let us search our hearts today. How many of our journalists feel secure in their profession? How many of them count the days and try to please the management to move from the voucher system to a regular salary? So, we have to talk about these things in the real sense. When we talk of democracy, justice, natural justice, it is not merely in terms of the Constitution, Parliament, Executive and the Judiciary but in terms of what is obtaining in the other spheres;
I can narrate many number of incidents. A friend of mine prepared a whole story, showed it to me and he said I am going to place it before the people. The next day I found him crestfallen, because his entire output was confined to a few lines. He cannot say anything because he would then lose his job.
I remember a journalist, who is no more, I salute him, he was a very important guy in the Indian media industry, who was championing the free press, working hard to defend the rights of the journalists, Chand Joshi and this is the story of The Hindustan Times. I remember many journalists of this type.
Therefore, when we talk of the
freedom of the press and the right of the media, it does not mean the authority
and the right of the management. If the real spirit of the right of the media
pervades in every press of
Here I am not talking of the print media. The print media is very secure. But how many correspondents work in the electronic media with dignity, confidence and talent. But they have no job security. They work on voucher, contractual assignments. Only a few reach the top. The rest languish where they are. I know one journalist, one correspondent of the television. He got only two minutes to present a press meet of mine. His mother was ill and he was not in his best. He could not carry the whole focus in time. He was abused and removed.
Therefore, I tell you, when we talk of the freedom, we talk of the freedom in the right sense, in the right place to all of us. It is not the big proprietors, but the editors and correspondents and other people who develop the newspaper in the right spirit of producing stories and reporting columns truthfully.
I know the Hon’ble Speaker will take his time and deliver the Keynote Address as a Chief Guest. But as the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, I feel pained that immediately after the Question Hour, the press gallery is empty save the UNI and PTI, who stay there just to maintain their names in the role as news channels. Otherwise, they would be losing their jobs and the clients will not get the newsprint.
The press is not bothered about what a member from Nagaland is talking at the fag end of the day at 7 o’ Clock on some crisis in his area on drinking water or supply of electricity. It is never reported. We are not very serious about it. Yet, it is after 12 that we take up very serious issues for discussion in the Assembly or Parliament. But they are not covered even on the 5th page. The unknown hero of Nagaland who is talking at 7 o’ Clock on the crisis in his area is not given any coverage at all. I know this requires re-judgment.
I know the advertisement page is required because they have to meet the cost of establishment. I also know that democracy is not about two big parties. Democracy is not about a few eminent leaders in Parliament and Assembly, whose names appear in the press every day. Democracy means even the smallest of the people should feel involved in the system and the voice of the masses has to be heard. Therefore, I feel that a totally new approach is required in the dissemination of information by journalists at the grass-root level.
I
do not like to say which of the media plays a greater role. I know I have a
question in Parliament tomorrow on
At
the same time, I respect the press in other countries. Some of the journalists
of newspaper Dawn of Pakistan have shown the example of courage to come out
with the factual position of the incidents there. I know that
We always feel that the Press Day belongs to the
press.
Mr. Somnath Chatterjee*
Hon’ble Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Hon’ble Chairman and Distinguished Members of the Press Council, friends from the media, Ladies and Gentlemen:
I deem it an honour to have the opportunity to associate myself with this event, organized by the Press Council of India, to celebrate the National Press Day and to share some of my views with this august gathering on the issue of “Media’s Role as the People’s Voice – Pre and Post Independence”, for which I thank Justice G N Ray, the Chairman, and the members of the Council.
The Press Council of India functions as an interface between the media and the civil society and as a kind of Ombudsman, helping the press conduct itself in a manner consistent with journalistic ethics and with a commitment to societal needs.
Media refers to mass communication, that is communication to people at large. The process of communication can be by different means. In the years before independence, the communication was mainly through newspapers and journals, but that was not the only form. Earlier, when newspapers reached only a limited number of persons those who could read, with literacy then confined to the small percentage of people, mainly in the cities and towns, there were other means like songs. Many patriotic songs like those composed by Gurdev Rabindranath Tagore and Dwijendra Lal Roy in Bengali and Subramania Bharati in Tamil, for example, became extremely popular and were sung by people, mainly students, which inspired the people more than perhaps editorials in newspapers.
There
were also plays written and acted by patriots and freedom lovers, such as IPTA
in
*Hon’ble
Speaker, Lok Sabha
But
the major medium prior to independence was, of course, the newspapers and
journals, and they could be divided into two groups. Many of the latter were in different
languages, some like Sambad Kaumudi being brought out as early as 1821, by Raja
Ram Mohan Roy. The 19th century saw a number of newspapers and
journals published in
During the years of freedom struggle, since the late 18th and early 19th century onwards, many of the newspapers strongly supported the emergence of the liberation movement, forcefully advocated freedom and inspired the people to fight against colonialism and exploitation by the alien rulers, and they provided a platform to the leaders to spread their message as wide as they could reach.
Despite the fact that the reach of these newspapers and journals was much smaller than it is today, it was wide enough for the British to pass a number of laws to restrict the freedom of expression available to these papers. They clearly recognized the effect that the dissemination of the ideas in these papers and journals had on the growing number of educated Indians, and that it was from among these that the leadership of groups of Indians would emerge, and in fact it did. From the Press Regulations promulgated by Lord Wellesley in 1799 to the infamous Press Act of 1857 promulgated, by Lord Canning, which came to be known as the Gagging Act, because of the virtually unfettered powers it give the government to ban or prohibit the publication of practically everything, the supervision of mass communication was under constant scrutiny. Ten years later, in 1867, the government came out with yet another law, the Press and Registration of Books Act, which I believe is still in force. In 1878, Lord Lytton promulgated, The Vernacular Press Act and in 1908 Lord Minto issued The Newspapers (Incitement to Offences) Act that authorized local authorities to take action against the editor of any newspaper that published any matter considered as offence or incitement to an offence.
Then, if we look at the media as communication in pre-independence days, one feature that stands out is that it clearly reflected what was stirring among the people at the time, the restlessness and resentment against foreign rule, witnessed in demonstrations in towns and villages. The latter were put down harshly by the police and armed forces, and the media was controlled by a plethora of laws that were in force.
Nor was the print medium the only one to be so controlled. In 1876, the Dramatic Performances Act was promulgated, which controlled all dramatic performances. It highlighted the British awareness of the effect of theatre as a means of communication, as a medium conveying information.
The other feature that distinguishes the media in pre-independence times is the fact that by and large the owners of newspapers and journals were themselves activists in the one cause that united almost all Indians, the struggle for freedom. From the early days of Raja Ram Mohan Roy to the establishment in Calcutta of Hindu Patriot, which was initially managed by Girish Chandra Ghosh and subsequently edited by Harish Chandra Mukherjee, a paper that systematically wrote on the terrible conditions of the farmers, who were forced to grow indigo for British landowners, to the establishment of papers like Amrita Bazar Patrika, first in Jessore and then other in Calcutta, to the weeklies started by Mahatma Gandhi in 1919, Young India and Navjivan, the founders were involved in one way or the other with the one cause that was foremost in the minds of most Indians. This fusion, if I may call it that, was a remarkable feature of those times.
The dissemination of information, the phenomenon we call mass communication, was seen and accepted to be an aspect of the patriotic fervour of the times. I would like to add a third feature to the nature of pre-independence media, and that is the almost universal courage that was shown by the founder editors of the times, who braved the often savage repression by British authorities for some editorial or article that they had written. Many were jailed, only to come out and resume their activities of presenting their readers with the truth about the struggle for freedom, as well as the conditions that Indians had to suffer in those times.
It has to be borne in mind that the number of papers and journals that were published in those times were small, relative to the present day. Nor were the number of copies of daily newspapers as many as they are now. Given the fact that they were old style machines, where pages were set by hand, the number of copies printed were necessarily modest compared to the million copies being printed by some of the bigger papers published today. But it would be true to say that each copy was read by more people and the effect of what was written in each copy was very profound and inspiring. Gandhiji knew the value of the articles published in Young India and never ever stopped writing for it, except when the presses were seized by the police.
In the pre-independence India, there were two kinds of newspapers and journals, one, if not overtly then covertly, supportive of the colonial power, and another that spoke for the nation’s needs, of the aspirations of the people; that pointed out injustice and oppression and for whom draconian laws were put in place to muzzle them; secondly, those who started, or owned or published or edited these were themselves actively involved in the freedom movement in one way or the other. Though the number of copies and the number of publications were limited, partly because of administrative obstruction and partly because of technological limitations, the effect of what was printed and circulated was profound, even inspirational.
Independence brought with it, within a few years, our Constitution, which has guaranteed freedom of speech and expression to all citizens, and thus the shackles on press freedom were done away with, excepting for the ‘reasonable restrictions’ provided for in article 19(2) of the Constitution,
The
press in
Other factors came into play here; chief among them was the advent of radically new technology, that made it possible to print millions of copies, and set pages on computers, making the production of papers not only fast but more economical. Then the satellite age made it possible to send content from one office to another, so that local editions could be produced simultaneously. The other factor was the burgeoning advertising industry and the enormous amounts it poured into advertising in newspapers and journals—indeed, it is said that today some newspapers can afford to give away their copies free since their main revenue that runs into may be crores daily, comes from advertising, not from sale of papers, as it used to be the case in pre-independence India.
In sections of the press, it appears that now more importance is given to the marketing divisions of the newspapers’ offices than to the editors. It is said that in some newspapers, the marketing divisions decide what will “sell” the paper in terms of news and how they will do it. Thus it is that we are no longer surprised to read on the front page of some leading paper of the eating habits of some personality from the entertainment industry, or someone who has won some much publicized contest of some kind. Sadly, news relating to the condition of the country is relegated to the other pages inside.
But, overshadowing all that has been happening and is happening to the newspapers is the most powerful of all, namely, the television. From a modest beginning to being the handmaiden of the Central Government of the day, television has, since it went into private hands, grown exponentially, especially news channels in English, Hindi and the regional languages. But one has to think whether the development of television, especially television news in the country, has been on the right direction.
Private news channels are not merely news providers. They make no secret of the fact that they are entirely dependent on advertising revenues, and it appears that advertisers have poured enormous amounts into those channels they perceive as getting the larger number of viewers. This has had two effects; one is that in the fierce competition to get more viewer ship, some channels have not scrupled at compromises with the truth. There has recently been an unsavoury incident of a so-called ‘sting’ operation that was shown to be false, perpetrated with the object of blackmailing the victim. Others have taken recourse to making their channels more sensational, and all manner of stories are shown as news. ‘Breaking news’, which usually meant something major that was about to occur, or was occurring just then, is now a regular routine feature of all news channels.
However, I must clarify that we have a number of channels that have always maintained the high standards of journalistic integrity, and have as a consequence retained the trust of the viewers, but again these are not so many.
The basic feature of post-independence media is the change in the nature of ownership. Owning a channel or a newspaper is now seen as a profit-making venture, as indeed it is in all countries where advertising sustains the profitability of a channel or paper. This in itself is not necessarily antithetical to a channel or newspaper’s credibility. There are owners who are committed to their papers and channels, observing the highest standards of journalistic propriety. But, as I have said, they are few in number, and the number of those who see the ‘packaging’ of news as an essential requirement to earning more money seem to be growing.
A feature that merits highlighting is the fact that owing to the single minded obsession with perceived market requirements, those elements of the governance of our country that were at one time considered of vital importance—the proper functioning of the three arms of our democracy, the judiciary, the legislature and the executive—no longer warrant the attention they got in earlier years. They are noticed, by and large, only when there is something of sensationalist value of some event relating to them, not otherwise.
This is not only unfortunate but also undesirable, as the power of the media, especially of television, is very great in influencing perceptions of viewers, and the images that then remain with people in general are not just negative, but incorrect. To give just one example, it is true that the proceedings of Parliament are disrupted more often than is healthy for a democracy, but it is also true that there are debates held in Parliament, and the numerous Committees of Parliament meet regularly and place their reports before Parliament, as they are required to do. But this second aspect is hardly ever mentioned by any newspaper, journal or television channel, which amounts to nothing short of presenting a distorted version of what goes on in Parliament.
The recent comments by one of the most respected members of the Fourth Estate, Shri Kuldip Nayar, merit to be mentioned here. Drawing our attention to the indifferent or inadequate reporting of Parliament in the media he said:
“Serious stories which include the parliamentary proceedings, do not make the grade (for the media). The media has come to believe that people do not want to read anything which makes them think. Today, the print media is suffering from a mad disease, which has played havoc with our newspapers. It is the tabloid syndrome…”
Another respected journalist, Dr. Harish Khare, has drawn our attention to the dangers of trivializing political institutions, when he said: “Of late, we appear to be on the verge of entering a dangerous phase. There seems to be a new arrogance: (that) the government does not deserve to be respected…. The assumption is that the elected representatives of the people cannot be trusted with the public interest, and that it is up to the unelected gods—in the judiciary, the media, civil society, the private sector—to step in and to ‘save the nation.’… Because of a breakdown in the norms of self-restraint among those who fancy themselves as guardians of the constitutional order and public interest, we have produced a script for paralysis”.
Today the newspapers and the private channels cover the stock markets with an obsessive detail but not the details of the debates in Parliament on major policy issues like agriculture or commodity inflation. Thus, debates have ceased to be reported and we have the spectacle of newspapers and news channels spending considerable space and their time, either telling us about the latest developments in the social lives of those who are in the entertainment industry, or some favourite sports persons, or giving unsolicited astrological advice, or covering extra-marital affairs of even ordinary persons sometimes, and bizarre stories from remote corners like snake gods drinking milk in a particular home. Substantial space is provided to cover parties and weddings of the rich and the famous, with great detail than the problems of the farmers or of suicides among them.
Press freedom is not without responsibility; the media just desist from distorted or concocted reporting, highlighting only those aspects of an issue that suits it and making omissions that ought to have been made public. Editorial policy of a newspaper should not be directed by the prejudices of media moguls and media barons. While profit is indeed a motive in the media world, that in itself should not be the sole criterion when it comes to news and views on the issues before the nation.
The increasing level of particular types of content in the print and electronic media is a matter of concern. Today, it appears, the most important page for most mainstream newspapers is the overbearing ‘page 3’. In fact, sometimes I find it difficult to distinguish between page 1 of many newspapers and the famous page 3, which, at times, is only a reference page for all the numerous pages that follow that in the day’s newspaper. It is for the media itself to ponder on the long-term implications of their acts on the society at large. More than ever before, today there is an imperative to strengthen our national fabric and the ideals we cherish like democracy, secularism, pluralism, etc. Unfortunately, of late, we find a tendency among a section of the media to project partisan points of view in the name of dissemination of views, rather than news, which is factual and objective. The glory of the media is in its presentation of information based on truth. Sadly, this basic duty is at times forgotten by sections of the press. Except for some honourable exceptions, today the newspapers’ or the TV Channel’s political leaning and political predilections are well-known and those obviously affect dispassionate presentation of news and also views.
Democracy is unthinkable without a free press, and its success depends to a large extent on the kind of role the media plays as interface between the Parliament and the people. We all know that it was on the basis of disclosures in the media that the Parliament of India was able to take stringent action against some of its Members for their acts of misdemeanour, causing to undermine the credibility of democratic institutions in the country.
Parliament is at the heart of democracy and that being so, it deserves serious attention from all quarters, be it the people, the Executive, the Judiciary, the civil society groups or the media. It is in Parliament that important decisions are taken and the government is made accountable. Therefore, I feel that it is the responsibility of the media to inform and educate people on various issues that are before the Parliament. While trying to express the misdeeds and corrupt practices of the public authorities, including the people’s representatives, the media would do well to report their commendable initiatives and works as well. Giving publicity only to the interruptions, disturbances and adjournments in Parliament, as if nothing else takes place there, gives a distorted picture of our elected representatives and projects Parliament and parliamentarians only negatively and even derogatorily.
It pains me to say that the media hardly gives adequate coverage to the parliament and has failed to project the institution with the respect and seriousness it deserves. I have been requesting the media, whenever I get an opportunity, to correct this imbalance, and I would like to use this platform to appeal to the media once again to give due coverage to all the important works transacted in parliament and its Committees, and not just get obsessed with the disturbances, which no doubt need to be checked and adversely commented upon. We are need to remember that a free media thrives only in a democracy and, therefore, it should be the endeavour of the media also to ensure that cynicism does not pervade the minds of the people vis-a-vis our democratic institutions and it is in the interest of the media that they make efforts to deepen democracy and sustain people’s trust in the system.
It has been a remarkable journey that the media has made, as the voice of the people. That was indeed what it was in the pre-independence days, and what some newspapers and television channels still are today. But, as is mentioned in many quarters, sadly market forces have come into play and it affected the credibility of the media and done it considerable damage, damage that does affect even those dedicated, principled papers and channels that do not stoop to the less desirable means of purveying news and events which they pass as news.
While we can applaud the media for its independence in most matters, it is necessary for all those involved, from newspapers to television channels to the internet news providers, to institute a process of continuous introspection to ensure that they are the most transparent and truthful purveyors of information. I say this because we have come to expect this of our media, and we would like to continue to be as proud of it, as we have been in the past.
In this very challenging task, the Press Council has
a key role to play. It may not need to
have draconian powers—indeed, it should not—but it needs to have the respect of
all newspapers and news channels, and it is for all of them to sit together o
determine how best this can be done. As
we have seen time after time, where law has not been effective, consent has
been. It is time that this matter is
given serious thought by all those who profess to abide by the truth above
everything else.