National Press Day 2021: Theme & History | India Rank in Press Freedom

Today i.e. on November 16, National Press Day is celebrated every year. This day is dedicated to the independent and responsible journalism of India. Also, this day also tells the importance of the media. The press also played a major role for India’s independence. It plays a very important role in our life. Today there is a Press Council or Media Council in about 50 countries in the world. On the other hand, the Press in India has been called ‘Watchdog’ and the Press Council of India as ‘Moral Watchdog’. National Press Day draws our attention to the freedom and responsibilities of the press. At the same time, the media is also called the fourth pillar of democracy.

The First Press Commission envisioned a Press Council for and to protect the freedom of the press in India. After which the Press Council was established in India on 4 July 1966, although it was on 16 November 1966 that it was started by Yeh Prem. Since then, every year this day (November 16) is celebrated as ‘National Press Day’.

‘Dangerous Country for Journalists’, India’s Press Freedom Rank is 142, IT Rules Make it Worse

In April, the index squarely blamed PM Modi and Hindutva activists for creating an environment of intimidation for journalists in India.#NationalPressDay https://t.co/fwykaSi1Cf

- The Wire (@thewire_in) November 16, 2021

The ‘National Press Day’ provides an opportunity to the journalists to rededicate themselves to the cause of empowering them. Apart from this, the purpose of the Press Council was to preserve and maintain the freedom of the press in the country and help protect the high standards of journalism.

Media is one such medium through which all kinds of news are conveyed to the people. which is important to them. The media is considered both as the ‘mirror and lamp of the society’. Whether it is newsworthy media, news channel or web media, they are basically considered to be the mirror of the society. The work of such a mirror is to show everything clearly, similarly the work of these media is to show the exact pictures of the society.

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But sometimes the media also starts doing that work which is not right for the society. As an inverted, unreal, imaginary and distorted picture of society is seen. The Press Council of India has also said in its report that “the press in India has committed more mistakes and there are more complaints against the press than the officials.”

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It was established on November 16, 1966. It is a statutory and quasi-judicial body. The Press Council of India ensures independent work and high standards of the press in India.

It also ensures that the press in India is not affected by any external affairs. Press Council of India plays an important role to maintain a healthy democracy in the country.

The field of journalism has become very broad. Through journalism, information related to political, social, informational, educational and many other fields is delivered to the people. With the passage of time, a lot has changed in the field of journalism. The advent of the Internet has brought a lot of revolution in the field of journalism.

The tendency to create sensationalism by distorting the facts has started increasing in journalism today. For this reason, many small journalists run their own news website and news channel online so that correct and positive information can reach the people. In the present time, if you see, it will seem that the big news channels are run by political parties because these channels are engaged in their praise from morning till evening.

• Freedom of the press is not explicitly protected by the Indian legal system, but it is protected under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, which states — “Freedom of speech and expression to all citizens”. will have the right”.
• In the year 1950, in Romesh Thapar v State of Madras, the Supreme Court found that the foundation of all democratic organizations is based on the freedom of the press.
• However, the freedom of the press is also not unlimited. The law can impose only those restrictions on the exercise of this right, which are as follows under Article 19(2)-
• Matters relating to the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency or morality or the promotion of defamation or offenses relating to contempt of court.

Originally published at https://samacharkhabar.com on November 16, 2021.