National Press Day: Free Press and its significance in today’s world
Our democracy is fundamentally shaped by what we read, hear, and discuss on a daily basis, whether it’s reading the morning newspaper or conversing with friends. A robust democracy is cultivated by having free and open discussions about how things are and how they should change after receiving accurate information about the society in which we live. Additionally, having a free press or independent journalism is crucial.
Independent Journalism or Free Press is considered as one of the four pillars of strong democratic nation. It is often regarded as the voice of voiceless and given power to bring out ills and malaise of the system. It is the direct connecting link between the rulers and the commoners. It is the strength through which the people of the democracy remain knowledgeable and informed in order to make right choice when they vote. Simply put, no democracy is enough without free press.
A free press exists to guarantee that the public has the freedom to receive and disseminate information without interference or in service of any one particular person, group, or interest. In reality, it frequently has a duty to look into those in positions of authority, notably the government, to pose the probing questions and make an effort to learn the truth, regardless of the potential political repercussions.
The freedom of press is often threatened around the world. Some places are worse than others, but even in democracies, press freedom can face many challenges. Being a journalist can be a very dangerous job.
Harassment is very common, especially for female journalists. Stalking, threatening, doxing, and trolling all serve to intimidate journalists and discourage them from working. Harassment can escalate to physical violence and include attacks, bomb threats, stolen equipment, and murder.
Today, whether this protection comes from a constitution or a specific statute, the majority of democracies have some form of free press protection.
The first Press Commission in India suggested the creation of a body with legal jurisdiction to preserve journalistic integrity and freedom in 1956. The Press Council of India was founded by the parliament on July 4, 1966, with people primarily from the business world. It immediately began acting as a moral watchdog to make sure that the press not only upheld the high standards expected of such a potent medium, but also that it was unhindered by the influence or threats of any outside forces.
The body came into action on 16th November, 1966 and this is the reason 16 November is celebrated as National Press Day every year.
The Council works under the press council Act 1978. The structure of PCI consists of a chairman and 28-member committee with a variety of representation from Journalists, News agencies, Media Managers and Members of Parliament. The committee is headed by a chairman who is usually a retired Supreme Court judge selected by a 3-member committee (Speaker of LS, Chairman of RS, a member of PCI). The first chairman of PCI was Justice J. R. Mudholkar. The current (2022) Chairman of PCI is Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai. The Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting is Shri Anurag Thakur.
In order to increase public understanding of the importance of a free, pluralistic, and independent news media in the growth of a democratic society, National Press Day was established. The Press Council hosts a number of seminars, as well as other events and activities, on National Press Day that are focused on the most crucial problems in contemporary media.
The Hon’ble Prime Minister of India and other government representatives wish all journalists a happy National Press Day and applaud their work in providing the voiceless a voice. Additionally, other honours are given to media professionals like reporters, editors, cameramen, and others.
