Essay on Freedom of Press/media for Descriptive Paper

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Introduction

Freedom of the press is the most important wheel of democracy. Without a free press, a democracy cannot exist. In fact, the press is a great medium that conveys the truth to people. It watches those in power to ensure they do not misuse it. And to do so, freedom of the press is required.

However, the freedom of the press is nowhere mentioned in the Indian Constitution. It's believed that the Freedom of Speech and Expression in Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution include the freedom of the press as a fundamental right of every citizen of India.

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History of the press in India

The Indian press has a long history. It started under the aegis of the British Raj/India. During the Indian struggle for freedom, various acts were enacted by the British government to censor press coverage of parties such as the Congress which were at the forefront of the independence movement.

It became the voice of many poets and writers during India's fight for its freedom. Poets/writers with the help of the press helped people across the country to unite and keep motivated for freedom.

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Current position of the Indian press

Although India is considered the largest democracy in the world, the freedom of the press is declining in the country. As per the World Press Freedom Index of 2022, India holds a position of 150 out of 180. This has slipped down eight points from 142 in 2021.

The highest position the country achieved was in 2002 when it was ranked 80 out of 150. Since then there has been an alarming decline. Reporter without Borders, the organization that releases the index, cites growing intolerance and the murders of journalists as the reasons behind this decline.

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Freedom/restriction of the press in India

Freedom of the press means newspapers can print news and views without being censored or barred by any authority. But it does not mean that this freedom is absolute and arbitrary. They cannot publish whatever they wish, rather they should publish things that are constructive for the society or the country and should refrain from publishing any propaganda or biased news.

The limitations are listed in Article 19 (2) and restrict freedom of speech and expression if said freedom interferes with the following:

• Security of the State
• Sovereignty and Integrity of India
• Public Order
• Friendly Relations with Foreign States
• Contempt of Court
• Decency or Morality

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Importance of freedom of the press

Press is called the fourth pillar of a state. Press/newspapers are called the people’s parliament. Today, the right to information is considered one of the fundamental rights of a civilized society.

The press has been given the responsibility of checking and balancing the administration and the government. Whenever there is something wrong in a society or country, the press is the first one to raise a voice.

Moreover, we trust the press to collect, verify and disseminate the facts and figures which influence people’s decisions. If the press won’t have the liberty to do all this, the people will be in the dark.

Hence, the freedom of the press is important for the smooth functioning of democracy and to keep people informed of the affairs going around.

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Responsibility of the press

The press has a huge responsibility on its shoulders. It needs to be vigilant and honest. It has a powerful role to play in any government. The information it distributes helps in shaping the views of the public. It is sometimes more powerful than the government.

Dos	Dons
Maintain transparency in the government	Twisting facts
Revealing the truth in the most acceptable form without creating agitations	Paid/irresponsible news
Expose and challenge both the consensus of government and its people	Sideline real issues
Encourage and criticize to dig out the loopholes and work out the same	Avoid foreign ownership of the press
Build a sense of patriotism for the betterment of the nation without any fear	Avoid dominance by press

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Specific case/example

Hope you remember the Mumbai attack on 26th November when our force surrounded the Taj Hotel, 67 channels were on hand to broadcast it live. Due to this, the terrorists knew exactly what was going on outside and were able to plan their defence accordingly. It was tough for the force to subdue the terrorists and rescue hostages.

After the event, the Supreme Court ruled that the media had been extremely irresponsible and endangered the lives of not only the rescue teams but also the hostages. While freedom of expression is a right, it isn’t without its limitations, and during those fateful days, the news media flagrantly violated those limitations for revenue.

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Conclusion

A free press is like a watchdog in a society or country. Their influence is great, and so is their role. That is why freedom of the press is necessary to know what is right or wrong. Only a free press can ensure people’s access to information and help to build a well-informed, transparent and accountable society.

Unfortunately, press/news media depends on ratings to generate revenue, and they, sometimes, cross moral lines to get both. Therefore, the press, for its part, as a conscientious body of society, should not misuse its freedom.