How free is Indian Press?

The freedom of press in a country can be defined as: Journalists are able to do their work without being subject to intimidation or actual violence, and able to report freely without censorship. Article 19(1)

Being a journalist has certain privileges such as:

1) Better access to public events, crime scenes and press conferences

2) Interview public officials, celebrities and those in the public eye.

3) Being socially responsible and being proud of delivering news important to people.

However, sometimes journalists have a hard time publishing the news. There are instances where they are:

1) Brutally attacked or murdered during research or after publishing provoking material.

2) Risk their life while covering issues in a conflict regions.

3) Cannot enter certain areas that are under curfew.

4) Equipment such as camera and light gets damaged if involved in violence; hence problem arises in broadcasting the news.

5) Misled, lured, and threatened by pressure groups like political parties or strong businessmen to publish a certain kind of news.

6) Material written by the editor is censored or fabricated by the editor or higher management as it has to live up to a certain image.

7) Risk their life by going undercover while investigating big cases.

Media organizations need to operate under the following framework:

1) To ensure respect for the rights and reputations of others (anti-defamation).

2) To protect national security, order public (the circumstances necessary to keep a state governable), public health or morals.

3) To prevent incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence.

India records 27 deaths of working journalists in the last two decades, making it a fairly dangerous country to practice the profession. According to Committee to Protect Journalists, a total of 864 journalists have been killed since 1992 around the world. India is one of the 13 risky countries where journalists are murdered on a recurring basis and governments are unable or unwilling to do anything about it. Other nations include Iraq, Somalia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Colombia, Afghanistan, Nepal, Mexico, Russia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Brazil.

Indian press can be termed as independent, but not entirely free. The government tries to censor, corporate try to influence and politicians try to manipulate the consumers of Indian press. Conflict areas such as the Northeast, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Kashmir, terming press as free is ridiculous. The reason being, reporters are harassed, their equipment damaged, they are not allowed to access curfew areas or print any wrongdoings by the military or political force.

A restriction in press indicates that government resists monitoring healthy democracy, government accountability and economic development in the eyes of public. The Indian media form a decentralized and non-conspirational but nonetheless a very powerful propaganda system. It is able to mobilize an elite consensus, frame public debate within elite perspectives and at the same time give the appearance of democratic consent.

Here are some of the factors that influence the freedom of press:

1) Ownership- Most major media houses are owned by large corporations which are primarily interested in profit making. So they try to influence public opinion and policy making in their favor which in-turn helps them maintain their power and maximize profits. 

Example: India Today which used to be the only national weekly who supported BJP is now bought by NDTV and since then the tone has changed drastically and turned into Hindu bashing.

Industrialists who influence the media paint public movements such a strikes a bad thing, according to them, this breaks harmony for the working of industries. Requirements of the laborers are given no importance.

2) Political Parties- the press here has abdicated its rightful role as the guardian of democracy.  However sometimes they stray away from its duties. Many political parties and leaders flock newspapers especially regional ones to propagate their views to a larger audience. While paying a generous amount, they manage to publish news in their favor. Political parties have a huge influence on newspapers as they can also make or break them.

Example: A leading Punjabi newspaper called The Tribune was blacklisted as it criticized the governing of the then Chief Minister.

3) Government- The news media are dependent on government institutions and major businesses with strong biases as sources for much of their information. Government press conferences, press reports, and official figures such as death tolls given by the government, themselves serve as a filter for raw news.

Example: Death toll of the civilians killed by the Indian military in Kashmir is far more in reality as compared to the information provided by the government.

4) Advertisers- Advertisements are the backbone of newspaper’s economy. Majority of their funding derives from advertising and not readers. Since they are a profit-oriented business selling a product to readers, advertisers expect them to publish news which would reflect their desires and values.

Example: The Economic Times posing Times Now as the no. 1 news channel in an advertisement since both are owned by one major company. This is an example of both ownership and free space for advertising.

5) Paid News- Those articles in newspapers and magazines which publish positive news for the institution that has paid for it is known as paid news. This is considered as a serious malpractice as it deceives readers of the actual content influencing them of otherwise; at the same time violate tax laws and election spending laws.

Example: Reams of favorable news was published for Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan during elections. He declared that he spent just Rs 11,379 on advertising but tacitly additional sums would have been paid by either his party or his well-wishers.

6) Bias- Mental blocks and preconceived notions which get in the way of a journalist while reporting knowingly or unknowingly is known as bias. This is done when certain news and event stories are give more weight age over others or given no coverage at all.

Example: Times of India always glorifies the image of Rahul Gandhi as it is a supporter of the Congress party, whereas Indian Express is a pro-BJP establishment.

Basic human rights and democratic censorship drives the news media for the freedom of press and expression. The press acts as a powerful cornerstone of a democracy and India being a highly mixed society, it is responsible to propagate ideas, build opinions and various regional, national and international issues. It is also a hope for correction, watchdog for society and a knowledge provider of the society. However, it comes with a few flaws of its own.

Communication clean of influences and malice should be strived for however one cannot ignore the pressures of various groups trying to run news in their favor. The Indian audience is fairly equipped with voicing their demands and opinions. Those who consume the media in large doses have become a fair judge in deciding what is wrong and right. Yes, the press does influence its readers but not to an extend as the direct environment influences.

Censorship or no-censorship, I feel the freedom of press in India is fairly balanced. Either way, a press house cannot survive without owners, government and advertisers. The press institution is bound to be controlled and abused, at the end of the day, which institution isn’t? Hence, the freedom of press recognized under the constitution has to be exercised within reasonable boundaries.