Freedom is important, so is responsibility. In countries
like India, the media have a responsibility to fight backward ideas such as
casteism and communalism, and help the people fight poverty and other social
evils.
Freedom of the press and journalistic ethics is an important topic today in India — with the word ‘press’ encompassing the electronic media also. There should be a serious discussion on the topic. That discussion should include issues of the responsibilities of the press, since the media have become very prominent and very powerful.
In India, freedom of the press has been treated as part of the freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, vide Brij Bhushan and Another vs. The State of Delhi, AIR 1950 SC 129 and Sakal Papers (P) Ltd vs. Union of India, AIR 1962 SC 305, among others. However, as mentioned in Article 19(2), reasonable restrictions can be placed on this right, in the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the state, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence. Hence, freedom of the media is not an absolute freedom.
Freedom of the press and journalistic ethics is an important topic today in India — with the word ‘press’ encompassing the electronic media also. There should be a serious discussion on the topic. That discussion should include issues of the responsibilities of the press, since the media have become very prominent and very powerful.
In India, freedom of the press has been treated as part of the freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, vide Brij Bhushan and Another vs. The State of Delhi, AIR 1950 SC 129 and Sakal Papers (P) Ltd vs. Union of India, AIR 1962 SC 305, among others. However, as mentioned in Article 19(2), reasonable restrictions can be placed on this right, in the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the state, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence. Hence, freedom of the media is not an absolute freedom.
The importance of the freedom of the press lies in the fact
that for most citizens the prospect of personal familiarity with newsworthy
events is unrealistic. In seeking out news, the media therefore act for the
public at large. It is the means by which people receive free flow of
information and ideas, which is essential to intelligent self-governance, that
is, democracy.
For a proper functioning of democracy it is essential that
citizens are kept informed about news from various parts of the country and
even abroad, because only then can they form rational opinions. A citizen
surely cannot be expected personally to gather news to enable him or her to
form such opinions. Hence, the media play an important role in a democracy and
serve as an agency of the people to gather news for them. It is for this reason
that freedom of the press has been emphasized in all democratic countries,
while it was not permitted in feudal or totalitarian regimes.
In India, the media have played a historical role in
providing information to the people about social and economic evils. The media
have informed the people about the tremendous poverty in the country, the
suicide of farmers in various States, the so-called honor killings in many
places by Khap panchayats, corruption, and so on. For this, the media in India
deserve kudos.
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