Dr. Vinod Chandrashekhar Dixit
Every year, 3rd May is observed to mark the fundamental principles of press freedom; to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence, and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession. Freedom of the press or media is the belief that communication to the public through print, television and, these days, the internet should be free of oversight from the government. It is the responsibility of the media to bring forth news and facts that shape public opinion and allow the citizens of a country to exercise their rights.
The right to freedom of speech and expression is not absolute, and it is up to the judiciary to decide when the press is being denied this right and when it cannot exercise it. In other words, if people are to be free, it is the job of the media to ensure that it keeps a watch on those in power, in whose hands that freedom lies. Social responsibility is the obligation to guide one’s actions based on the effect those actions have on society, the economy, culture and the environment.
If we glance at the history of the press in India, we find that it is deeply rooted in the country’s past and had its beginnings under the aegis of the British Raj. During the Indian freedom struggle, 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. These Acts included the Indian Press Act (1910), the Indian Press (Emergency) Act (1931–32), and the Defence of India Act during the Second World War (1939–1945).
With the advent of independence, Indian leaders framed the Constitution of India, which guaranteed certain rights to all citizens as part of a democratic system. While there is no specific provision in the Constitution explicitly mentioning freedom of the press, Article 19(1)(a) guarantees the right to freedom of speech and expression to all citizens. Freedom of the press is deemed to be part of this right. Ideally, this means that communications and expressions in various media cannot be censored by the government.
This day serves as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom. It is also a day of reflection for media professionals on issues of press freedom and professional ethics. For a democracy to function effectively, it must rest on four solid pillars—free and fair elections, protection of human rights, citizen participation, and the rule of law applied equally to everyone.
The theory of social responsibility of the press lies between total authoritarianism and libertarianism. According to this theory, a free press should exist without censorship, but its content should be self-regulated and open to discussion in public forums. There are four pillars that support a functioning democracy—the executive, the legislature, the judiciary, and the press. Of these, the latter two are particularly vital to the proper functioning of a democracy.
Time and again, history has shown that censorship of the press is one of the most common features of a dictatorship. Such censorship may not always be direct or obvious at first. Governments may begin by discrediting the news media and questioning what is being reported.
If members of the press are intimidated, harassed, or discredited without reason, the public loses one of its most important tools for participating effectively in governance. Without freedom of the press, no government can truly be considered “of the people, by the people and for the people.” Unfortunately, recent years have witnessed increasing curbs—both direct and indirect—on the media and its ability to report freely.
To remain truly effective, the press must also remember its responsibility to its audience and to society as a whole, ensuring that its reporting remains rational, balanced, and conscientious.
