OVERVIEW OF PRESS AFTER INDEPENDENCE

Independence on August 15 th, 1947 marked the end of the glorious struggle of the
Indian Press for Freedom, which to great extent was synonymous with the peoples struggle
for the political freedom and the beginning of the new era promising where the Press can
breathe freely. Most of the Proprietors and the Editors of the nationalist press were directly or
indirectly associated with freedom struggle. The old conflict between the Press and the State
vanished overnight.
The Press creditably adjusted itself to change, even going to the extent of observing
restraints in view of the post partition communal orgy in the sub continent. The Press was
prepared to cooperate with the state in the immense task of maintaining peace and sacrifice
some of the liberties in the matter of factual reports of events. Bearing in mind the need for
harmonious relations between the various sections of the people and the paramount obligation
of he press to contribute in a positive way to the restoration and the maintenance of peaceful
conditions in the country the AINEC in October 1947 framed the Seven-Point Code for the
Press. However, the Provincial Press committees were free to come any working
arrangements, not, inconsistent with seven point code, with the provincial governments.
The new code was recommended throughout the country and replaces the previous
codes. The editors were requested to put their full effect on the given code and hoped that
Provincial Press Advisory Committees and provincial governments would treat the new code
as the basis of their dealings with the Press so far as the present emergency concerned.
The country experienced a great trauma when Gandhiji fell into the bullets of
Nathuram Vinita Godse in Birla House, Delhi on January 30 th 1948, the first political
assassination in free India, and that too of the apostle of non violence sent shock waves
throughout the world. The Indian Press rose to the occasion as one man to condemn this
dastardly act and demonstrated its maturity in paying homage to the departed great in a
befitting manner. However, Gandhis death had a salutary effect on the communallysurcharged atmosphere in the subcontinent which cased to some extent.

GENEVA CONFERENCE
A very important event during the year, so far as the Press was concerned, the UN conference
on the freedom of Information was held in Geneva in March-April, 1948. This conference
was in pursuance of the resolution passed in February, 1946 by the General Assembly of the
UN that the latter could not achieve the purpose for which it was created unless the people of
the world were fully informed of its aims and activities that freedom of information was a
fundamental human right.
The conference passed 43 resolutions and three Conventions on (a) freedom of information
(b) gathering and international transmission of news and (c) the institution of an international
right of correction of the false and distorted reports likely to injure the friendly relationship
between the states. Apart from the freedom of expression the conference also discussed the
shortage of newsprints, improvement of national news agencies, and the difficulties in regard
to the supply and improvement of the physical facilities due to distinction between soft and
hard currencies.
The conference considered the need for a Code of Conduct for the Journalists and the
requisite machinery for its implementation it preferred to refer the question to United Nations
Sub-Committee on Freedom of Information and the Press. In view of the fact that freedom of
information carried with it duties and responsibilities the conference laid down that the
freedom would be subject to necessary penalties, liabilities and the restrictions clearly
defined by the law.
INDIA-PAKISTAN AGREEMENT
An inter-dominion conference was held in May 1948 at Calcutta to discuss certain
outstanding issues affecting both Pakistan and Indian Union. An agreement was arrived at
which it is said that both Governments recognize that whole-hearted cooperation of the press
is essential for creating a better atmosphere and, therefore agree that every effort should be
made in consultation of the representatives of the press.
The AINEC President whole-heartedly endorsed the three points put forth in the conference
and called upon the editors to make their best effort to see that their newspaper conform to

the principles enunciated in those points. A revised agreement arrived in the inter dominion
conference in New Delhi, April 1948 after the conference held in December. This agreement
covered the media of books, broadcasts and film with special stress on the need for
discouraging propaganda for the amalgamation of India and Pakistan or of portions thereof
warmongering.
The government of India had set up an Enquiry Committee to report on the Press Laws in
force in the country. The committee was directed to review the Press Laws of India and
recommended repeal of the press and incorporated certain provisions. The press and the new
rulers bonding did not last long as latter lost no time to show their teeth as true of the
oppressive alien rulers. After constant struggle freedom of Press was framed as freedom of
speech and expression as one among the fundamental rights, special provisions were given.
But still reasonable restrictions curbed the rights of the press as the court had supreme power
apart from law. In 1963, a further amendment provided for restrictions in the interest of
sovereignty and integrity of the country. This amendment was protested by the Journalists
and votaries of press freedom. The AINEC, at its session in Bombay on June 24 th,1951
adopted resolutions condemning the amendment as threat to freedom of expression and called
upon newspaper or the country to suspend the publication on July 12. It called upon every
candidate standing for the election to pledge to work and secure the repeal of the amendment
of the Constitution. The Supreme Court turned down to these contentions.
CHINESE AGGRESSION
During the Chinese aggression in 1962 the government proclaimed emergency which was
followed by the Defence ordinance. The ordinance was embodied in the Defence of India Act
on December 12, 1962 which empowered the Central government to make rules in respect of
number of matters. A Press Council was set up in 1966 under the Press Council Act, 1965
enacted in implementation of the Press Commission recommendations. The object of
establishing the council was to preserve the freedom of the press and to maintain and improve
the standards of newspaper in India. The Pres Council Act was followed by the enactment of
the measures affecting the press.
During 1971 the newspaper industry also recorded a fast growth. The number of newspaper
in the country increased from 8026 in 1960 to 11036. The number of daily newspaper had

gone up from 465 in 1960 to 695 with a circulation of 82.99 lakh and improvement of about
8.1 %over the previous year and India remained second largest publisher of daily newspaper
in the world. After the split in the Janata party, during the emergency period the leaders of the
press freedom started threatening the press after coming to powers. The attention of the Press
Council of India was drawn by allegations that the press in the Country was under increasing
pressure from political leaders and that a climate of intolerance was being fostered in the
country.
The Press Council was most anxious that the Press should be complexly objective and
responsible in its reporting, such statements coming from prominent leaders are bound to
have demoralizing effect on the newsmen in particular and the press in general and are likely
to inhibit the Journalists in reporting various events and news freely and objectively apart
from expressing legitimate and bonafide comments.
The Press Commission emphasized on the need for the requirement for expansion of training
and research centers in Journalism and recommended for professional course at high
standards for each university. A national council for Journalism Training and communication
Research might be sponsored jointly by the organizations of newspaper publishers and
editors, Press Council and the proposed Newspaper Development Commission with support
from AIR \ Doordarshan. The other important recommendations are as follows:ROLE OF THE PRESS
The role of the press in the developing and the democratic society should neither be that of an
adversary nor an ally of the government. A free press should be in our view a constructive
critic. Editors should insist on their right to have final say in the acceptance or rejection of
advertisements, its contents specially those which border on or cross the line of decency and
obscenity, legitimate claims for a product or services and also to the proportions of the space
devoted to them.
CONSTITUTION AND LAWS
Journalism is not merely an industry; it is public service and a profession. The Press has a
social responsibility and accountability to the public. Power of pre censorship should be

invoked only in case of extreme necessity in the national interest. Freedom of the press is
essential that the privileges of Parliament and State Legislatures should be in codified as early
as possible.
PRESSURE ON THE PRESS
Political parties and the trade union leaders should not utilize them for political reasons. The
press was able to resist not only external pressure but also inducements which would
undermine its independence from within. Journalists should guard against the temptations to
enjoy favors, whether from Government authorities, employers, advertisers or others.
RIGHT TO PRIVACY
The Press Council could appropriately be entrusted with task of taking cognize of complaints
of unfair publication relating to matters concerning privacy. The Press should not be unduly
inhibited in performing its important function of giving news that may pander to prurient or
morbid curiosity.
THE PRESS AS A PUBLIC UTILITY
A journalist who sells or is a party to selling news that he knows to be false or only partly true
or who trims opinions so as to make them palatable is more guilty than a tradesman who
gives short weight or a manufacturer who adulterated goods. Journalism as the basis of the
newspaper industry holds a special position because of its raw material is really the public
mind and its trades chiefly in moral values.

Newspapers today are working highly competitive environment. Revolutionary changes in

the technology of information, communication and printing are taking place. The cost of
various inputs of publications of newspaper is going up. These factors severely affect the
circulation, quality and financial viability of newspapers, to maintain their economic
condition at a present level with expectations of growth at a reasonable rate, the newspaper
have perforce to adopt the most modern technology in communication and printing
requirement huge investment.