Unit I

Concept of Freedom of Press.

Press as a Fourth Estate.

Press during Emergency.
Public and Private media.
Comparative freedom for media in-USA, India
and Non - aligned countries.

Prashanth V

Concept of Freedom of Press

DEFINITION
According to Ordinary meaning..
Freedom of press is not an end in itself but a means to the end of
achieving a free society
OR
According to The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
"Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression;
this right includes freedom to hold opinions without
interference, and impart information and ideas through any
media regardless of frontiers"

Concept of Freedom of Press

The freedom of expression is part of the fundamental rights guaranteed to
a citizen of India, under part -III of the constitution.
The Indian Constitution, while not mentioning the word "press", provides
for "the right to freedom of speech and expression" (Article 19(1) a).
However this right is subject to restrictions under sub clause (2), whereby
this freedom can be restricted for reasons of "sovereignty and integrity
of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States,
public order, preserving decency, preserving morality, in relation to
contempt of court.
The Press in India has a dual nature. It is an extension of the individual's
right to expression of thoughts. It is also seen as a businesses enterprise
and is therefore regulated by laws of commerce, taxation, employment etc.

Concept of Freedom of Press.

The media is a powerful institution that can act as a necessary instrument of communication.

To the extent that the media is independent of government it can also have the capacity
to act as a powerful critic of government.

Media has been increasingly challenged as an institution that frequently abuses its
power, invading peoples privacy and undermining personal freedom.

Freedom of Press or Media Freedom is the immunity of the communications media

including newspapers, books, periodicals, radio, and television from government
control or censorship.

Media Freedom is a guarantee by a government to the media or

press for its citizens and their associations, extended to members
of news-gathering organizations and journalists, and their
published reporting.

In many countries there are constitutional or statutory protections pertaining to media

freedom or freedom of the press.

Concept of Freedom of Press

Media freedom, although generally regarded as a constituent (integral) of
democracy, does not have the same meaning everywhere in the world.
Differences in the understanding of media freedom exist, even among the West
European democracies or between Western Europe and the United States.
The principle of freedom of the press (or Media Freedom) as a constraint on
government actions against the press can differ from the amount of freedom the
press actually exercises at a given time.

On the one hand, various social, political, and economic forces may serve to
make the press freer, in fact, than it is in law.

Conversely, those same forces may substantially curtail the exercise of a legal
freedom. It could be seen that the government control on the media freedom is
always subject to political, legal, or constitutional constraints.

History of Media Freedom

Media Freedom, which has been limited not only by governments but at times
by churches, It is absolute in no country.
From the earliest times, in the West, persecution for the expression of opinion
even in matters relating to science or philosophy was resorted to by both the
Church and the State, to suppress alleged heresy, corruption of the youth or
sedition.
In the late 15th century, after the invention of printing press, licensing and
censorship rules came as restraints.
In the 17th century the appearance of newspapers demonstrated how
powerful the Press was as a medium of expression.
Newspapers came to take up the cause of Opposition against monarchical
absolutism, there followed different methods of suppression.

History of Media Freedom

The origin of the concept of freedom of the press took
place in England.
In England, the appearance of unauthorised publications resulted
in a royal proclamation (1534) requiring prepublication licensing.
Stronger restrictive measures were taken by the later Tudor and
Stuart monarchs, and censorship came to be applied more to
political criticism than religious heresy.
John Milton, in his Areopagitica (1644), attacked the licensing law
and called on Parliament to suppress offensive publications after
their appearance if necessary.

History of Media Freedom

Miltons objections to prior restraint eventually became a cornerstone of press freedom,

but it was not until 1695 that the licensing and censorship laws were abolished.

Severe restrictions on the press continued, however, in the form of seditious, libel laws
under which the government was able to arrest and punish any printer who published
material in any way critical of the government.

However, there was no clear definition of what constituted a seditious libel.

Since the 18th century the press in Britain has been relatively free from state interference.

During that time the printing of parliamentary debates had to be disguised as debates
between classical figures. At this time, both true and false criticism of the government
was considered a libel. In fact, the legal doctrine proclaimed that the greater the truth
the greater the libel. Only in the mid-19th century truth was admissible as a defence in
English libel cases.

History of Media Freedom

The struggle for freedom of the Press had its greatest triumph when it came to be guaranteed
by a written Constitution, as a fundamental right. Countries with written constitutions
frequently contain special protection for press freedom.

In the United States the First Amendment gives constitutional status to press freedom.

This means that writers, journalists, and publishers can criticize government and are
free from censorship.

Before that the 1776 Virginia Bill of Rights stated, Freedom of the press is one of the great

bulwarks of liberty, and can never be restrained by despotic (authoritarian) governments.

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms also gives constitutional protection to the press.

The United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand also have specific legislation that protects
freedom of information to ensure openness and facilitate press coverage of important issues and events.

The European Convention on Human Rights, under Article 10, protects the freedom to receive and
impart information and ideas without interference by public authority.

As a signatory to this treaty, most of the countries are likely to become increasingly
influenced by constitutional protections for freedom of the press.

In India-Concept of Freedom of Press

In India, prior to independence, there were no fundamental
rights and therefore there was no guarantee of the freedom of
expression or of the Press.
In the first sixty years of independence, media control by the state
was the major constraint on press freedom in India.
The Constitution of India, while not mentioning the word press,
provides for the right to freedom of speech and expression
under Article 19(1)(a).

In India-Concept of Freedom of Press

The Supreme Court of India lost no time in declaring that the freedom of the Press
was included in that guarantee as early as 1950.

However, this right is subject to Reasonable Restrictions under Article19(2),

whereby this freedom can be restricted for reasons of sovereignty and integrity of
India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order,
preserving decency, preserving morality, in relation to contempt of court,
defamation, or incitement to an offence.

The Reasonableness of Restrictions, however, are not defined in the Constitution.

Laws such as the Official Secrets Act and Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) have
also been used to limit press freedom.

Under POTA, a person could be detained for up to six months for being in contact
with a terrorist or terrorist group. POTA was repealed in 2006, but the Official
Secrets Act, 1923 continues.

PRESS FREEDOM INDEX

The country with the Highest degree of press freedom was
Finland
Iceland
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden

PRESS FREEDOM INDEX

The country with the Lowest degree of press freedom was
Eritrea
North Korea
Turkmenistan
Iran
Myanmar (Burma)
Find out INDIAs Position ???

Press
as
A Fourth Estate

Six estates of Society

What is the role of the free press in strengthening

democracy, good governance, and human development?
The guarantee of freedom of expression and information is recognized as a basic
human right in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the UN in
1948, the European Convention on Human Rights, the American Convention on
Human Rights, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.
In particular, Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights states:
"Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression;
this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek,
receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of
frontiers.

The core claim is that, in the first stage,

The initial transition from autocracy opens up the
state control of the media to private ownership,
Diffuses access, and
Reduces official censorship and
Government control of information.

The public thereby receives greater exposure to a

wider variety of cultural products and ideas through
access to multiple radio and TV channels, as well as
the diffusion of new technologies such as the
Internet and mobile telephones.

Second Stage
Once media liberalization has commenced, in the second stage
democratic consolidation is strengthened,
where journalists is independent,
Newspapers, radio and television stations facilitate greater
transparency and accountability in governance, by serving in
their watch-dog roles to deter corruption and malfeasance,
as well as providing a civic forum for multiple voices in public
debate, and highlighting problems to inform the policy agenda.
a free press is valuable for democracy, for good governance,
and for human development.

Examples:
All new programs for development
New policies for development
Rescue programs during famine and national tragedy
Many more

The roles of the news media as

watch-dog,
civic forum,
and agenda-setter

Lerner, Lipset, Pye, Cutright and others, suggested the

diffusion of mass communications In the late 1950s and early 1960s, early modernization theories assumed a

fairly simple and unproblematic relationship between the spread of access

to modern forms of mass communications, economic development, and the
process of democratization.

Accounts offered by represented one sequential step in the development

process. In this view, urbanization and the spread of literacy lead to growing
access to modern technologies such as telephones, newspapers, radios and
television, all of which laid the basis for an informed citizenry able to
participate effectively in political affairs.

Daniel Lerner theorized

capacity to read,
at first acquired
by relatively few
people

This, in turn,
accelerates the
spread of
literacy.

does a society begin

to produce
newspapers, radio
networks, and
motion pictures on a
massive scale

equips them to
perform the
varied tasks
required in the
modernizing
society

the elaborate
technology of
industrial
development is
fairly well advanced

The role of journalists as watchdogs of the powerful

In their watchdog role, the channels of the news media can function to
promote government transparency,
accountability, and
public scrutiny of decision-makers in power,
by highlighting policy failures,
maladministration by public officials,
corruption in the judiciary, and scandals in the corporate sector.
Edmund Burke, the fourth estate has traditionally been regarded as
one of the classic checks and balances in the division of powers.

Investigative journalism can open the governments record to external

scrutiny and critical evaluation, and hold authorities accountable for
their actions, whether public sector institutions, non-profit
organizations, or private companies.

Example:
Taiwan free from corruption,
Brunetti and Weder, amongst others, found that there was less
corruption in nations with a free press.
Media freedom organizations demonstrate that each year dozens
of media professionals are killed or injured in the course of their
work.
In Colombia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Zimbabwe and Egypt, for
example, many journalists, broadcasters and editors have
experienced intimidation or harassment,
while journalists in many parts of the world face the daily threat of
personal danger from wars or imprisonment by the security
services.

The role of the news media as civic forum

Equally vital, in their civic forum role, the free press can strengthen the public
sphere, by mediating between citizens and the state, facilitating debate about
the major issues of the day, and informing the public about party leadership,
political issues, and government actions.
Ex: Election Campaign as balanced and open access to the airwaves by
opposition parties, candidates and groups is critical for competitive and fair
multiparty contests.
Contemporary observers caution that the quality of democracy still remains
limited where state ownership of television has been replaced by private
oligopolies and crony capitalism,

for example in nations such as Russia, Brazil and Peru which have failed to create fully-independent
and pluralistic media systems. Broadcasting cartels, coupled with the failure of regulatory reform,
legal policies which restrict critical reporting, and uneven journalistic standards, can all limit the
role of the media in its civic forum or watch-dog roles.

Agenda Setting

the news media also functions as an agenda-setter

providing information about urgent social problems and thereby channeling
citizens concerns to decision-makers in government. Particularly in cases of
natural disaster, public officials often suffer from a breakdown in the usual
channels of communication.
Poor internal communications among official agencies can hinder the delivery
of effective emergency relief, so that timely and accurate information about
the scope and nature of any disaster is vital as the first step in any effective
official response.
Similar observations can be made concerning reporting about social issues
such as the extent of any food shortages, the spread of diseases such as HIVAIDS, or problems of crime and violence.

In these situations, independent journalists can act as a vital conduit for

decision-makers, helping to make governments more responsive to the needs
of the people.

The
Construction And Destruction
Of
A Country
Depends on Medias role

Press during Emergency

Press during Emergency

In June, 1975, Indira Gandhi's government declared a state of emergency and
suspended civil liberties. Immediately after this declaration, the government
tightened its controls on the Indian mass media, especially on the newspapers
which had reputations of being free and lively.
On March of 1977, a new government, with Morarji Desai as the prime
minister, took over the political power. During the campaign, Desai and the
other leaders of his coalition made pledges to the electorate that they would
restore civil liberties and freedom of the press as soon as they achieved
leadership of the nation.

Indira Gandhi and the Death of the Free Indian Press

However, several incidents that occurred during Indira gandhi's
reign indicated that the country was drifting away from
parliamentary democracy.
The declaration of a national emergency, which is justified
under the Indian Constitution, lasted for about 19 months.
The emergency was declared as a result of mounting political
pressure exerted upon the government from opposing political
parties which were striving to fight corruption, inflation and
economic chaos in the country.

Cont
Indira Gandhi's government, rather than taking this as a political
challenge, resorted to declaring a national emergency and
imprisoning the opposition party leaders, including all dissenting
voices from the media.
The fundamental rights of the Indian people were suspended, and
strict controls were imposed on freedom of speech and press.
Indira Gandhi's government use the "security of the state" and
promotion of disaffection" as its defense for imposing strict
control on the press. And with the airwaves already under
government ownership, Indira Gandhi successfully controlled the
mass communication system in India for over a year and a half.

Entire Print Media was controlled

Two tough, prominent publishers of English language dailies, The
Indian Express and The Statesman, fought courageously against
Indira Gandhi's opposition of the Indian press.
Despite some bold fights and stubborn stands taken up by these
publishers, its was quite clear that Indira Gandhi had as strong a
grip on the Indian press as she had on Indian politics, at least
during the government-imposed emergency.
For Mahatma Gandhi, freedom of the press was "a dear privilege.
"He urged the editors to express their ideas fearlessly:
We must devised methods of circulating our ideas unless and until the whole press
becomes fearless, defies consequences and publishes ideas, even when it is in
disagreement with them, just for the purpose of securing that freedom ... It is a
negation of one's calling for an editor to have suppressed his best thoughts.

Methods of Press Control: Indira's Way

Like other dictators in history, Indira Gandhi's first attempt was to
impose "thought control" on the populous. For her, this was to be
effectuated not merely by controlling the Indian mass media but also by
moulding the media to her own purpose.
This was especially true since radio and television in India are
government owned and operated; for Indira, there was the simple
matter of controlling the newspapers in order to achieve a total control
of the mass media.
She used at least three methods in manipulating the newspapers:
(1) allocation of government advertising;
(2) shotgun merger of the news agencies; and
(3) use of fear-arousal techniques on newspaper publishers, journalists and
individual shareholders.

Example:
For example, the government-owned Post and Telegraph Department ordered to
impose a suspension of services to the United News of India if it resisted the
merger.
A third and an equally effective method applied by Indira Gandhi was to use feararousal techniques on the newspaper publishers, editors, reporters and
shareholders.
Such techniques were imposed by making false charges with regard to tax
arrears, possible reductions in new spring quotas,
imprisonment of publishers and their immediate families, threats of shutting
down the press, and removal of governmental housing and other facilities for
Delhi-based journalist,

Indira Gandhi's justification

Indira Gandhi's justification for the repression of the Indian mass media was
based on three major assumptions.

(1) economic productivity and social justice are more important than civil
liberties and freedom of expression:

(2) the press in India was acting in a manner that seriously hindered the state
in its efforts to promote economic productivity and social justice; and
(3) a drastic contraction of civil liberties and press rights will advance the
state's ability to promote those causes.

Restructuring the Mass Media: From Indira to Morarji

Soon after the government of Prime Minister Morarji Desai
(popularly known as "Janta Party" government) took over the
political power in India, it announced three distinct steps toward
restoring freedom of the Indian mass media.

These were:
(1) to establish a committee to study misuse of mass media during the
internal emergency;
(2) to establish a working group to study the question of converting All
India Radio and Doordarshan (television) into autonomous
institutions; and
(3) to establish a committee to study the feasibility of restructuring
the existing news agency(Samachar).

Assignment

What comes in Your mind when you

hear Public and Private media ?
Write Five Difference between Govt.
And Private Media ?
Whose News You Trust ? And Who
Owns the media ???

Public and Private Media

Debate
As a common man what you want from
Journalist.
As a Journalist what you like to give out for
common man.

Debate on the constrains of the Journalist.

Intro
As people need food, shelter and health care for their physical survival, they
need communication for their social welfare.
Moreover, for their human dignity people need factors that are intrinsic to
genuine democracy; reason, responsibility, mutual respect, freedom of
expression, and freedom of conscience, all of which are mediated by
communication.
The media facilitate this process by providing an arena for public debate and
by reconstituting private citizens as a public body in the form of public
opinion.
It is also necessary to make a public communication an integral part of
democracy.
People should have free access to the knowledge and information they
require, they should be able to discuss matters of public interest with their
equals in order to influence actions taken. Otherwise there can be no
genuine participation.

Intro
We live in changing times.

Significant political and economic developments and

innovations in the field of communication technology towards
the end of 20th century have left deep impact on many of our
institutions.
Globalization has given a new dimension to the capitalist
economy, has altered the power and functions of the nationstate and created a global village.
These events have provoked a polemical debate on democracy,
the nation-state, citizenship and the role and function of media.

Intro
Mass Media systems of the world vary from each other
according to the economy, polity, religion and culture of
different societies.
In societies, which followed communism and totalitarianism, like
the former USSR and China, there were limitations of what the
media could say about the government.
Almost everything that was said against the State was censored
for fear of revolutions. On the other hand, in countries like USA,
which have a Bourgeois Democracy, almost everything is
allowed.

Intro
Before the invention of communication satellites,
communication was mainly in the form of national
media, basically in the control of Government body .

Then came 'transnational media' with the progress

of communication technologies like Satellite delivery
and ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network), the
outcome: local TV, global films and global
information systems.

Educate, Inform and Entertain

Private television did cause concerns when first lunched.
There were fears that informational TV would be lost and replaced with
entertainment TV.
There were also fears that it would be a threat to the local economy.
Concerns were that overseas programmes would be broadcasted more than
local programmes, taking away money from the local economy.
Private stations do have one major advantage and that is that the public
does not fund it.
This gives more incentive for people to watch private stations.
Public and Private broadcasters both have their good and bad points but
there certainly is means for both broadcasters on the air.

Public V/s Private

This statement is certainly true and explains why the public pays a licensing fee,
to educate and entertain them.

They want to know all that is going on in the world and the public broadcasting
servers are there to bring the latest happenings to them.
Whereas a private broadcaster is not financed by the public and can broadcast
much of what they want, within means of course.
Private broadcasters have freer reign on but also have to make enough money
on advertisements to pay for the station.
A private broadcaster is a commercial station, which wants to draw the biggest
audience, which will promote their advertisements more and therefore adding
more profit for the station. How well a private broadcaster does will determine
how much the company will grow.

Public V/S Private Broadcasting

Public and Private broadcasting are quite different.
A public serving broadcaster is owned and financed by the
public.

This means that the TV license that is paid by us, the public,
finances all of the public serving broadcasters.
A private serving broadcaster is privately owned and they have
to finance themselves through advertisements.
This means because the public is not paying the station, they
can broadcast much more than the public broadcaster.

Public Media
Owned by Govt.
Stress more on public service
communication
Is not driven by revenue
considerations
The public media are not dictated
by market forces
The variety of programs is wide
All classical arts are promoted by
the public media.
Public media strictly adhere to the
codes formulated by the govt.
Free to AIR

Private media
Owned by Pvt. parties
Stress more on entertainment
Is driven by revenue
considerations.
Play into the hands of market
forces.
In pvt. Media it is not so.
Whereas they are not the priority
in pvt. As Media as they do not
fetch any commercial revenue.
Pvt. media may not adhere
because they are not licensed by
the govt.
They need to pay,

Some Ground facts

Ex: in the last 3years Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
monitor each and every content. With that they maintain the
record for 3months.
Broadcaster content compliant committee (BCCC), Indian
broadcasters foundations is formed recently within 48years
common man compliant.
Recent recommendation TV content need to bring under TRAI,
which is on pending.
The broadcast bill committee was formed in 1995 during sharat
pawar ministry-ship but not passed because of lobby. (broadcast
control committee)
1. all pvt. channels should use Indian satellite transponder,
2. DTH,
3. Encourage community radio establishment)

Comparative freedom for

Media in-USA, India and Non aligned countries.

What is media?
Some definitions:
Media: An instrument for storing or
communication of information
Or:
An intervening substance through which
signals can travel as a means for
communication

What is media?
The media is a form of communication that comprises of
three ways in which information or data can be delivered:
The broadcast media which is the television and radio
The printed media which the newspapers, magazines
and publishing generally
The so-called new media which is cable, satellite, the
internet and so on

a brief history of the press and the freedom of speech

In 1215 the Magna Carta signed also known as the Charter of Freedoms
In 1516 the book The Education of a Christian Prince was published
In 1644 John Miltons Areopagitica published
1770, a letter written by Voltaire writes, I detest what you write but I
would give my life to make it possible for you to continue to write

a brief history of the press and the freedom of speech

In 1859, John Stuart Mills, On Liberty published as is Darwins controversial On

the Origin of Species

1918-1945 saw two world wars and a rapid rise in the use of media

In 1960, Penguin wins the right to publish Lady Chatterleys Lover

In 1997 the death of Princess Diana

In 2002 a Nigerian journalist writes about the prophet Mohammed leading to riots
and 200 people dead

In 2004 a Dutch film maker is killed for releasing a film about the violence against
women in Islamic societies

Is the media free in todays world?

I fear the newspapers more than a hundred thousand
bayonets (Napoleon Bonaparte)
When communication systems are subject to formal political
control as in states socialist, fascist or authoritarian regimes
the media becomes little more than a propaganda machine
(Heywood, A, Key Concepts in Politics p211)

Is the media free in todays world?

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression;
this right includes freedom to hold opinions without
interference, and impart information and ideas through any
media regardless of frontiers The Universal Declaration of
Human Rights

1
6
7
9
10
11
13
16
17
18
19
20
23
24

25

Denmark
Finland
Ireland
Norway
Sweden
Estonia
Netherlands
Switzerland
Iceland
Lithuania
Belgium
Malta
Austria
Latvia
New Zealand
Australia
Japan
Germany
Canada
Luxembourg
United
Kingdom
United States
of America
Jamaica
Czech
Republic
Cyprus

0,00
0,00
0,00
0,00
0,00
0,50
1,00
1,00
2,00
2,25
2,50
2,50
3,00
3,00
3,00
3,13
3,25
3,50
3,70
4,00
4,00
4,00
4,75
5,00

5,50

Reporters
without
borders:
http://www.rsf.
org/enclassement1003
-2009.html

The BBC
The BBC is the only broadcasting company in the UK publicly owned
The BBC is controlled by a committee which is appointed by the home secretary
This board of governors also appoints a Director General who has day to day control
of the BBC
In 2003, the Iraq Dossier and David Kelly brought fresh allegations of government
control of the BBC
The Question Time appearance of Nick Griffin

Does the media have too much power?

It can be argued that the media exerts too much control over the direction
of the political agenda to suit the interest of the unelected bodies that
control them i.e. Murdoch
They drive agendas i.e. climate change has become trendy, the chief of
Social Services in Haringey was sacked by the home secretary over Baby P,
and the growing popularity in the media of David Cameron and his
fashionable wife

It could be argued it is the press that the public look onto as their
representative holding the government to account not the members of
Parliament

Media Democracy?
The concept of democratising the media has no real meaning within the terms of
the political discourse in the United States.
In fact, the phrase has a paradoxical or even vaguely subversive ring to it.
Citizen participation would be considered an infringement on freedom of the press,
a blow struck against the independence of the media that would distort the
mission they have undertaken to inform the public without fear or favour
this is because the general public must be reduced to its traditional apathy and
obedience, and driven from the arena of political debate and action, if
democracy is to survive (Noam Chomsky)

Introduction
Today, we are living in a world dominated by media. The mass media is
increasingly occupying the central stage in our lives. The mass media has
an iron grip on the imagination as well as thinking faculties of the society.
The programmes and features served by the mass media which instruct
people not only what they should eat, drink and wear and groom them
but also at times misguide them to commit heinous crimes. Mass media
acts as an effective catalyst of change in society.
Mass media which is also called the sword-arm of democracy,
commands awe and respect of nation as well as individuals it is the
most effective instrument which has the potential to bring about the
downfall of the despot rulers of the world. It is the most powerful
investigative machinery that exposes the injustice, oppression,
partiality and misdeeds of society.
In a materialist world of today in which everybody is hankering after
power and prosperity and indulging in every kind of malpractices, it is
media which brings all these things to notice and make public opinion
against them. It creates public awareness.

Intro

In a country like India where the percentage of poverty and illiteracy is high radio serves
as the best means of mass media.

It has unparalleled potential to educate, inform and condition peoples mind.

Through this even the uneducated can have access to the world of knowledge and
information.

It is one of the means of mass media that is useful for both literate and illiterate.

Being the cheapest means as well even a man of low income group can afford it. It has
been found in remote areas of the country that a single radio set serves the entire village.

The mass media serves the society by highlighting the prevalence of such ills as nepotism,
cronyism and corruption in institutions and by carrying on relentless campaign against
them.

It has been instrumental in bringing an end to the oppressive regimes of cruel rulers. It
has unearthed political scandals, kickbacks received by highly placed men.

In India from Hawala to Nether case, role of mass media has been highly commendable.

The worlds largest democracy

remains one of the most restrictive
places for the press.
In a report published, Reporters Without
Borders, a Paris-based non-profit, ranked India
140th out of 180 countries surveyed for the
free speech it affords the media. This was a
one-point jump from the countrys 2013
ranking, when it recorded its steepest fall on
the annual-list since 2002.

Who Threatens Freedom? Owners Structure

Having accepted that the freedom of the Press is of vital
importance especially in our contest, the question arises: is this
freedom threatened and, if so, by whom?
the Press is in danger because of the ownership of the newspaper industry
and the predominance of some newspaper groups and chains.
It is also suggested that the editors and journalists cannot have adequate
freedom of collecting and disseminating facts and offering comments as
they are under the pressure of the capitalist owners.
It is further pointed out that free collection and dissemination of facts is
not possible in the case of newspapers which depend to a large extent on
revenue from advertisements as the advertising interests cannot but
influence the presentation of news and comments.
Unless this whole structure of ownership and control in the newspaper
industry, and also the manner of the economic management of the Press,
is changed, it is therefore suggested, the Press cannot be really free.

How far are these arguments valid?

Groups and chains of newspapers are therefore in a better
position to provide richer fare in their newspapers are bound to
be businessmen/capitalists, and their overall approach to the
society and its problems cannot but be conditioned by this.

That is why we inevitably find that the Press which is

commercially organised-not run by political pro-business, procapitalist as well as usually a pro-Establishment viewpoint.
Few newspapers will endorse a philosophy which goes against
the established they would hardly raise their voice, or even offer
investigative material, about the working of private trade and
industry.

Indian status

In an age of commercialisation and consumerism, the media to some extent, has

deviated from its path of avowed impartiality and clean journalism. They often indulge in
petty means to gain material benefits, i.e. to boost their sales. At times, what most papers
give their readers is simply sensation-creating stuff. They publish stories about the private
life of celebrities and obscene photographs.

There is a circulation war among various newspapers. To emerge as winner they involve
in mean activities. Indeed media has lost its sense of moral responsibility.

In the past, media was considered champion of the rights of the oppressed-of principles
of morality and justice. They worked for some noble causes. Now newspapers give
doctored news analysis to influence the minds of the readers. The editorials have so
strong influence on the readers that they can make or mar the prospects of politicians.
Thus, it is the need of the hour to provide fair judgement on issues covered in the
newspapers. They should maintain their sanctity and social responsibility.

The role of media is very significant in a democracy. It is the guardian of public interest.
Thus, media should focus on performing the noble role of enlightening people,
broadening their vision and making them vigilant towards the larger goal of creating a
civilized and prosperous society.

USA Status
The U.S. media today is frequently known as the Fourth Estate, an
appellation that suggests the press shares equal stature with the
other branches of government created by the Constitution.
The press, or "Fourth Estate" plays a vital role as a guardian of U.S.
democracy.

That role is guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S.

Constitution, adopted in 1789, stipulating that Congress not enact
any laws abridging freedom of the press.

USA Status

U.S. media have travelled a long road since the first newspaper was published in Boston,
Massachusetts in 1690.

Within 50 years, magazines also began appearing in several major American cities.

The advent of commercial radio at the beginning of the 20th century ended print's
monopoly of the media in America, giving nationwide and, later, global audiences
unprecedented access to live audio programs.

Television, an even more powerful medium, entered the scene shortly after World War
II. Defying predictions of their decline, the other media have diversified to confront
television's dominant appeal.

Satellite technology has allowed U.S. TV networks, especially cable networks, to reach
overseas audiences anywhere on the globe.

Interactive media, fueled by the advance of digital technology and the growing
convergence of the computer, telephone and cable television, represent the principal
trend of the end of the 20th and the beginning of the 21st centuries.

USA Status
The print and electronic media in the United States, offering wide
news and entertainment options, are a pervasive element in
American society.
According to a recent survey by Mediamark Research, 98% of
Americans have a television; 82% of those watch "prime time" and
71% cable programming in an average week. 84% percent of
Americans listen to radio regularly.
79% percent are newspaper readers. 45% percent of the whole
American population has access to the Internet, while for certain
demographic groups that percentage reaches a high of close to
70%.

USA Status

Mainstream TV is slick, fast-moving and awash with advertising. Ratings and

advertising revenues spell life or death for individual shows. The switchover to digital
took place in June 2009.

There are around 10,000 commercial radio stations. In cities, there are services to
satisfy almost every taste. News, sports and talk stations predominate on
mediumwave (AM), with music on FM. Subscription satellite radio offers hundreds of
channels and has attracted millions of customers.

Freedom of expression is guaranteed by the constitution, and some broadcast

outlets give airtime to extreme hues of political - often right-wing - and religious
thinking.

Public broadcasting Public broadcasting is partly government-funded, but also

supported by private grants. Universities and colleges operate outlets. National
Public Radio - with more than 600 member stations - offers a more highbrow mix of
news, debate and music without advertising. Public TV services operated by PBS have
a mission to provide "quality" and educational programming.

DISCUSSION
While free press and independent media are essential to protect and
enable human rights and fundamental freedoms, journalists, media and
freedom of speech are under threat all over the world. Treats are
manifold: while several new online media platforms have multiplied
the number of voices and opinions so have attempts by vested
interests in silencing them.
A free press and independent media primarily are enables of basic
human rights and channels through which citizens communicate, if
diverse and pluralist, they also have social and active effects on
societies, politics and debates.
The recent massive and revolutionary (private) digitisation of media
and information, whether via millions of blogs or instant live
broadcasting, has magnified this impact but also blurred the fine line
between these contradicting roles. Digitisation also adds new layers to
questions about access, quality and objectivity of information.

DISCUSSION
In many countries there are fundamental threats to journalists and to
media.
Laws, statutory regulation, intimidation, tax fines, highly concentrated
ownership by politicians or others with conflicting interests may limit the
freedom to acquire and access information, or may lead to threats to
freedom after expression.
In the most extreme cases journalists are murdered or imprisoned.

Censorship too often ends up fostering self-censorship.

This does not only impact human rights and fundamental freedoms,
but also impacts the business climate.
The free flow of information should be a key priority in the EUs press
and media programmes, and also an important element of external
trade, development and human rights policies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0K
2pLo8JV5Y&feature=related

Activity
Analyse the Newspaper/Magazine in detail on
content, code of conduct, advertisement,
presentation, ethics, style, principles and values