The Status of Indian media in the light of Normative Theories of Press

1. The Status of Indian media
in the light of Normative
Theories of Press

2. India is one of the largest Democracies in the world; with its
flourishing growth it has reached zeniths in various fields, the greatest
of them all is the vibrant media. Since the British rule pen has held
more power than bullet and other means of violence.
Media has always been the binding stature for Indian people, be it in form of
radio, newspaper, broadcasting, pamphlets or leaflets. Indian print media
played a very powerful role in educating, convincing and mobilizing peoples in
terms of spreading nationalist and patriotic ideas; all the journals and
newspapers like The Tribune, Akbar-i-Aam, and The Hindu were edited by
prominent nationalist leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, BG Tilak and many other
leaders. Today also media is widely used to arouse feeling in people.

3. Indian media has always played an important role in educating the masses.
The status of Indian media can be effortlessly traced between Authoritarian
and Libertarian theories of press.
Pre Independence-
The most effective and visible change that was seen in media was during the
period when India was under British rule. The then status of Indian media can
be easily defined under Authoritarian theory, as press was never free; all the
news published was approved by British government.
The first major newspaper in India ‘The Bengal Gazette’ which was started in
1780 under the British Raj by James Augustus Hickey Other newspapers such
as ‘The India Gazette,’ ‘The Calcutta Gazette’,’ The Madras Courier ’ The
Bombay Herald ‘ etc were under the control of British government, so that they
could circulate their own news in a controlled way.

4. Here are some of the instances that proves Indian media during pre
Independence can be without any difficulty placed under Authoritarian
theory-
Press was so under the control of British government that BG Tilak went to jail twice
for using newspapers columns to mobilize people against British rule also for his
newspaper ‘Kesari’, British government charged him with sedition charges and exiled
him from the country for six years.
The then ‘Times of India’ was totally controlled by British government that
Assassination of Mahatma Gandhi was not even published by them. The British also
created a new Vernacular Press Act, which was solemnly meant to suppress Indian
language newspapers. The Vernacular Press Act or the Gagging Act was passed in
1878 under the Governor Generalship and Viceroyalty of Lord Lytton, for better control
of Indian language newspapers. The purpose of the Act was to control the printing and
circulation of seditious material, specifically that which could produce disaffection against
the British Government in India in the minds of the masses. It was passed on the model
of Irish press laws.

5.  It provides the government extensive rights to censor report and editorial in
vernacular press act. But Indian journalist were smart, one newspaper went
English overnight to evade actions under the law as it was applicable to
vernacular language papers only.
 Apart from Vernacular Press Act other acts were also introduced by British
Government to control press, like Indian Press Act 1910 in which local
government was empowered to demand security at registration -de-
register/forfeit newspaper if it was offending. The act also imposed censorship
on all kinds of publications. Other such act was Indian Press (Emergency
Powers) Act 1931, in which sweeping power was given to provincial
government to suppress propaganda for Civil Disobedience Movement. The
act sought to punish the words, signs or visible representations, which incite or
encourage the commission of any offence or murder or any cognizable
offence.

6. Not only acts, but to control the press, Amrita Bazaar Patrika was forced to shut
down in 1871 by British government. Not only this, in Kerala, newspapers like
Swadeshabhimani, Malayala Manorama, and Mathrubhumi started to propagate
messages for freedom movements. The owner of the Swadeshabhimani was
deported in 1910 for his anti-British stance, the properties of Malayala Manorama
were confiscated in 1938, and Damodara Menon, the editor of Matrubhumi was
arrested in 1942 for supporting the Quit India movement.
As seen from above instances it can be clearly said that Indian media was not
free it was totally under the control of the British Government, because they knew
that if they wanted total control they need to control the media as it is the only way
to connect masses and to influence them to over throw British Raj. Thus Indian
media during pre independence can be easily classified under Authoritarian
Theory of Press.

7. Post Independences-
Since Independence Indian Media can be effectively classified under Libertarian
Theory of Press. Independence on August 15th, 1947 marked the end of the glorious
struggle of the Indian Press for Freedom, and the beginning of the new era where the
Press can breathe freely. The old conflict between the Press and the State vanished
overnight. It became duty of press to corporate with state and help it in maintaining
peace and sacrifice some of the liberties in the matter of factual reports of events,
bearing in mind the need for harmonious relation between the various sections of the
people and the paramount obligation of the press to contribute in a positive way to the
restoration and the maintenance of peaceful conditions in the country With the
newfound energy and excitement, media has explored a whole new dimension of its
power. The initiatives taken by media without being forced by government has made
it fourth pillar of our democracy.

8. India has more than 70,000 newspapers and more than 80 are news channels
making it the biggest media market in the world and none of them is controlled by
government or none of them is influenced by government or any individual. Media
is free to express their views and opinions however they like, though they have to
keep in mind public’s sentiments. In Libertarian theory media or press is given
absolute freedom to publish anything at any time and acts as a watchdog.
Here are some of the instances that proves Indian media during
post Independence can be without any difficulty placed under
Libertarian theory-
Indian media comes under libertarian theory as no media as ever backed away
from exposing or informing public about government fraud, like Fodder scam ,
bofors scam, 2G scam, Satyam Scam, Common wealth scam etc. If Indian media
was controlled by government than no scam would have ever known by public.

9.  Apart from scams, media does not shy away from criticizing any important or any
influential personality. For e.g. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Sing was always
criticized for his inefficiency during his 10 years tenure. Celebrity like Amir Khan was also
rebuffed by media for his intolerant comment.
Irom sharmila’s story and her fight against Armed Forces (Special Powers) Acts
(AFSPA) have also come in light because government has no control over Indian media
 Kunan Poshpora incident of 1991 where at least 23 women were gang raped by
soldiers would have been suppressed if media was under government’s control.
 After talking bad about government, protesting against hanging of Afzal Guru JNU
student union president Kanhaiya Kumar is still alive and in news is all because we have
libertarian press.
These are some of the incidents that prove that we have libertarian press. If the case
would have been other vise, we would never have true knowledge of any issue. All the
issue would have been suppressed by government and we would only be seeing news
what government wants us to see.

10. Though there are issues which shows that government takes control and media is again
controlled by them, making press come under Authoritarian Theory.
Here are some of the post independent issues that were controlled by govt. :-
The Emergency state that was implemented by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The
21-month period in 1975–77 was marked by massive media censorship, restrictions on
civil rights and a forced mass sterilization campaign. Except the Indian Express, nobody
had the guts to defy the censorship orders. The first edition of the Indian Express after
the imposition of emergency consisted of a blank page instead of editorial. Gandhi also
made it a point to replace the Information and Broadcast minister IK Gujral with Vidya
Charan Shukla. But the irony was, porn was looked over but not politics.
Once again press was controlled by govt. when Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir
Mehooba Mufti called for ban on newspaper publication in Kashmir for three days, police
raided media houses and shut down a major printing press, after the unrest caused in
the state after the death of militant Burhan Wani. Though the ban was called to ensure
peace but media was controlled by govt. so Kashmir’s media saw authoritarian theory for
few days.

11. These were few of the instances when government tried to control press post
independence. These are the two incidents of Authoritarian press witnessed by people
post independence. Though in Kashmir issue press was not controlled by government
but still people were kept away from daily news by stopping the publication, thus making
it case for authoritarian press.
Though somewhere media is not able to realize the power they have and its limitations.
They sometimes forget that they are misusing the freedom given to them. There are
number of incidents which have certainly raised the question on the ethics of media
coverage in current scenario. Slowly and gradually that may also change, may be new
laws will be complied to keep media in check. It is the responsibility of media to educate
people about the social issues and evils of the society along with informing public about
all the happenings.
Seeing the above instances it can be easily concluded that present Indian media falls
under liberation theory though there are some incidents that state other vise.