This is the most controversial topic trending nowadays. The people in India and the world know that press is a medium through which they can voice out their concern effectively and efficiently.
It is an unbiased press who make common people acquainted about deep controversies going in the political and apolitical spheres. In Indian constitution, Press is counted as the fourth pillar of democracy. So, to ensure true democracy, the press should have enough freedom to voice out anything in the welfare of India and its citizens.
Virtual mapping for defamation
This question of freedom of the press is moving on Twitter, Facebook and all social platforms like a jungle fire. In India, the practices of dominating press for the benefit of a group came in the public domain by some press bodies. The rival press bodies blame each other for supporting counter views and questions their intensions and nature of duties. The practice of defaming the rivals resulted in the defamation of the whole profession.
For example, we can refer to “the telegraph” and “the Indian express”, these newspapers are blamed for supporting a political party’s propagenda.
A doubt that emerged recently
These recent years have proved crucial for the press and the general public of India. We both saw changes around us and got affected. The role of the press is to aware the people about the different perspectives of the things happening around them and make the concerned authorities aware about the sufferings of Indian citizens, but some press bodies took one side and advocated it strongly. It made the general public question the freedom and intention of the press and created a feeling of disbelief.
For example, in the time of delhi riots, some press bodies weren’t showing the suffering of a section of people. The practise of defaming people in the time of corona was also there in a region of uttar pradesh. Later, regional police falsified such allegations.
Let’s go inside their shoes
Any commercial unit needs some capital to work and grow. The press bodies require funds to collect and present true news to their audience. The press bodies who are showing issues and interest of people in majority and ruling bodies are likely to get more favour by them so they will not get short of funds.
Some press bodies who want to show sufferings of both sides will be disliked by the ruling bodies and the people in the majority. They will not get enough funds to run and administer their organization effectively. So, the chances of their suffering are more and as its result, the freedom of the press is compromised.
The threat on the freedom of press can’t be denied completely as some rumours and real shreds of evidence of incomplete or mutilated reporting are witnessed by common people. People have started to not rely on and believe in the press for everything. Now, an aware citizen researches a piece of particular news before coming onto a conclusion.
