National Press Day is observed on November 16 every year to acknowledge the Press Council of India, a statutory body which was instituted on this day in 1966 to monitor the quality of reportage, maintain credibility of the press by checking if journalists are affected by any influence or threats of any extraneous factors, and ensure that ethics of journalism remain intact. The occasion is symbolic of free and responsible press in the country. Having witnessed the vital role the press played during the freedom struggle, the freedom of expression was incorporated in Article 19 1(a) of the Indian Constitution, under which the ‘freedom of press’ falls, but the press freedom was not enshrined in the Constitution. Instead of setting up legal safeguards to protect the freedom of press, there have been several instances where various governments tried to impose restriction, including the Press (Objectionable Matter) Act, 1951, which was passed during Jawaharlal Nehru’s time. The colonial-era sedition law continues to be a threat to freedom of speech and regulations have hit journalists and activists the most. According to the report by ‘Reporters Without Borders’, India was ranked 150th among 180 nations in the World Press Freedom Index, dropping from last year’s 142nd rank. On this, the minister of Information and Broadcasting, Anurag Thakur, had argued in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha that the government did not agree with the report for several reasons including lack of transparency and methodology. However, it will do more good by reflecting on the possible reasons for the poor rating and rectify the regulations that hinder press freedom in the country instead of denouncing the ranking, as the officials are unlikely to argue if the report showed improvement.
A special report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) showed that a record 293 journalists being jailed around the world in 2021, an increase from 280 in the previous year. It stated that 24 journalists were killed because of their coverage during the year, while 18 others died in murky circumstances. Maximum journalists were jailed in China during the year, while India recorded the highest number of murders with four journalists confirmed to have been killed in retaliation for their work and one while covering a protest, the report said. These figures stand in stark contrast to the rhetoric on press freedom. The detention and imprisonment of journalists to this day by using various laws, just to stifle their voice, is disturbing. Even democratic countries that are supposed to give space for dissent are becoming intolerant towards the press and subverting the very ideals they take pride in. This has to stop. In the meantime, there is a need for monitoring the misuse of freedom of speech, especially with many people taking on the role of a reporter via social media platforms. Still then, it should be at the cost of genuine causes and fair reportage. Disinformation and fake news should be checked; in the same measure, press freedom should be protected.
