Democracy and independent media

Priyanka Saurabh *

Mahatma Gandhi's statement that “Freedom of the press is a priceless privilege which no country can relinquish” resonates strongly in today's global context. In India, a vibrant and free press is not only a fundamental right enshrined in the Constitution but also a cornerstone of democracy, acting as a watchdog, disseminator of information, and a platform for diverse voices.

However, the current status of press freedom in India is under scrutiny due to various challenges. India has a diverse media landscape that includes print, broadcast, and digital platforms. Although there is a considerable degree of freedom, concerns have been raised regarding the freedom and integrity of the press.

Incidents of censorship, self-censorship, political interference, and attacks on journalists have raised concerns about the erosion of press freedom.

The nexus between politicians and media houses often results in biased reporting and suppression of dissenting voices.

Threats and attacks: Journalists face physical violence, harassment, and intimidation, especially when they cover sensitive issues such as corruption, human rights violations, or communal tensions. Sometimes laws like sedition, defamation, and the Information Technology Act are misused to silence journalists and restrict freedom of expression.

Media organizations, especially smaller ones, face financial constraints, leading to compromised journalistic standards and reliance on corporate or political funding. While the Internet has expanded media reach, it has also fueled the spread of misinformation and fake news, reducing the credibility of traditional media outlets.

It is very shameful that in a democratic country like ours, there is any threat to the status of freedom of the press. It would be very wrong to hold any one person or organization responsible for this situation. But at the same time, it is also true that this is a time for introspection for us.

This introspection has to be done by Governments, leaders have to do it, journalists have to do it, reporters have to do it and especially the owners of journalism institutions have to do it, what kind of journalism do we want ? Today it is a matter of introspection as to why we should become journalists or why , anyone in the coming generations should become journalists.

Today we have to ask ourselves these questions. Also, it is wrong to think that we (the press) are not free at all by looking at any ranking, etc. But, it is true that in the media - especially electronic media - nowadays less news and more agenda is being run.

This is where most of the mistakes are made because those gathering news are under pressure from the owners of the institutions. Mostly the owners are the editors, who fall into the trap of running the agenda. Running the agenda is the business model of media in today's era and as long as this model continues, questions will be raised in the press as to how free it is and haw much it is dominated by capital.

One thing becomes very important here. That is, the current era of web journalism i.e. digital media is a little unaffected by this business model because due to the low cost of running it, there is less pressure on it.

Possible measures to maintain press freedom include legal reform that seeks to amend or repeal laws that are used to curtail press freedom while ensuring that they align with the constitutional guarantee of freedom of expression. But ensuring the safety of journalists requires providing adequate protection and legal assistance to journalists who face threats or attacks, and holding perpetrators accountable.

Media literacy programs must be promoted to educate the public to distinguish credible information from propaganda and misinformation through media literacy.