Nat’l Press Day must teach us a thing or two
Friday - November 22, 2019 10:46 am ,
Category : WTN SPECIAL
WTN- Like every year, we celebrated National Press Day on November 16 to commemorate the establishment of the Press Council of India, which was formed in 1966. The Day is the symbol of a free and responsible press in India as Press Council of India acts as a moral watchdog for media. It also makes sure that the institution of the press should not be controlled by the influence or threats of any extraneous factors. However, freedom of the press is not specifically upheld in its true spirit on various occasions due to pressure from extraneous factors, which we need to be concerned of.
A free media, that questions and criticises, is a cornerstone of a vibrant democracy and without that, we may fall prey to stagnation and dictatorial propensities in governance. India is the world’s largest democracy but it should not remain so just in papers. Press freedom is a precious legacy India has celebrated over the years.
A progressive nation should be accommodative of divergent views and such diversity of opinions only enriches the democratic process because it makes people think and evolve newer and better ways to make society a happier and safer place to be in. Press has to uphold this divergence in a healthy spirit. If views are killed, then broadness of horizon is stifled and chances of fresh ideas that can come through dialogue and debate gets nipped in the bud.
Civilisation is a constantly evolutionary process and evolution comes through the diversity of thoughts. A society that does not evolve and create out of itself, is lost and doomed. Self-criticism is not exactly self-deprecation. It is more an introspection and a way to improve things in oneself and around oneself.
Every citizen of India has the right to criticise his country and government up to permissible limits which forces the powers to be to do the right things and correct themselves if they are wrong. If blinded by adulation and self aggrandisement, we may lose our course and do things which may in the end make our society regressive. Journalists have not only the right but also the duty to show society and the government the right path. If journalists don’t do their duty with honesty, they deserve condemnation. Not that all journalists are fair or correct, but that is society is all about. We may democratically criticise them too but again, punishing someone for holding a view different from ours’ is immoral, unethical and sinful.
It is true that journalists and citizens should restraint caution and discretion in using public platform to initiate a libeling or slandering narrative against any individual, organisation or the government because that vitiates the atmosphere and spreads a feeling of negativity or revenge. But again, in a vibrant democratic society, voices of dissent and anti-establishment will always be there and ultimately, they are good for society because new ideas and visions come out of these deliberations and war of words.
Even as press must honour its responsibilities, the government too must do all possible to ensure press freedom is maintained and a healthy dialogue always remains a part of our social discourse.- Window To News
A free media, that questions and criticises, is a cornerstone of a vibrant democracy and without that, we may fall prey to stagnation and dictatorial propensities in governance. India is the world’s largest democracy but it should not remain so just in papers. Press freedom is a precious legacy India has celebrated over the years.
A progressive nation should be accommodative of divergent views and such diversity of opinions only enriches the democratic process because it makes people think and evolve newer and better ways to make society a happier and safer place to be in. Press has to uphold this divergence in a healthy spirit. If views are killed, then broadness of horizon is stifled and chances of fresh ideas that can come through dialogue and debate gets nipped in the bud.
Civilisation is a constantly evolutionary process and evolution comes through the diversity of thoughts. A society that does not evolve and create out of itself, is lost and doomed. Self-criticism is not exactly self-deprecation. It is more an introspection and a way to improve things in oneself and around oneself.
Every citizen of India has the right to criticise his country and government up to permissible limits which forces the powers to be to do the right things and correct themselves if they are wrong. If blinded by adulation and self aggrandisement, we may lose our course and do things which may in the end make our society regressive. Journalists have not only the right but also the duty to show society and the government the right path. If journalists don’t do their duty with honesty, they deserve condemnation. Not that all journalists are fair or correct, but that is society is all about. We may democratically criticise them too but again, punishing someone for holding a view different from ours’ is immoral, unethical and sinful.
It is true that journalists and citizens should restraint caution and discretion in using public platform to initiate a libeling or slandering narrative against any individual, organisation or the government because that vitiates the atmosphere and spreads a feeling of negativity or revenge. But again, in a vibrant democratic society, voices of dissent and anti-establishment will always be there and ultimately, they are good for society because new ideas and visions come out of these deliberations and war of words.
Even as press must honour its responsibilities, the government too must do all possible to ensure press freedom is maintained and a healthy dialogue always remains a part of our social discourse.- Window To News
