The press is a pillar of democracy. In a democracy, every man is entitled to form and express his own opinion. The daily press is a convenient vehicle through which he can voice it.
The press is an educator. It creates and molds public opinion. It voices public demands and ventilates public grievances. It safeguards people’s rights and interests. It raises its powerful voice against any attempted invasion of people’s rights and liberties. It acts as a check on the vagaries of men placed in high position. It exposes immoral, inefficient and corrupt officials. It is the champion of all good and noble causes.
By criticizing the actions and lapses of the Government officials, it gives a healthy tone to the administration. Naturally, the Government of a country cannot ignore the press. It cannot treat its view with disrespect.
Such being the character of the function of the press, it is obvious that it should be allowed a large measure of freedom. If rigid restrictions are placed on the publication of news of expression of views, the press cannot perform its duties faithfully and fearlessly.
Freedom from Government control does not mean complete freedom for the press. That is because there are newspapers which are either party papers or are owned or controlled by big business magnates. They have to echo ‘their master’s voice’. They have to present news and views only in accordance with the policy of the party or the wishes of the press baron (master). They indulge in one-sided propaganda. They suppress or distort the truth. They give colored version of reality.
In the USA and some other countries, freedom of the press is guaranteed under their Constitution. Under our Constitution, this freedom is implicit in the ‘Freedom of Speech and Expression’ granted to every citizen as one of his fundamental rights. In countries under the iron heels of a dictator, freedom of the press is practically non-existent.
Freedom of the press, like all other freedoms, carries with it certain obligations. Publication of correct news is one of them. Avoidance of mischievous criticism of the Government is another. The idea is that liberty should not degenerate into license. The press should use the great power, which it possesses, with due restraint and judgment. It is equally the duty of the people who patronize it to exercise a healthy check upon the conduct of the press. They should teach it a lesson whenever they find that its power is being used against their interests.
In India, the press is free. We hope that it will place before itself the high ideal of serving the interest of the public and will conduct itself in a spirit of independence, without bearing for anybody’s fear of favor.
1.1.On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following questions in brief:
(5*1=5)
(a) What are the different advantages of the press?
(b) Why cannot the government ignore press?
(c) In what conditions can press not perform its duties well?
(d) Does freedom of press carry with it a certain obligation? If yes then specify.
(e) What is the difference between the Indian constitution and the constitution of USA?
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