Answer of the day-Press Freedom Index

Q-India is ranked 133rd in press freedom index of 2016. What are the reasons for such low rank? What need to be done to improve our ranking in this Index.?

Sol-Press as the educator of masses need to be free in its working to provide unbaised news to the people. But above ranking shows situation is not good in India in this regards due to following reasons

1.Laws-No specific article in constitution which dealt with press freedom, it is cover under Art-19(1). Also restriction imposed by Art-19(2) and its miss use by government

2.General environment in the country-Freedom of speech is not well respected and various bans and attack on people due to various sentiments.

2.Violence towards journalist-for eg- In 2007 Shiv Sena people vandalised Outlook office for saying party leader as villain

3.Corporate houses controlling media for eg- , thus media report whats it in favour of that corporate house rather than truth

4.Various corporate owner of Houses affiliated to various political parties for eg-NDTV is allegedly in favour of CPI. So news are baised toward obe political party or other rather as genuine education of masses

5.Power in the hand of government to stop airing of news for eg-recent incident of NDTV beinv shutdown for a day. Thus restrict the autonomy of media which hinder in its free working

6.Lack of press ethics among the media employees, which result in favouring one over other rather than reporting unbaised news

7.Less educated people of the country thus demand for sensational news are more rather than more facts based news.

8.direct targeting of government and affiliated people on various media and hindering their independent working

What need to be done?. Following stEPs can be taken

1.Regulating ownership of media houses.

2.Better media education with emphasis on ethical conduct

3.Mandatory law which make it transparent to the people regarding the owner of media and their affiliation

4.more clearly defining when can government take action against media in the name of National Interest, so that government conduct be more rule based.

5.reducing money power in politics so that affiliation between media corporate and politics be reduced.

Gandhiji says that liberty of speech means it is unassailed even when the speech hurts. To make such liberty of speech we as citizen have to grow our skin against criticism of various kinds.

----Additional Info-----

Press Freedom Index measures

1.Legal framework

2.Environment and self censorship

3.violence towards journalist

4.others

Question for prelims

1.World Press Index is released by

A-IMF

B-World Press Association

C-Reporters without borders

D-World Economic Forum