Q.

Describe the concept of Press Freedom with reference to the First Press Commissions
recommendation?

Ans – The First Press Commission recommended establishing a Press Council to protect
press freedom and maintain journalistic standards. In 1966, the Parliament established the
Press Council of India (PCI) based on the recommendations of the First Press Commission.
The PCI’s purpose is to preserve press freedom and improve the standards of the press in
India.

Press freedom is a fundamental principle that allows journalists and media organizations
to operate without government interference or censorship. It is a core component of
freedom of expression and is essential for a democratic society.

In India, the Constitution of India gives freedom of press under Article 19(1)(a). It
encourages independent journalism and promotes democracy by letting the people voice
their opinions for or against the government’s actions.

A free press plays key roles In a democracy, including:

Disseminating vital information

Acting as a watchdog

Fostering diversity of viewpoints

Maintaining checks and balances

Transparency

Individual rights protection

Facilitating peaceful transitions of power

However, like freedom of speech, the freedom of press is also subject to restrictions. This
freedom can be restricted for reasons of “sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of
the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, preserving decency,
preserving morality, … “.

Q. Explain the role of Press during Pre Independence and Post Independence Period

Ans – Pre-independence

The first newspaper in India is credited to James Augustus Hickey, who launched The
Bengal Gazette, also the Calcutta General Advertiser, in 1780. The paper lasted just two
years before being seized by the British administration in 1782 for its outspoken criticism of
the Raj.
Several other newspapers followed such as The Bengal Journal, Calcutta Chronicle,
Madras Courier, and Bombay Herald. All of them, however, were curtailed by censorship
measures imposed by the British East India Company.

Throughout 1799, 1818 and 1823, the colonial administration enacted several Acts to
regulate the press in the country. The legislative outlier during this period was the Press Act
of 1835, better known as the Metcalfe Act, which introduced a more liberal press policy.

This lasted till the revolt of 1857, after which, a perturbed foreign administration, shaken by
the mutiny, introduced the Licensing Act in 1857. It gave the colonial administration the
powers to stop publication and circulation of any printed material.

In 1867, the administration enacted the Registration Act, which required every book or
newspaper to bear the name of the printer, the publisher and the place of publication.
Additionally, all books were to be submitted to the local government within a month of their
publication.

Post Independence

The Press Enquiry Committee was set up in 1947 with the aim of examining press laws in
the light of fundamental rights formulated by the Constituent Assembly.

In 1951, the Press (Objectionable Matters) Act was passed along with an amendment to
Article 19 (2), which empowered the government to demand and forfeit security for
publication of “objectionable matter”. It remained in force till 1956.

A Press Commission was set up under Justice Rajadhyaksha in 1954. A major

Other Acts passed include Delivering of Books and Newspapers (Public Libraries) Act,
1954; Working Journalists (Conditions of Services) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1955;
Newspaper (Price and Page) Act, 1956; and Parliamentary Proceedings (Protection of
Publications) Act, 1960.

Today, there is no formal body that exclusively deals with the freedom of Press in the
country. All matters concerning the freedom of the Press falls under Article 19(1)(a) of the
Constitution, which states that “All citizens shall have the right to freedom of speech and
expression…” . These freedoms are restricted under Article 19(2) that prevents absolute
power under 19
Q3. Trace the history and growth of radio broadcasting in India with significant
achievements.

Growth & Development

Broadcasting in India actually began about 13 years before AIR came into existence. In June
1923 the Radio Club of Bombay made the first ever broadcast in the country. This was
followed by the setting up of the Calcutta Radio Club five months later. The Indian
Broadcasting Company (IBC) came into being on July 23, 1927, only to face liquidation in
less than three years.

In April 1930, the Indian Broadcasting Service, under the Department of Industries and
Labour, commenced its operations on an experimental basis. Lionel Fielden was appointed
the first Controller of Broadcasting in August 1935. In the following month Akashvani
Mysore, a private radio station was set up. On June 8, 1936, the Indian State Broadcasting
Service became All India Radio.

The Central News Organisation (CNO) came into existence in August, 1937. In the same
year, AIR came under the Department of Communications and four years later came under
the Department of Information and Broadcasting. When India attained independence,
there were six radio stations in India, at Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, Tiruchirapalli and
Lucknow. There were three in Pakistan (Peshawar, Lahore and Dacca). AIR then had a
coverage of just 2.5 % of the area and 11% of the population. The following year, CNO was
split up into two divisions, the News Services Division (NSD) and the External Services
Division (ESD). In 1956 the name AKASHVANI was adopted for the National Broadcaster.
The Vividh Bharati Service was launched in 1957 with popular film music as its main
component.

The phenomenal growth achieved by All India Radio has made it one of the largest media
organisations in the world. With a network of 262 radio stations, AIR today is accessible to
almost the entire population of the country and nearly 92% of the total area. A
broadcasting giant, AIR today broadcasts in 23 languages and 146 dialects catering to a
vast spectrum of socio-economically and culturally diverse populace.

Programmes of the External Services Division are broadcast in 11 Indian and 16 foreign
languages reaching out to more than 100 countries. These external broadcasts aim to keep
the overseas listeners informed about developments in the country and provide a rich fare
of entertainment as well.
Q. Discuss the journey of Telivision in India and its major milestone

The television industry in India is very diverse and produces thousands of programs in
many Indian languages. More than half of all Indian households own a television. As of
2016, the country had over 900 channels of which 184 were pay channels. National
channels operate in Hindi and English, in addition to channels in several other languages
including Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Assamese,
Gujarati, Urdu, Bhojpuri, Kashmiri, Konkani and Haryanvi, among others. The Hindi, Telugu
and Tamil language television industries are by far the largest television industries in India.

The national television broadcaster is Doordarshan, owned by Prasar Bharati. There are
several commercial television broadcasters such as Culver Max Entertainment (Sony
Pictures Networks), Disney Star, Viacom18 (owned by Reliance Industries through
Network18 Group), Warner Bros. Discovery India and Zee Entertainment Enterprises, at the
national level, and Sun TV Network and ETV Network at the regional level.

Here are some milestones In the history of television in India:

1959: The first experimental telecast in India took place on September 15, 1959. The
broadcast was educational and targeted school children and farmers. The first TV channel
in India, Doordarshan, began broadcasting with a small transmitter and a makeshift studio.

1965: Daily transmission began as part of Akashvani, formerly All India Radio.

1976: Television services began generating revenue through commercial advertisements.

1978: India introduced color television.

1992: The government opened India’s markets to cable television.

1995: The era of satellite television began.

2000: The rise of private news channels in India began.

Some other milestones in the history of television in India include:

1959–1988: Doordarshan’s monopoly

1975–1977: Dark days of Indian media

1988–1990: Beginning of news objectivity with credibility

Cinema is a powerful tool that can be used to promote social change. It can be used to
raise awareness of important issues, challenge stereotypes, and inspire people to take
action. There are many examples of films that have had a positive impact on society. For
example, the film “12 Angry Men” helped to change public opinion about the death penalty.
The film “Schindler’s List” helped to raise awareness of the Holocaust. And the film “An
Inconvenient Truth” helped to bring attention to the issue of climate change.

Cinema can also be used to promote social change by creating a space for dialogue and
discussion. Films can help people to see the world from different perspectives and to
understand the experiences of others. This can lead to greater empathy and
understanding, which can be a catalyst for social change.

Of course, cinema is not a magic bullet. It cannot solve all of the world’s problems. But it
can be a powerful tool for promoting social change. By raising awareness of important
issues, challenging stereotypes, and inspiring people to take action, cinema can help to
make the world a better place.

Here are some specific examples of how cinema has been used to promote social change:

The film “12 Angry Men” helped to change public opinion about the death penalty. The film
tells the story of a jury of 12 men who are tasked with deciding the fate of a young man
accused of murder. The film shows how the jurors’ preconceived notions and biases can
cloud their judgment. In the end, the jurors vote to acquit the young man, demonstrating
the power of reason and compassion to overcome prejudice.

The film "Schindler's List" helped to raise awareness of the holocaust. The film tells the
story of Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who saved the lives of over 1,000 Jews
during the Holocaust. The film is a powerful and moving depiction of the horrors of the
Holocaust, and it has helped to educate millions of people about this important event in
history.

The film "An Inconvenient Truth” helped to bring attention to the issue of climate change.
The film is a documentary that presents the evidence for climate change and discusses the
potential consequences of inaction. The film has been credited with helping to raise
awareness of climate change and inspiring people to take action to address this issue.

These are just a few examples of how cinema has been used to promote social change.
Cinema can be a powerful tool for raising awareness of important issues, challenging
stereotypes, and inspiring people to take action. By using the power of storytelling, cinema
can help to make the world a better place.
Q Indian News Agencies -

News agencies have been a cornerstone of modern journalism, playing a critical role in the
collection, production, and distribution of news content to audiences across the globe.
These agencies serve as intermediaries between news sources and media outlets,
providing time-to-time coverage of breaking news events, in-depth investigative reporting,
and analysis of political, social, and economic trends.

Over the years, news agencies have evolved in response to changes in technology,
markets, and social contexts, adapting their services to meet the changing needs of the
media industry and the public. Today, they represent a diverse range of agencies, from
Sarkari news agency to international ones such as Reuters and Agence France-Presse to
local news serving specific communities. Here we will explore types of news agencies in
the modern era and their function in shaping how we consume and understand the news.
In addition candidates can also check Staitic GK to get all the related information about
general knowledge

Q. Folk Media – Folk media is a form of communication that uses visual, verbal, and aural
elements to inform, entertain, or instruct. Folk media is unique to a specific community
and can be adaptable, incorporating new ideas and forms.

Folk media is a traditional means of communication that has been used for moral,
religious, and socio-political purposes since its inception. It is not simply a form of
entertainment, but rather a way to tell the stories of villagers and reflect their hopes,
aspirations, and perceptions.

Some examples of folk media include:

Poetry, Puppetry, Songs, Dramas, Folk dance, Rural drama, Street theater, Yatra.

Puppetry is one of the most prominent traditional folk media forms that still exists in its
original form in Bangladesh. Bhavai, also known as Vesha or Swang, is a popular folk
theater form in western India, particularly in Gujarat.

Q Prasar Bharati – Prasar Bharati (abbreviated as PB; Hindi: Praśar Bharati, lit. Indian
Broadcaster) is Indian state-owned public broadcasting, headquartered in New Delhi,
India. It is a statutory autonomous body set up by an Act of Parliament and comprises the
Doordarshan Television broadcasting and Akashvani (formerly All India Radio AIR), which
were earlier media units of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The Parliament of
India passed the Prasar Bharati Act to grant this autonomy in 1990, but it was not enacted
until 15 September 1997.