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National Press Day (Courtesy: NewsTrack) |
On 16 November, National Press Day is celebrated to honour the Press Council of India. This day marks the presence of a responsible press and symbolises its responsibilities towards society. Media is known as the fourth pillar of democracy and journalists are the mirror of society. The day emphasizes the importance of an independent press in a democracy.
How is the day celebrated?
To commemorate the day, various seminars were organized by the Press Council on 16 November. The workshops are held for one or two days to spread awareness about the importance of a responsible and free press in our country.
History of Press Council of India
In 1956, the first Press Commission envisioned a committee to safeguard journalism ethics and freedom of the press, resulting in the formation of a Press Council in 1966. Justice J R Mudholkar, a Supreme Court judge, became the first chairman of the Press Council of India in 1966. The Press Council of India monitors the quality of reportage. The Press Commission felt the need for a managing body to unite the country's people and make them aware of every issue that arose.
Functions of the Press Council
Press Council of India has to regulate all the journalistic activities in the country. It ensures that journalists are true to their profession and are delivering quality coverage. It acts as a watchdog for the Indian press by ensuring that journalists are not driven and motivated by any external force or influence of any authority while reporting any story. The Press Council of India also examines the quality of reportage of the Indian press. It keeps a watch on journalistic activities and monitors that journalistic ethics are not compromised. The present chairman of the council is Justice Chandramauli Prasad. He has been appointed for a second term recently.
On this National Press Day, let's commit to keeping our press freedom intact.
Author
Ankita Majumder
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