National Press Day is an Indian professional holiday celebrated on November 16 every year. Its main task is to emphasize the importance of free and responsible press in a democratic society.
National Press Day was initiated by the Press Council of India (PCI), a statutory body responsible for governing the conduct of the print media and ensuring that the freedom of speech is maintained. The Press Council was established on July 4, 1966 by the Parliament and officially started working on November 16 of the same year. The anniversary of the latter event was proclaimed National Press Day.
National Press Day was created to raise public awareness of the role of a free, pluralistic and independent news media in the development of the democratic society. On the occasion of the holiday, the Press Councils organizes various seminars and other events and activities dedicated to the most important issues of modern journalism.
On November 16, the Prime Minister of India and other government officials congratulate all media persons on their professional holiday, commending their role in giving voice to the voiceless. National Press Day is the professional holiday of all reporters, editors, camerapersons, and other specialists working in the media.
Why is it celebrated?
On 16 November 1966, the Press Council of India (PCI) assumed the role of the moral watchdog to the fourth pillar of the country, in order to ensure that the press maintains the quality and high standards expected from it and does not get affected by any external factors in its functioning.
What is the objective of this day?
This day stands as a day symbolic of a responsible and free press in the country. Since the year 1997, the Council has commemorated the day in a significant way through seminars with relevant themes.
There are several Press/ Media Councils across the world but the Press Council of India is a unique entity in its duty to safeguard the independence of the press, where the press is that of a free type which realizes its own responsibilities as the fourth pillar of the country.
The Press Council keeps a check on the quality of reportage provided by the Indian press. It also ensures that journalistic objectivity is not compromised due to “influence or threats of any extraneous factors.”
History
The Press Council of India was first constituted on 4th July 1966 as an autonomous, statutory, quasi-judicial body, with Shri Justice J R Mudholkar, then a Judge of the Supreme Court, as Chairman.
In 1956, the first Press Commission had concluded that the best way to maintain professional ethics in journalism can be achieved by creating a statutory authority body consisting of people mainly connected with the industry and can arbitrate the activities. This led to the birth of the Press Council of India in 1966.
The National Press Day is celebrated on November 16 to commemorate the establishment of the Press Council of India which was formed in 1966. The National Press Day is symbolic of a free and responsible press in India. The council act as a moral watchdog to ensure that the press maintains the high standards. It also makes sure that the institution of press should not be controlled by the influence or threats of any extraneous factors. National Press Day 2018: Twitterati Including Politicians, Leaders Greet Journalists and Media Houses.
The National Press Day is believed to showcase the responsible and free press in the country. By convention, a retire judge of the Supreme Court heads the Press Council of India. The council celebrate the National Press Day by organizing various seminars across the country. Here Are Some FAQs Related to The National Press Day.
What is Press Day?
Press Day also known as World Press Freedom Day. The day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO’s General Conference. Since then, May 3, the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek is celebrated worldwide as World Press Freedom Day.
Is Press in India Really Free?
India in the Constitution provides “the right to freedom of speech and expression”. Freedom of press is not specifically mentioned in article 19(1) (a) of the Constitution. According to in the annual Reporters Without Borders analysis, violence against journalists including police violence, attacks by Maoist fighters and reprisals by criminal groups or corrupt politicians is one of the most striking characteristics of the current state of press freedom in India. A total of 48 journalists have been killed in India from 1992 till 2018.
What is The Rank of India?
India has dropped two places on a global press freedom index to be ranked 140th out of 180 countries in the annual Reporters Without Borders analysis released in April. ‘Reporters Without Borders’ Red-Flags India on Killing of 7 Journalists in Last 18 Months.
Since the year 1997, the Council has started to commemorate the day in a significant way by organising seminars with relevant themes. Last year, the then Finance Minister Arun Jaitley inaugurated the National Press Day celebrations in New Delhi and the winners of the National Awards for Excellence in Journalism were honoured on the occasion. Meanwhile, according to the World Press Freedom Index 2019’, Norway is the safest country for journalists.
