News of crime is a staple of 24-hour TV channels in order to lure viewers to their channels. But Electronic media or cable television, telecommunications and satellite broadcasting offer a rich mix of all that is available around the world. Print media remains as powerful as ever along with newspapers, books, periodicals, etc. Upadhyay* Introduction The term ‘media’ are a composite of print, sound and electronic. 447, Fourth Floor, Soochna Bhawan, CGO Complex, Lodi Road, New Delhi-110003.
Suggestions for any improvement on this publication are welcome and may be e-mailed to the address: or sent to the Additional Director General, Research, Reference and Training Division, Room No. I hope that the Mass Media in India-2009 will be useful source of information for media practitioners, policy makers, researchers, teachers and students of mass communication.
The views expressed in the articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the government. The cooperation received from various organizations/agencies in the compilation of the book is gratefully acknowledged. The volume also includes information pertaining to media organizations of central and state government & union territories and a comprehensive Bibliography. These articles cover various issues relating to the relationship between mass media and law of the land. The present edition focuses on the Media and Laws and includes articles written by eminent media persons on the subjects like ‘Media and Criminal Justice’ ‘Trial by Media’ ‘Media Laws: A Historical Perspective’ and ‘Trial by Media’ and ‘Trial of Media’.
The media also acts as a catalyst in evolving a consensus on many issues of national importance, thereby playing a very important role in the process of consensus building. It has to contribute in a significant manner to the empowerment of people as there is a new awakening in the society, in which it plays a very important role.
The Media has to act as representative for all one billion plus people irrespective of region, religion, caste, sex or any other consideration. What media may strive for is free, fair and truthful reporting devoid of sensationalism and prejudices. Media has to be responsible to the needs and requirements of people as an important institution and a strong pillar of democracy. When the Constitution of India guaranteed freedom of speech and expression to its citizens, it ensured that the freedom was not absolute and any expression, by way of words, speech or visual medium, did not violate constitution or any statutory provisions enacted by legislature in public interest or in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India. This is indicative of the fact that nobody is above law. the press has to operate within the framework of these statutes and constitutional provisions to act in public and national interest. While legislature enacts the law for the society and the executive takes steps for implementing them, the third stepping-stone is the judiciary, which has to ensure legality of all actions and decisions. Road, Guwahati-781003 Typeset at : Print-O-World, 2579, Mandir Lane, Shadipur, New Delhi-110 008 Printed at :įOREWORD The media is the Fourth pillar of a democratic system, the legislature, executive and judiciary being the other three. Ahmedabad – Ambica Complex, 1st Floor, Paldi, Ahmedabad-380007.Bengaluru – 1st Floor, ‘F’ Wing, Kendriya Sadan, Koramangala, Bengaluru-560034.Hyderabad – Block 4, 1st Floor, Gruhakalpa Complex, M.G.1, 2nd Floor, Kendriya Bhawan, Sector H, Aliganj, Lucknow-226024 Thiruvananthapuram – Press Road, Near Govt.Patna – Bihar State Co-operative Bank Building, Ashoka Rajpath, Patna-800004.Chennai – ‘A’ Wing, Rajaji Bhawan, Besant Nagar, Chennai-600090.Kolkata – 8, Esplanade East, Kolkata-700069.Mumbai – 701, B Wing, 7th Floor, Kendriya Sadan, Belapur, Navi Mumbai-400614.Delhi – Soochna Bhawan, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003.Research, Reference and Training Division Compiled and edited by: S.M. Published by Additional Director General (Incharge), Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, Soochna Bhawan, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110 003 Publications Division Editing: Nitima Shiv Charan Cover Design: R.K. PUBLICATIONS DIVISION MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING GOVERNMENT OF INDIA Compiled and Edited by Research, Reference and Training Division National Documentation Centre on Mass Communication