Freedom of Press
Freedom of the press means the freedom for publication of news in the newspapers and journals. A press is the symbol of a free people. A free press is a symbol of a healthy democracy. An independent well-informed press is a powerful check on arbitrary governments and irresponsible administrators. It is an absolute necessity for the welfare of the people. Newspapers and journals make a very good contribution to the nation and the land so that they may function well either effectively or efficiently. It plays an important role and goes a great way in forming public opinion. As related and identified with newspapers, the press wields immense power in a democratic country.
Freedom of the press is very essential to build a democratic society and a democratic country. It means to speak about all concerned. Even a general citizen can enjoy this freedom. He may express his opinions and constructive ideas through the newspaper. Freedom of the press does not mean freedom to the news media. It means freedom of all sorts of opinions and writings from all corners. It is necessary to build a corruption-free, accountable and transparent society.
The press forms and elicits opinions creates legal movements and controls all policies publishing well-formed criticisms. In a democratic state, the press is a customary symbolizing a free people through making the existing government and governance transparent, responsible and accountable. When the freedom of the press is guaranteed by the constitutional law, an editor or a journalist or a reporter can express the true news fearlessly. The journalists are committed only to the people in general and to the country in particular.
A newspaper is generally owned by the business magnet which makes it compelled to voice his own views. Almost all political parties have their own newspapers that work as their mouthpieces. Such newspapers cannot but publish news, views, reports, opinions, etc in the Interest of the parties. In such a situation the press loses its freedom. The State cannot obstruct the free flow of knowledge by putting unreasonable restrictions upon the freedom of Press. If we look around the world, we find that the great newspapers in America are in the hands of powerful financial syndicates; in America or the USA. They are in the care of the capitalists and in China, they are in the hand of the existing government. So freedom of the press depends on the way it reflects. Such a dangerous thing may likely happen to the newspapers published under the brutal influence of a party or an individual.
How to ensure the freedom of the press has become the crux of the question. Without a free and fearless press, no true exchange of ideas is possible, without which there can be any true democracy. The legislative body can ensure the freedom of the press by preventing any interference. Only the independent-minded editors should be allowed to publish newspapers freely considering the legal rights of the common people. Freedom of the press should be a valued privilege. A free press plays the role of a watchdog in society or country.
