Press Freedom In India

Press freedom in India is at precarious crossroads, as journalists and media organisations are operating under an increasingly coercive and dangerous environment.

To begin with, governments have increasingly become insular and intolerant towards critical questioning, and they flex muscles in varied ways and forms. The legal apparatus under which media operates, which was as it is extremely cumbersome and onerous with respect to press freedom, has become even more intrusive and draconian, especially with the passage of new laws to regulate online media. State and law enforcement agencies have been misusing criminal law provisions as well as other statutes in an effort to intimidate and harass journalists. The business model of media itself is such that it doesn’t allow for much financial independence.

And then there are the deep underlying issues with media’s own conduct with respect to ethics, ideological prejudices, diversity, and so on. 

Consequently, there are existential questions on the independence and integrity of media in India. What is the road ahead for protecting and nurturing the space for an independent and responsible press? How can press institutions fight for preserving this space? And what are the introspective issues that we as journalists need to grapple with and address in order to maintain our own integrity.

The conclave “Press Freedom in India: Present and the Future”, seeks to bring together representatives from across media organisations, press associations, civil liberties organisations, legal fraternity, and state actors, in an effort to shed light on these critical issues, and discuss possible solutions.