National Press Day (NPD) is annually observed across India on 16th November to commemorate the day on which the Press Council of India (PCI) started its function as the moral watchdog to ensure that the press maintains high standards and is not fettered by any form of influence or threats.
- The day was observed to recognize and celebrate the vital contribution of a free and accountable press in society.
- The day also recognises the role of Press as the 4th pillar of democracy.
Theme:
The theme for National Press Day 2024 is “Changing Nature of the Press”.
- The theme highlights the changing dynamics of the media landscape.
Events 2024:
i.PCI organised an event to celebrate National Press Day 2024 in National Media Centre, New Delhi, Delhi. The event was presided by Justice Rajana Prakash Desai, Chairperson, PCI.
ii.The Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Ashwini Vaishnaw graced the event as chief guest through video conferencing while Minister of State Dr. L. Murugan, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), Veteran Journalist and Padma Bhusan Kundan Ramanlal Vyas were the Guests of Honour.
iii.The National Award for Excellence in Journalism, presented annually on National Press Day, honors outstanding contributions in print media. It recognizes exceptional journalists in various fields, with the Raja Ram Mohan Roy Award being the highest honor.
Background:
i.The 1st Press Commission held in 1954 concluded that a statutory authority body with people connected with the industry should be created to maintain professional ethics in journalism.
ii.Following this, the Press Council of India(PCI) was established on 4th July 1966 under the Press Council Act of 1965 and started its functions on 16th November 1966.
- PCI is statutory quasi-judicial autonomous authority re-established in 1979 under an Act of Parliament, Press Council Act, 1978.
Note: Justice Janardan Raghunath Mudholkar (JR Mudholkar) was appointed as the 1st chairman of PCI. He served as the Judge of the Supreme Court of India from 1960 to 1966.
World Press Freedom Index 2024:
i.According to Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières – RSF)’s 22nd World Press Freedom Index (WPFI 2024), India ranked 159th position out of 180 countries with a score of 31.28.
ii.Norway topped the list (for the eight consecutive year) with the score of 91.81, followed by Denmark (2nd) and Sweden (3rd).
Initiatives to Empower Press:
i.PCI has worked with media councils in countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Indonesia, and Myanmar to encourage cooperation on press freedom and promote peaceful journalism.
ii.The South Asian Alliance of Press Councils (SAAPC) was formed to encourage cooperation among press councils in the region.
iii.The PCI has signed agreements with press councils from countries like Indonesia, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka to promote cooperation and support press freedom worldwide.
Note:
Hicky’s Bengal Gazette, started by James Augustus Hicky in 1780, was the first newspaper in India. It was published weekly in English in Calcutta (now Kolkata) and became known for criticizing British rule.
About Press Council of India(PCI):
Chairman– Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi
Established in – 1966
