Indian Press: Struggles with Censorship
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In recent times, reporters who criticize the government and its policies have been targeted and trolled by not just officials but also supporters of the current Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.
This story by the news agency Reuters quotes Indian reporters who say they feel intimidated whenever they write reports critical of Modi. Additionally, this piece in Open Democracy, an independent media platform, highlights the censorship and pressures faced by the Indian news media.
Indian media organizations, as veteran journalist and founder of New Delhi Television or NDTV news channel, Prannoy Roy wrote, “function in a punishment-free environment… our defamation, libel and privacy laws are feebly enforced by the courts, and it can take up to 20 years to get justice.” Roy also points out that Indian media runs on “self-regulation,” as it lacks a central, independent body with judicial powers that could not only hold the press accountable but also uphold its freedom and independence from political powers (Roy, 2012).
This often means that the press indulges in not only self-censorship, but also avoids critiquing other media outlets and holding them accountable. The kind of discussion and criticism of media by media, frequently seen in the United States, is absent in India. This article by Indian digital e-paper, LiveMint, examines why the Indian media does not scrutinize itself. Even though it was published in 2007, the issue is as pertinent, relevant, and true today as then.
Additionally, the role of WhatsApp in spreading fake news is more widespread in India than social media.
This article by The Washington Post explains this phenomenon in detail.
In response to these issues, independent digital news sites have sprung up across the nation to report on news stories and issues that mainstream media does not report on or neglects for reasons cited above and on the previous page.
