Free press, freer people

Ritam Banati|Updated: May 02, 2009, 04:53 PM IST

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US novelist Edgar Watson’s remark on the press is wittily well-said: “The liberty of the press is most generally approved when it takes liberties with the other fellow, and leaves us alone."

US novelist Edgar Watson’s remark on the press is wittily well-said: “The liberty of the press is most generally approved when it takes liberties with the other fellow, and leaves us alone.” The real test of how free the press is comes amidst an atmosphere which has the potential to challenge its space. If the society lets the press take liberties with its political authority in such a scenario then it succeeds in facilitating an environment conducive to the preservation of press freedom. However, even then there are certain confines within which the press operates. But these restraints do not intend to curb its freedom but rather help in its regulation which again is equally vital for maintenance of discipline. The term-Fourth Estate as the press was named popularly by British politician Edmund Burke has been used often in the contemporary era. Since it is the fourth estate, the government and the judiciary can gag it. But if the society is democratic then the same cannot be done without any reasonable cause. However this does not mean that the press can just do what it wants to i.e. indulge in yellow journalism or the like. This is one reason or a given reason why the voice of the mass media has been stifled in many parts. The present day press especially in the wake of the growing menace of terrorism needs to chalk out a common strategy of a smooth synchronisation of self-regulation and autonomy. In our own country there have been some programmes aired by news channels which have been a classic case of the press misusing its freedom. News channels showing programmes promoting superstition had to be put off air after government’s intervention. But it is a sad reality that to boost TRPs, channels continue airing crime programmes in a melodramatic manner as well as ones with sexual undertones and therefore are antithetical to media ethics. The flip side of the press was also evident at the time of the Kandahar crisis when four dreaded militants were released and a commando operation was ruled out because several innocent passengers’ lives could not be staked. This was largely owing to hysteria built up by the wide press coverage of the incident which left government with hardly any choice but to exchange the terrorists in return for the uncompromised safety of passengers. Also during 26/11, uncensored media coverage provided clues to the terrorists and their handlers, who sat in their rooms watching TV and following every move of the cops. ATS chief Hemant Karkare killing was a morale booster to them. And it only facilitated the dynamic formulation of strategy. Following this, considerable hue and cry was raised and the Information and Broadcasting Ministry geared into action with meetings being held on the passage of a broadcasting bill to regulate media. It was only after the persistent efforts of noted TV editors who assured the government of self-regulation that the bill was nipped as the National Broadcasting Authority opposed it. The proposal put forward by the government was the composition of the Broadcasting Regulatory Authority of India which was to debate issues pertaining to the content shown by the news channels, which had at the time of the Mumbai attacks aired perturbing images. To stall the move the NBA constituted a panel in a bid to exercise self regulation. However in some Western nations like America and the UK post 9/11, and post 7/7, the media were commended for showing restraint in not beaming disturbing images. But this is not to be misconstrued as an abdication of press liberties. Recently Germany’s lower House made a mistake of passing a law aiming at an avoidable encroachment on a journalist’s privacy. The law stipulates the tapping of phone conversations and searching computers by the Federal Police of the country as a counter-terrorism step. Besides seriously undermining government’s ability to combat extremism, this self-defeating measure will only deter prospective informants as their identity will be put under scrutiny. Among nations where the press enjoys utmost freedom is Iceland where media was given greater autonomy in 2006. The Netherlands which is largely dominated by the private sector too enjoys similar press autonomy. On the other hand are countries like China where even today there are reports of over 50 journalists being imprisoned for challenging what the Communist government considers as its writ. And then there is Pakistan, a so-called democracy where 15 journalists were killed last year while carrying out their duty in restive regions. But simultaneously one must not forget that its English media grew quite free under the former military government of General Musharraf and could overtly express disenchantment either with him or his administration. In Sri Lanka press freedom has become a severe casualty of civil war. Some of the most blatant cases of corruption have also remained under cover due to the looming threat of persecution from the government. It is a sad commentary thus that there have been far too many instances of prominent journalists being killed for doing their duty. This year slain Lankan journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge would be posthumously awarded with the World Press Freedom Prize. It certainly is commendable that men of courage like him continue to stand up to autocratic regimes for the cause of freedom of press and transparency without fearing for their lives. The power of the press has been proved by the journalists the world over. Journos who have not hesitated to die in the line of duty, who have bravely expressed views and moulded public opinion. Each year, Reporters Without Borders releases a list of killed journalists. In 2008 it was 62. Though the figure was much less than that of 2007, it was not an indication of press freedom. This was because many journalists are reported to have abandoned their profession altogether owing to repression. Last year, as a mark of commemorating the slain journalists, Newseum, a museum glorifying the profession opened in New York. This was an attempt to pay tributes to the slain journalists. Noted philosopher, J S Mill has aptly stated, "If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and one, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind." In a modern society no views can be stopped from being voiced so long as they don’t provoke violence or are intended to cause harm to anyone. Such a society can flourish in conditions conducive to the pen being mightier than the sword.