Contribution of Newspapers
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| Contribution of Newspapers in Print Media |
English newspapers were published in India to convey news form Britain and Europe
to those reading here. He Christian missionaries were the fries to start news
papers in English James Augustus Hacky started the fries English newspaper in British India in 1780, called the Eengal Gazette. He
attacked The East India Company
vigorously through his paper. James Silik Buckingham was another pioneer of English newspapers in India Madras
Contribution of
English Press to India’s Independence
In the 19th century when just a few Indians were
acquainted with the English language, some educated leaders ventured to publish
English newspapers. Their efforts were twice successful as these publications
put across the majority viewpoint to the British rulers and also initiated
British – influenced into the freedom struggle. Soon restrictions were imposed
on the freedom of information and the registration was made compulsory in 1835.
Licensing was introduced by an Act in 1857. Leading members of the elite in
society enthusiastically contributed to their views to Indian–owned English
newspapers. While the Government
clamped restrictions on the
English and Vernacular Press, those papers which were owned by Anglo-Indians
were exempted since they were not too critical of the British Government .
M.K. Gandhi regularly published Indian Opinion, when he was
in South Africa
Post
Independents Phase of English Press
The role of the English Press in the 1950s was necessarily
shaped in response to the immediate needs of development and modernization. In
a newly democratised country, the Indian Press had the responsibility of
educating the masses about the intricacies of the functioning of the
adminitrative, legal and other departments of the Government
As the Government emphasized planned economy, the volume
of economic news that the English papers carried multiplied. The Press stressed
the importance of economic progress and interpreted the Government ’s goals for
the people. When India was
at war with Pakistan and China
In the early year of 1990’s the Government ’s economic measures
of liberalization and interrogation of the country in the global economy are
issues that have been receiving ample coverage in our English dailies.
There are quite a handful of English papers which are truly
national in character, they carry news of national importance to households
spread across the country. The Time of India
As for content, newspapers have contributed a great deal
toward making the people, More conscious politically. Also no newspaper can
claim to be neutral or a political. The general trend which is apparent is one
of increasing sophistication in the packaging and presentation of news. The
news is segregated on the basis of the topic referred to. It is then printed on
separate pages such as foreign, national , regional , local, sports , economy,
edit page , etc. Some newspapers bring out supplements on different days of the
week.
In some newspapers there is a tendency to sensationalize
negative events. There is also lack of adequate efforts the part of newspapers
to provide any constructive solution to the many social problems that are
plaguing our society. However, it can be laid that the English newspapers
measure well against the time-tested standards of objectivity, credibility,
balance and accuracy. However, the style of writing in English newspapers has
changed over the years. News reports are short and there is more stress on
interpretative and investigative reporting. Analytical writings on many
important issues are now available. They are also giving a boost to the
Government s’ schemes to bring about planned economic development.
Recommendation
of Second Press Commission
The Commission
recommended d to delink the Press from industry. The Commission viewed
journalism not merely as an industry but as a public service and profession and
observed that public service and profession and observed that public interest
should be the criterion to regulate the news and view of the newspaper and not
ownership. The 2nd Press Commission desired the setting up of
National Development Commission to promote the entire Indian Press. NDC was to
set up advisory Councils for each language. It was also to help provide common
distribution arrangements for newspapers, published, in hilly and remote areas.
It also recommended to specify a price page schedule and a new-to advertisement
radio, in order to promote competition and prevent monopoly of a few newspapers.
The NDC was also to extend financial assistance to small and medium newspapers.
Regional
Language Press
The
Constitution, however, recognised Hindi as the official language of the Union and the regional languages as the official
languages of the states concerned. English was recognized as the authoritative
legislative and judicial language. Article 343 of the Constitution provided
that for a period of 15 years from the commencement of the Constitution, the
English languages shall continue to be used for all official purposes of the Union . And that after the expiry of the stipulated period
(after 1965) Hindi would displace English as the official language of the
union. But it was found favorable to continue English as an additional official
language.
Regional
Language Newspapers
The mass media,
particularly print medium, radio & TV, were the first to be affected by the
“language wave.” The regional language
Press soon overtook the English newspapers and periodicals both in number of
publications and in circulation. Malayalam Press tops all the language dailies
and weeklies. Following it are Bengali newspapers and Tamil and Guajarati
Press. There are more newspapers in Indian languages:
Assamees:
The Daily Dainik Assamiya ceased
publication in 1951 and Natum Assamiya was launched ‘ Assamiya’ is the oldest
weekly of the state followed by Deka Asom, Asom Sevak, Sramik and Jammabhumi.
Bengali: Bengal may well claim credit for piercing Indian
journalism. In 1973, when Anand Bazaar Patrika started the English Hindustan
Standard, The Amrita Bazaar Patrika brought out the Bengali Jugantar. The
Amrita Bazaar Patrika was started in English from Allahabad
Guajarati: the
first Guajarati newspaper, Bombay Samachar began its long career in1822. A
Guajarati weekly Jam-e-Jamshed started in 1831. Surat
Kannada:
Journalism in Kannada started almost around 1870, but didn’t prosper because of
political and administrative reasons. Between 1880 & 1908, a number of
Newspapers in Kannada made their appearance, prominent among them was
Desabhimani. In 1947, two daily papers, Vishal Karnataka and Navyug were
started at Hubli and are still being published.
Malayalam:
Malayala Manorama, the leading daily of Kerala was founded 85 year ago by
Kandathi Varghes. This is the largest circulated multiple edition daily in the country. Kayana Kawnudi started in 1905,
which published news, is now published as a literary magazine. The struggle for
independence brought into being a number of dailies, most important being
Mathrubhumi (1923) (tri – weekly) and is now published as a daily and a weekly.
Marathi: Bal
Shastri started the first Anglo–Marathi paper, the Bombay Durpan, in 1832 as a
fortnightly, and a few months later it was converted into weekly. He also
brought out a monthly Marathi magazine Dig Durshan. In February 1849 was
started Dhyan Prakash, started as a weekly, was converted into a daily in 1904
and rose to great heights. In 1923, Khadikar started Navkal which is today the
oldest Marathi daily. Loksatta is the fust Marathi daily to be published from Bombay
Oriya: Asha
& Samaj are the earliest Oriya newspapers. Asha closed down in 1951 but is
now again published as a weekly. Toady Samaj and Praja Tantra are major Oriya
newspapers.
Punjabi: In the
beginning of the 20th century, the use of Gurmukhi type was well
established and Punjabi prose began to make good progress. In 1920 started the
first Akali paper. Ajit Akali Patrika, Khalsa Sevak, Prakash, Nawan Zaman are
the major Punjabi newspapers. Preeth Lari is the largest circulated monthly
magazine.
Tamil: Tamil is
one of the oldest, richest and the most highly cultivated of Dravidinan
languages of South India . Tamil Patrika,
started in 1931 was the first Tamil monthly. Tamil Daily, Dina Thanthi was
started in 1940 and it overtook the Swadesmitran & Dinwani, and became
immensely popular. Ananda Vikatan, Kalki and Kumudum, are the major Tamil
weeklies.
Telugu: the
first newspaper in telugu was Satyadoota, started in 1835. In the beginning of
the 20th century Samadarshini a Telugu daily was started. In1914,
Andhra Poatrika, shifted from Bombay to Madras
Hindi:
Hindi phase was concerned almost solely with social and religious questions and
there was not much involvement in political affairs. The earliest Hindi
newspaper was started in Calcutta
Urdu:
The Urdu Press today is the 4th Iargest group numerically. Fawaid-ul-Nazarin
and Kiran-us-Sadai(1852) are the earliest Urdu Newspapers. By 1880 there were
more than 12 newspapers. Maulana Azad’s Al-Hilal came out from Calcutta India
CONTRIBUTIONS OF REGIONAL NEWSPAPERS
Vernacular newspapers which were isolated during the freedom
struggle are now wielding a lot of influence and are potent instruments of
molding public opinion. Initially they were organs of individual opinion. Now,
they are pre-occupied with political, economic and social issues of general
interest and current affairs. They are providing adequate coverage on all aspects of life. They
have built up circulations by giving more attention to news coverage and by
catering to the entertainment needs of readers. There is more diversity in the
contents of the Indian languages newspapers and they show greater
responsibility in the collection and presentation of all reading material. The
role of the Press has certainly undergone a change after 1947 but the Press has
not wavered from its fundamental role of a critical social education.
However, the Indian language newspapers will continue to
expand and advertising revenue and political excitement well determine their
contents and character. In the present situation, there seems little doubt that
capitalism and consumerism will continue to grow. Indian language newspapers
will play a key part in spreading consumerist message in the various regions.
The diversity and competition which characterize the language Press at present
may be obliterated in the next 10 years.
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