Last Updated on 13 November 2024 IST | National Press Day, observed on November 16, marks the establishment of the Press Council of India to uphold press freedom and ethical journalism. However, India’s rank of 159 out of 180 in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index highlights rising challenges like censorship and political influence, underscoring the urgent need for stronger protections to ensure the safety and independence of journalists in the country. Let us know about how this day is celebrated along with its history in detail.

National Press Day 2024 Highlights

• National Press Day is celebrated annually on 16th November highlighting the establishment of the Press Council of India (PCI).
• This day was first initiated in the year 1956 highlighting the need of an independent body to govern the quality of journalism throughout the nation.
• Finally in 1966, the Press Council of India (PCI) came into existence.
• This day is observed every year by the Press Council of India by conducting seminars.
• The body consists of 29 members in total including its chairman.
• Even after so many years of its establishment, genuine journalism is like finding a needle in a haystack.

National Press Day: Introduction

National Press Day is an annual observance observed every year on the same date of 16th November. This day is observed after the commencement of the working of the Press Council of India (PCI) as a statutory and quasi-judicial establishment. The day symbolises the presence of an independent, responsible and an active body who is working as a watchdog to watch the quality of journalism being carried out in the entire nation. The main aim of this council is to work out and deliver the best journalism with utmost authenticity to the public.

Press and Media being the 4th pillar of democracy has their responsibility to present every news story with great authenticity having no inclination towards any government or private entity. And to check whether this job is being carried out with the way it is to be carried out, the Press Council of India (PCI) has been formed. 

History of National Press Day

As we know, National Press Day is observed after the establishment of the Press Council of India( PCI). The foundation of setting up of this council was done way back in the year 1956 in the first meeting of the Press Commission. At the meeting, the establishment of PCI was considered vital as far as governing the quality of reporting is concerned as it is necessary to protect working freedom of press in India. Recognising it and after so many deliberations, the Press Council of India was formed on 16th November 1966. And since then the body is working to work out the best possible reportage by the Indian media.

Theme for National Press Day 2024

UNESCO commemorates ‘World Press Freedom Day’ every year on 3 May. It is a day that reminds governments to respect their commitment to press freedom. The day also reminds media professionals about press freedom and professional ethics. In India, National Press Day is celebrated on 16th November every year. The theme for 2024 is “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis.” This theme emphasizes the need for journalism to foster peace in societies, hold power to account, and serve as a platform for the voices of the oppressed and marginalized.

The Press Freedom Index in 2024

India ranked 159 out of the 180 nations considered in the 2024 edition of the press freedom index, published by the organisation Reporters Without Borders. While this is a marginal improvement from last year, India’s performance in the recent past has been consistently poor.

National Press Day: Programmes and Celebrations

National Press Day 2024 is observed annually by the Press Council of India (PCI). P.C.I. will be observing National Press Day on November 16, 2024 at National Media Centre, New Delhi on the theme “Changing Nature of Press”. It will be inaugurated by Hon’ble Union Minister Information and Broadcasting, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw. Shri Vaishnaw will give the keynote speech.

Source: press council.nic.in

The 31st World Press Freedom Day Conference will be held in Santiago this year by the Chile government and UNESCO.

Council Structure of National Press Day 2024

The Press Council of India was formed under the aid and in accordance with the Press Council Act of 1978. It was established as a statutory and quasi-judicial independent establishment working towards protecting the liberty of the press throughout the nation. The council is headed by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai as its chairman. Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai is a retired Judge of the Supreme Court of India.

■ Also Read: World Press Freedom Day: How to Get an Independent and Credible Press?

The council consists of 29 members in total including the chairman of council who is generally a retired Supreme Court Judge. While the rest of the remaining 28 members, the first 20 members are from the media who are being picked up by media outlets officials from media sources such as televisions and newspaper media. The other 5 members are the members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. While the remaining 3 are from the culture, literary and legal field picked up from Sahitya Academy, University Grants Commission (UGC) and Bar Council of India.

Media’s Role in Shaping Public Opinion

Media plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion by influencing how information is presented and perceived. It serves as a bridge between the public and events happening globally, often framing issues in a specific light. Through news reporting, editorials, and social media, the media can highlight certain topics, set agendas, and sway public sentiment. Positive or negative portrayals can impact people’s attitudes and beliefs, often shaping their perspectives on political, social, and economic matters. In essence, media has the power to inform, educate, and also manipulate public perception, making it a powerful tool in shaping society.

Falling Levels of Journalism

With such necessary provision for maintaining the authenticity of news reaching the public to its required place, it is more than mandatory for the media and newspaper officials to work with utmost liberty and bring out the truth. But what is being observed is completely opposite to it. The reporting is nowadays done in relation to attaining TRP and has no inclination towards either of the entities. The incidents of Karontha and Barwala in the year 2006 and 2014 respectively are not hidden to anyone with respect to Saint Rampal Ji Maharaj. But the truth which is behind those incidents wasn’t made to reach us because of the biased reporting done by the reporting officials.

Without investigating the actual truth about Saint Rampal Ji, the media misused His name even with the charges He was not accused of. With such social reforms under His name like propagation of True Spiritual Knowledge for the entire globe, 100 percent abolition of the dowry system along with drug and corruption free society through His devotees, one cannot even think of what was given in the media regarding Him. This world can never repay the immense contribution of Saint Rampal Ji and after judging the way through which truth was misled in the case of Saint Rampal Ji Maharaj, one can easily come to a conclusion that the fourth pillar of democracy of India is still hollow from within. 

True Spiritual Knowledge- The Solution

The contributions of Saint Rampal Ji Maharaj in building up a healthy society cannot be depicted in words as He is the only one with authentic knowledge about the existence of the Almighty God Kabir and true worship. As per the knowledge given by Saint Rampal Ji we have to repay our every bad deed done here including our wrong utterance about somebody in our next births by being an animal. 

For this He suggests to adopt the path of True Worship enlightened by Him by taking Naam Diksha (Initiation) from Him so as to avoid misdeeds in the coming future. This is a golden opportunity for everyone to get your welfare done, the later you will come the more you will repent. Take the most of it.

FAQs About National Press Day 2024

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