Speech on Freedom of Press What does “freedom of the press” mean? Everyone desires freedom, but it also comes with a lot of obligations, and if we are unable to balance both, our freedom will be taken away. Therefore, when we discuss press freedom, we also discuss its guiding principles and code of ethics. We have covered lectures on press freedom due of the subject’s high level of significance.
Speech on Freedom of Press
Speech on Freedom of Press in India 1
Thank you, Ladies and Gentlemen. Welcome to today’s speech ceremony!
As you are all aware, we have gathered here today to talk about press freedom in India. But before we start the ceremony, let me to express my sincere gratitude to our special visitor, hon’ble……, for graciously agreeing to come. For the past 20 years, he has been a prominent reporter and journalist in the media.
Distinguished Members, I, Nargis Khan, will serve as your host for the day and will make a brief statement on the aforementioned subject. We are seeing a lot of violence against media professionals, and those in positions of authority are continually repressing their right to freedom, which is why we are holding this meeting. The majority of media celebrities have been relegated to serving the interests of the powerful classes. It is our duty to protect their freedom by speaking out since the media serves as the voice of the people and any egregious misuse of this platform can deprive its audience of the access to knowledge.
Media freedom, often known as freedom of the press, is the idea that it should be easy to communicate and express oneself through various media, including print and electronic media, especially published content. It is a crucial right that media professionals should exercise freely. The maintenance of press freedom can be guaranteed by legal or constitutional means, and this kind of freedom does not need the involvement of a supervising state.
According to federal regulations, every government is required to make a difference between documents that can be made public and those that are purposefully kept secret. The classification of information as secret, sensitive, or classified, or the importance of information from the perspective of safeguarding the national interest, are the two reasons why state information is safeguarded. Many governments are also constrained by regulations or legislation based on information freedom, which is used to denote the area of national interest.
Along with freedom of speech and expression, there is also freedom of the press. The independence of the press is crucial in a democracy like ours because it acts as a watchdog over the three key pillars of democracy—the legislative, the executive branch, and the judiciary. The freedom of the press is, however, conditional and not unlimited in that it is subject to various limitations that are listed in Article 19. (2). Below are some of the justifications listed in Article 19 (2) for restricting journalistic freedom:
India’s integrity and sovereignty
Public peace
State Protection
relationships with foreign nationals that are cordial
Decency or morality
Misconduct in Court
We honestly understand that the media is important in maintaining the welfare of the people, but occasionally it does so irresponsibly. The Father of our Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, famously remarked that journalism should serve the public interest. The press is a powerful force, but just as an unchecked flood submerges the entire countryside and destroys crops, so does an unchecked pen only serve to ruin. The legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government are the three main foundations of a democracy. In a democracy, the press serves as the fourth pillar. In pursuing justice, maintaining public welfare, etc., the press is crucial.
Therefore, media freedom shouldn’t be restricted but rather channelled in order to maximise its potential.
Many thanks!
Speech on Freedom of Press and Media 2
All the best for the day! I wish you the happiest of dispositions on this day!
Today, we’ll talk about the freedom of the press in India, a subject that is both incredibly important and hotly contested. We all desire freedom, but it also carries a burden of accountability. And in a nation like India, the media must continually battle against outdated ideologies like casteism and communalism in order to empower people to resist poverty and other social injustices.
These days, especially in India, there is a lot of discussion regarding press freedom and journalistic ethics, with the term “press” also referring to electronic media. Given that the media has a significant impact on our lives and has become a potent platform for expressing opinions, discussions on these topics should take a comprehensive approach and address all relevant aspects.
The importance of press freedom stems from the reality that for many individuals, it is just unlikely that they will ever have a personal connection to the noteworthy events. As a result, while gathering news, the media must speak for the general people. It serves as a platform through which individuals may freely exchange ideas and information, which is extremely beneficial for democratic self-governance.
Because only then would people be able to make reasoned decisions, it is crucial for individuals to be educated on the most recent events taking place throughout the world for democracy to work effectively. Naturally, you cannot expect a citizen of a nation to independently obtain news or be able to make opinions. This is where the media’s function as a key player in a democratic system and as an agency for keeping people informed of significant events and news enters the picture. Because of this, press freedom is valued highly in all democratic countries but is prohibited in authoritarian or feudal societies.
In our nation, the media has been incredibly important in enabling individuals to acquire knowledge about social and political events while also staying conscious of the evil that is pervasive in our culture. We learn about the economic situation of our nation and the extent of poverty experienced by its citizens through the media. For instance, we learn about the farmer suicides that occurred in various states across the nation and the numerous cases of honour killings that occur as a result of illegally constituted Khap Panchayats. Our media deserves a lot of respect for doing all of this, i.e. giving us essential news while allowing us to remain stationary.
But the media also has many other duties to fulfil, including providing the public with accurate information and preventing blatant news slants, as publishing incorrect information might harm both the reputations of those involved and the media organisation that propagated it.
Therefore, the media or press is a crucial component of a democratic system, and although we should grant it the freedom it deserves, we also need to watch out for how that freedom is used. I’ll conclude my remarks here.
Thank you all so much!
Speech on Freedom of Press in Democracy 3
Distinguished Principal Sir, Distinguished Professors and Teachers, Distinguished Staff Members, and My Dear Companions in Study!
First of all, I want to thank you for taking the time to participate in this significant forum. We have gathered to talk about the issue that requires the most attention, like we do every year. The theme for this year is “freedom of the press in a democracy.”
Freedom simply refers to the right to do as one pleases, including the freedom to move about, talk, act, and so on. The most well-known and important platforms for self-expression are the media (electronic, print, and internet), and the press.
Although the term “press” used to relate to the newspaper business, with the development of technology, there are now many more ways for people to acquire news, including websites, blogs, radio, and television.
India is a democratic nation where everyone is free to express themselves. The freedom of the press would be inevitably impacted by any limits imposed on the freedom of speech or expression since the media is crucial for the expression of people’s thoughts and sentiments.
Since individuals nowadays are aware and cannot be prevented from expressing their views and opinions, press freedom is crucial in democracies. In democratic nations like India, the press and news media have more freedom; they also serve as a vital check on authorities, administrators, and the government. Any unlawful and socially inappropriate activity is often brought to light by free press.
The freedom of the press and the media is crucial as they fight against corruption, tyranny, and other wrongdoings. They continuously strive to provide timely, accurate news. They assist in keeping the readers up to date on everything that is happening in the country. Therefore, establishing democratic ideology requires that there be freedom of the press in that country.
But the press and media now have a basic obligation and responsibility to work for enhancing and preserving the integrity and sovereignty of the country. Additionally, it would promote harmony and solidarity among the populace.
Press and media independence is crucial to a democracy because it protects citizens’ pride and dignity in all autonomous and democratic countries. The question of whether or not to provide the press total freedom or to impose certain constraints on the press and media is still up for debate.
Some of today’s pupils could enjoy working as reporters in the near future. They will be tasked with informing the nation’s citizens in an objective and accurate manner. They might not have extensive press control, but they still need to watch out for inciting the populace against the administrators, government, or authority. Therefore, the greatest way to maintain press freedom in a democracy is to avoid disseminating false, biassed, inciting news and stirring up popular discontent with the administration.
As I conclude my remarks, I sincerely pray that everyone of you would carry out your obligations with integrity and sincerity.
I’m grateful.
Speech on Freedom of Press and Judiciary 4
Dear Writers, Respected Editor-in-Chief, and Members/Staff of Our Media House!
I’d like to welcome you to our center’s annual celebration and thank you for coming today on behalf of the whole media house.
The freedom of the press, the media, and the judiciary are topics that are frequently discussed nowadays.
Freedom is the ability to express oneself without restraint. Given that the society is liberal, it is a crucial component of a democratic nation. The judiciary and press both contribute significantly to the protection of civil rights. While the court system guarantees that law and order are maintained in the nation, the media and press serve as watchdogs and keep a close eye on the actions of the authorities, government, public and private personalities, etc.
The court and press must, however, be autonomous and unaffected by the executive branch of government or any other strong individual. To guarantee people’s freedom, courts should be immune from outside interference. In a democracy, the press is the most significant medium for people to utilise to voice their opinions. Press supports people’s freedom of speech and expression. Because they uphold democratic principles, the court and the press are complementary institutions.
Judges have been given the power to uphold justice, law, and order. They are essential to maintaining public confidence in the justice system. An affected or prejudiced judicial system would deter citizens from using the court system to resolve conflicts, etc., which would cause discord in society. Only until the judges have been granted appropriate and total independence will they be able to carry out their duties equitably.
Press freedom is essential in a democracy because it enables them to monitor criminal activity and promptly report it. The press’s duties include informing the public, raising concerns, and assisting the judicial system in upholding the rule of law. So that they may uphold their democratic ideals and obligations, press freedom is essential. Another aspect of the Bill of Rights is the protection of press freedom. It makes sure that media organisations’ civil rights are safeguarded against pointless government meddling, etc.
However, it’s equally crucial that the reporters carry out their duties honestly and impartially. Today’s public is more informed and able to distinguish between real and false news. In such cases, it becomes everyone’s responsibility to solely convey factual news. Any politician, member of the government, institution, business, or religiously revered individual should not be thought of as having their reputation damaged by the media or press. We won’t do our jobs justice till then.
I would like to state that we established this centre with the intention of providing the public with the most unbiased and transparent news possible, and we will keep doing so. I thus make a personal request to all of my authors to join me on this trip.
I will end my remarks here.
I’m grateful.
