{"id":43510,"date":"2024-11-17T12:37:55","date_gmt":"2024-11-17T07:07:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=43510"},"modified":"2025-05-06T03:12:54","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T21:42:54","slug":"national-press-day-2024-celebrating-press-freedom-and-addressing-media-challenges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/national-press-day-2024-celebrating-press-freedom-and-addressing-media-challenges\/","title":{"rendered":"National Press Day 2024: Celebrating Press Freedom and Addressing Media Challenges"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><strong>What\u2019s in today\u2019s article?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Why in News?<\/li>\n<li>What is Press Council of India?<\/li>\n<li>Key highlights of the speech by the Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw<\/li>\n<li>Other highlights<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Why in News?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The Press Council of India celebrated National Press Day 2024 at the National Media Centre, New Delhi.<\/li>\n<li>Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, addressing the event virtually as the chief guest, highlighted India\u2019s vibrant media ecosystem, comprising 35,000 registered newspapers, numerous news channels, and advanced digital infrastructure.<\/li>\n<li>He emphasized how investments in 4G and 5G networks have positioned India as a global leader in digital connectivity with the lowest data prices worldwide.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>What is Press Council of India (PCI)?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>About<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>The PCI is a statutory, autonomous, quasi-judicial body established under the Press Council Act of 1978.<\/li>\n<li>It was established to preserve press freedom and maintain high standards of journalism in India.<\/li>\n<li>It acts as a watchdog of the press, ensuring accountability while safeguarding the independence of media.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Functions<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Preserving Press Freedom<\/strong>: Protects the press from external influences or government interference.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Maintaining Standards<\/strong>: Promotes ethical journalism by formulating guidelines and ensuring adherence to journalistic ethics.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Resolving Complaints<\/strong>: Investigates complaints against and by the press, addressing issues like defamation, biased reporting, or unethical practices.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Advisory Role<\/strong>: Advises the government on matters affecting media freedom and development.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Structure<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Chairperson<\/strong>: A retired Supreme Court judge appointed by a committee comprising the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, and a person elected by the members of the Council.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Members<\/strong>: Includes representatives of newspapers, media organizations, and the public. The council represents diverse sections of media and civil society.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Powers<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Quasi-Judicial Authority<\/strong>: Can summon parties, demand evidence, and investigate complaints but lacks penal powers.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Advisory Capacity<\/strong>: Makes recommendations to the government and stakeholders on policy matters.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Regulatory Role<\/strong>: Issues guidelines for maintaining ethical journalistic practices.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Criticism<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Lack of Enforcement Powers<\/strong>: Critics argue that the PCI&#8217;s inability to impose penalties limits its effectiveness. For example, despite several guidelines, sensationalism and paid news persist.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Exclusion of Digital Media<\/strong>: The PCI&#8217;s jurisdiction is limited to print media, leaving the rapidly growing digital media unregulated.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Perceived Bias<\/strong>: Accusations of partiality arise, especially in politically sensitive cases. For instance, the council has been criticized for its muted response to issues of media polarization.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ineffectiveness<\/strong>: Critics argue the council&#8217;s recommendations are often ignored, reducing its impact as a regulatory authority.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Key highlights of the speech delivered by the Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Highlighted Four Key Challenges in the Evolving Media Landscape<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Fake News and Disinformation<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Union Minister underscored the dangers of fake news in undermining trust and democracy.<\/li>\n<li>He questioned the relevance of the &#8220;Safe Harbor&#8221; provision, which grants immunity to digital platforms for user-generated content.<\/li>\n<li>He emphasized the need for accountability frameworks tailored to India&#8217;s complex societal context to combat misinformation and safeguard the social fabric.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Fair Compensation for Content Creators<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>He highlighted the <strong>financial struggles of traditional media due to the shift to digital platforms<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>He called for fair compensation for conventional media outlets, which invest heavily in journalistic processes, to address the imbalance in bargaining power between traditional and digital platforms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Algorithmic Bias<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>The Minister raised concerns over algorithms on digital platforms that amplify sensational and divisive content to maximize engagement.<\/li>\n<li>He urged platforms to address the social consequences of such biases, especially in a diverse country like India, and adopt responsible solutions to mitigate their impact.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Artificial Intelligence and Intellectual Property Rights<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Vaishnaw highlighted the ethical and economic challenges posed by AI systems that use original creators\u2019 work to train models.<\/li>\n<li>He stressed the need to safeguard intellectual property rights and ensure creators are recognized and fairly compensated for their contributions, framing the issue as both economic and ethical.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Other highlights<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Government Efforts Against Misinformation<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Fact Check Unit under the Press Information Bureau (PIB) have been launched to counter false narratives and authenticate news.<\/li>\n<li>These measures reinforce the government\u2019s commitment to combating misinformation in the digital era.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Supporting Journalists Through Policy Reforms<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>The other participants detailed government schemes for journalist welfare, including accreditation, health programs, and capacity building via the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC).<\/li>\n<li>They highlighted reforms like the <strong>Press and Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023,<\/strong> which modernizes media regulations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><strong>Q.1. What challenges did Ashwini Vaishnaw highlight during National Press Day 2024?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The minister emphasized fake news, algorithmic bias, fair compensation for traditional media, and intellectual property rights in AI-generated content. These challenges threaten journalistic integrity, social trust, and creators&#8217; rights in the digital age.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Q.2. What steps is the government taking to support journalists?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Government initiatives include journalist accreditation, welfare programs, and capacity building through institutions like IIMC. Reforms like the Press and Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023, aim to modernize media regulations for a sustainable press ecosystem.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/business\/safe-harbour-clause-for-platforms-needs-a-revisit-says-vaishnaw-9673392\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><u>Safe harbour clause for platforms needs a revisit, says Vaishnaw<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pib.gov.in\/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2073917\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><u>PIB<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.presscouncil.nic.in\/IntroductioPCI.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><u>Press Council of India<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Explore highlights from National Press Day 2024, including Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw&#8217;s address on press freedom, combating fake news, algorithmic biases, and safeguarding traditional media amidst digital transformation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":43511,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-43510","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43510","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43510"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43510\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43511"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43510"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43510"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43510"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}