Unpalatable though it may appear, the
most powerful weapon for freedom movement under the leadership of towering
personalities like Tilak, Gokhale, Gandhiji and others who stood for
progressive journalism and liberal notions and believed in the strength of the
press to mould public opinion, to shape the destiny of the nation and safeguard
the rights and civil liberties of its citizens – is nowadays itself appears
struggling for existence. The strong belief of our freedom fighters that ‘pen
is mightier than sword’ and the power of their pen can challenge the political
establishment directed the Indian journalism with a sense of purpose, is weakened
and lost its ground now.
The first attempt to start a newspaper
in India was made in Kolkata. On January 29, 1780 the first Indian newspaper
(often called ‘Kagaz’ in Bangla), the Bengal Gazette popularly known as Hicky’s
Gazette consisting of two pages (12 by 8 inches in size) was published.
But, with politically-patroned business
houses eying to make the oldest form of mass communication their tool of ‘fame
and gain’, Kagaz has, more or less, lost its ground.
One of the prime concerns to the print
culture all over the India is reducing advertising revenues. The revenue model
of print follows the dual concept by Robert Picard. In this dual concept,
newspaper in particular balances the content and advertisements in the paper.
The content brings them subscribers and subscription brings them circulation
numbers. Circulation numbers bring them advertisements, which lead to revenue.
The revenue generated is again utilized to improve the content in the first
place. This is how the dual concept revenue model helps print products. But due
to the recent unabated influence, interference and interest of big business
houses, the newspapers have become fishes out of water – gasping to breathe. Though
in a country like India print culture has not died down as yet, but the future
of this mass medium is definitely under radar.
In early 90s, when the Government of
India decided to spread Liberalisation, Privatisation and Globalisation, the print
media developed a sense of rejuvenation. They played a pivotal role in
disseminating government policies. They were used as a tool to create
propaganda in the public and create a favourable environment for the government
policies. But, it was like curse in disguise that the newspapers could not
anticipate. Different newspapers started behaving like support documentation or
propaganda tool to promote different political parties. But, that game of
‘checks and balances’ didn’t last long. In 2014, when Narendra Modi got a
landslide mandate despite strong criticism from big media houses, the sword of
Damocles started hanging over their heads.
By nature Modi is authoritarian and
dictatorial. And, despite what this past master at drumming up support for him propagates
from public platforms, he only holds his own view most of the time. This leads
one to the inescapable conclusion that he would bide his time before seeking to
intimidate his critics in the media again in the future. Modi has always a little
respect for journalists. The likes of Modi appear not sparing any opportunity
to browbeat those who do not subscribe to his ideology or share his
predilections – it would be the best possible choice for the big business
groups to invest, influence and interfere in media affairs – to cater their
monetary interests. At least, the fate that some of the big media players in
India met in recent past indicates so!
The ‘unholy nexus’ between politicians,
journalists and business houses has grown stronger now. And, it has also -
since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office in May 2014 - become more brazen
as the masks have slipped and pretence has been dropped now! Paid news and
private treaties are not the issues any more: they are far too common. The real
cancer is the politicisation of journalism. No longer do the media houses fear
a backlash to even serious charges of being fronts for money laundering of
politicians and business houses. They know they have defenders of the faith
within the highest echelons of the NDA government. Protection is assured - at
least till the prime minister wields the axe.
But, one thing is inevitable: the
paper-boat of newspapers is sinking! Sounds catastrophic? It is!
