The arrest of two women journalist covering the Tripura unrest on the eve of National Press Day speaks volumes about the current state of press freedom in the country.

 Over the past few years, Indian Press has been steadily losing its voice and free space. The once outspoken Indian media fraternity seems to be now continuously treading a path of caution fraught with risk of being targeted or even face imprisonment under the extremely vague charge of sedition for speaking its mind. Then there is the most worrisome development, that is the rise of the lapdog media which is doing unimaginable harm. A compromised media doesn't only mask facts and push curated agendas, it is also doing a huge disservice to society by choking genuine issues affecting the common man.

 

Media profession has never been easy; hazards a constant companions, but not of the degree experienced at the present moment. There was a time when attacks on journalists were few and far between and a single case captured national attention with ripples persisting months and even years after the incident and the issue becoming a parliamentary discussion. It’s far from so nowadays and with wrongdoings becoming routine affairs, there is a strange apathy.

India is ranked 142nd out of 180 countries in RSF’s 2021 World Press Freedom Index. RSF is the world’s biggest NGO specialising in the defence of media freedom, which is regarded as a basic human right to be informed and to inform others.

No prizes for guessing what the 2022 ranking is going to be after raids on a leading newspaper and the Pegasus spyware revelation wherein the journalists of the country were at the frontline of targets.

 

It’s a matter of concern that freedom of press, which is entitled to enjoy the shade of the umbrella called Article 19 of the Constitution covering Freedom of Speech & Expression, a fundamental right, is being repeatedly compromised. 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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