The chilling impact this is probably to have on a absolutely free media does not bode properly for a healthful democracy. (Representative image)
On the face of it, the Press Council of India’s (PCI) directive to news-publications, saying that they will be held accountable for verification of reproducing any foreign content material, or any extract of this, appears fair-minded. But, the broad sweep suggests it can stifle criticism of the powers that be—indeed, the PCI letter to publication talks of references received by the government from numerous but unnamed quarters on the duty of Indian newspapers publishing ‘foreign contents’. The reality that ‘foreign contents’ is not defined—whether it pertains news or involves opinion pieces, no matter if reportage/opinion/evaluation by a foreign national residing in India will be thought of foreign content material, no matter if an extract from an short article in a foreign publication to talk about the short article itself will be treated as foreign content material, etc—makes the directive a blunt instrument to clobber the media, specially when the content material is essential of India’s policies or shows the government/the ruling celebration in poor light. What’s far more, its draconian effect will not just be felt at the publication level, but also will extend to the editor and the reporter.
The chilling impact this is probably to have on a absolutely free media does not bode properly for a healthful democracy. Instances of clamping down on media persons for even pointing out governance failures, let alone criticising policies or leaders, in the current previous have set a precedent for the use of the state machinery to limit media freedom—while pleading the upholding of media accountability. The PCI, a quasi-judicial, statutory physique, demands to bear in mind that preserving media freedom is a regulatory function as significantly as policing the media is if it offers in to the want of the powers that be to muzzle the press, it would be undertaking a wonderful disservice to its personal function.