Extensive media reports on diverting public transport buses for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent event by the Assam Government had triggered a huge controversy. But the State Government did not hold it against journalists
Even in the face of stringent criticism by the media, the Assam Government has never mounted pressure on journalists to toe its line
One of the most debated issues in the realm of media that continues to elicit responses from within and outside media is Press freedom. Press freedom – a crucial indicator of democracy — is the freedom that journalists enjoy to report freely on matters of public interest.
A free Press can inform citizens of their leaders’ successes or failures, convey the people’s needs and desires to Government agencies, and provide a platform for the open exchange of information and ideas.
Assam has a rich history of journalism echoing the voice of the people. During British rule also, the Assamese Press fraternity fought the freedom struggle with pen and paper, to unite the society against the British. The rich legacy has been going strong.
When media freedom is restricted, these vital functions break down, leading to poor decision-making and harmful outcomes for leaders and citizens alike. As is generally asked elsewhere in the country, one may also ask if the Press in Assam is free or is it being subjected to pressure to toe a particular line or not to go against the Government? Interestingly, despite allegations and accusations by a motley group of people about media fearing to raise its voice against the Government, there have been absolutely no reports of incidents that can substantiate such claims. There has been no case of journalists being harassed and coerced by the State machinery or journalists arrested by police at the directive of the State so as to quell Press freedom. In my decade-and-a- half of journalism career, particularly after the BJP stormed to power dislodging the three-term Congress Government, no journalist has been arrested in Assam at the directive of the State.
To further amplify this statement, let’s take a simple example from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Assam on April 28 when he inaugurated seven state-of-the-art Cancer Centres besides laying the foundation stone for seven other centres besides addressing another mega rally in Karbi Anglong district.
The reports were published in all major newspapers of Assam and video clips of the reports telecast by news channels and portals as per their convenience. No attempts were made to take them off air or to pressure media houses to refrain from publishing the said news report. This is just one of the many examples one can highlight to justify and assert that the media in Assam is by and largely free and under little or no pressure from the Government.
Not only in the present scenario, freedom of Press has been a constant luxury availed by press fraternities in Assam. Criticising wrong policies of any Government is a major characteristic of Assamese mainstream media. This has helped society to a large extent to maintain a healthy democratic trend. Even the society now openly accepts the fact that the press fraternity of Assam is largely working as the voice of the people in absence of strong and united opposition in the State. The politically aware people of Assam continue to support the freedom of the Press in the State. Society largely believed that the Press works as their eyes and ears. So far it continues, freedom of Press will make the freedom we are availing better and healthier in the future.
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