Understanding Indian Media

1. How They See Themselves
India's journalists view their role as that of the voice of truth. Radio and television are controlled by the government; therefore, they typically will air the government's position. The print media is much more independent than the broadcast media and more likely to be critical. Most publications have an acknowledged political viewpoint that colors editorial comments. Journalism has become a fairly highly respected field over the past decade, with income and education levels increasing significantly. Some of the best reporting originates from regional, local language newspapers.

II. Degree of Independence
India's constitution provides for freedom of the press and of expression, and with some limitations they are exercised in practice. A zealous press reflects a wide variety of public, social and economic beliefs. The media regularly carry investigative reports and allegations of government wrongdoing, champion human rights, and criticize perceived government lapses. Freedom House rated the overall media environment in 1997 as "free."
The Press Council of India is a statutory body of journalists, publishers, academics and politicians with a chairman appointed by the government. Designed to be a self-regulating mechanism for the media, it investigates complaints of irresponsible journalism and sets a code of conduct for publishers, which includes not publishing articles or details that might incite caste or communal violence. The council publicly criticizes newspapers or journalists it believes have broken the code of conduct, but its findings, while noted by the press community, carry no legal weight.
National television and radio, government monopolies, frequently are accused of manipulating the news in favor of the government. Nevertheless, international satellite television is widely distributed, particularly amongst the middle class, by cable and gradually is eroding the Government's monopoly on television. A government censorship board reviews films before licensing them for distribution, deleting material deemed offensive to public morals or communal sentiment. Producers of video news magazines also must submit their products to the board, which occasionally censors stories that portray the government unfavorably, but rulings may be appealed and overturned.
Under the Official Secrets Act, publication of sensitive stories may restricted, but the government sometimes interprets this broadly to suppress criticism of its policies, thereby restricting freedom of the press. Human rights activists state that government pressure caused one national English-language daily to suppress some stories and to transfer a staff reporter.
The 1971 Newspapers Incitements to Offenses Act remains in effect in Jammu and Kashmir. Under the Act, a district magistrate may prohibit the press from publishing material resulting in "incitement to murder" or "any act of violence." As punishment, the act stipulates that the authorities may seize newspapers and printing presses. Kashmiri groups have threatened journalists and editors and imposed temporary bans on some publications. Despite these impediments, newspapers in Srinagar regularly publish militant press releases attacking the government and report on alleged human rights abuses. Foreign journalists also have been allowed to travel freely in Jammu and Kashmir, where they regularly speak with militant leaders, and file reports on government abuses.
III. Market Forces
News agencies: 2Newspapers: 4,420English language dailies: 340Hindi language dailies: 2,020Periodicals: 37,000TV broadcast companies: 1TV broadcast stations: 274Satellite TV companies: 1Radio broadcast companies: 1Radio stations: 194Televisions per 100 people: 3.3Radios per 1,000 people: 70
Journalists typically expect to get their own stories and do not take news releases at face value. They view public relations practitioners as partners since they are the main source of information. Still, personal relationships can influence the likelihood of a story being covered.
IV. Geographic Lens
India has two primary news agencies, the Press Trust of India Limited (PTI) and United News of India (UNI). PTI is a non-profit cooperative of Indian newspapers and provides service in English and Hindi. It has a network of 140 bureaus and more than 400 full-time journalists in India and stringers in more than 20 cities around the world. UNI is a private company with more than 100 bureaus in India and abroad and provides service in English, Hindi and Urdu. Both PTI and UNI provide coverage for television as well.
The Press Information Bureau (PIB) is the government agency responsible for disseminating information to the print and broadcast media on government policies and initiatives through its eight regional and 32 branch offices and the Internet. Materials are released in English, Hindi, Urdu and 13 regional languages and reach more than 8,000 newspapers and media organizations.
All India Radio (AIR), or Akashvani, is India's government-owned radio network with a mission to inform and educate the people in addition to providing entertainment. The network includes 194 radio stations, providing radio coverage to more than 97 percent of the population. AIR broadcasts music, drama, news and sports programs in various languages, as well as those focusing on farm and family welfare issues. In addition to government subsidies, some channels are supported by advertising, licensing fees and RDS paging services. The bulk of AIR news is derived from its own network of domestic correspondents. News and information also are broadcast internationally by the External Services Division.
Doordarshan is India's government-owned national television service. It has a network of three national channels, two special-interest channels, 10 regional language channels, four state networks, an international channel, and studios in 41 cities. The Primary Channel operates through transmitters across the country, bringing programming to more than 87 percent of the population. The company's three-tier service provides news, science, culture and drama programming through the national service (broadcast in English and Hindi), similar regional language programming through the regional service, and coverage of local issues in local languages through the local service. Metro channels, linked by satellite, are available in Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta and Chennai. Doordarshan is supported in part by advertisements. Satellite broadcasting also is available.
V. Professional Development
The increase in income levels over the last decade as attracted more intellectual, better educated journalists to the field. Most journalists are generalists, covering a wide variety of subjects; however, at specialty publications journalists with expertise in subjects such as science, economics or finance can be found. Wealthy, larger media institutions are able to provide their journalists with relatively sophisticated equipment and facilities, such as computer systems.
The majority of journalists have a college education and most have a masters degree. Some even have doctoral degrees. A diploma in journalism is available at a number of institutions across India, including Usmania University, Calcutta University, New Delhi University, Chandigarh University and the Institute of Mass Communications in New Delhi.