Brief History of the Print Media in India

Today, in this ultra modern world, the role of media and particularly of print media has been
augmenting day by day. It has been serving as a vigilant watchdog of India.
Print Media has created awareness among the people regarding their rights and duties. Print
Media has created awareness among the people regarding their rights and duties. Print Media has
been nicknamed as News Monger or the fourth Estate.
We can update ourselves just by going through the morning news paper, getting each and every
kind of news form every nook and corner of the world. It is due to the effect of the Print media
that people associated with robberies, thefts, murder, rapes, drugs and alcoholism are working in
an apprehension of being caught and recognized. They are now constantly under fear of being
caught by the law enforcing agencies. Through this medium we get news about things happening
around us-good as well as bad.
Even people involved in wrong or unethical business know the power and potential of Print
Media and probably this is the only reason that they are conducting their unethical business in a
suppressed manner. It is the only ray of hope through which India can see a better tomorrow.
There has a worldwide growth of the print media even after the emergency of the electronic
media. There has been an increase in the circulation of newspapers around the world even after
the emergence of electronic media and the internet. The newspaper does play a very important
role in the working of any democracy.
Our Constitution too great us the Right to Freedom of Expression which is manifested, in free
press in our country. In a democracy, newspapers are the best way of educating people politically
and socially. They play a decisive role not only in updating the public but also in formulating a
well-balanced public opining. The public reads about the current event, interprets them and
learns to intelligently participate in the political, social and economic affairs of the country.
Print media also works as a bridge between the government and the people. People get to know
about the latest policies of the government and it also builds up the public opining, there like,
disliking or demands. In fact, Newspaper is the vox populi or voice of the people in any country.
It is the common mans university, giving lesson on life at large.
They are powerful vehicle for propaganda. The common man finds the leaves of thought form
the newspapers so that he can formulate his own opinions, ideas and judgment about the issues
that press the current political, economic and social scenario. In the past , the critical situation
like the Chinese aggression against India , the Sino-Soviet rift , the negotiations between the
countries on issues regarding disarmament or nuclear test been proposals, the Pakistani invasion,
formation of Bangladesh, party wrangles etc, have been handled with great maturity by the press.