Journalism
in India
Student Faculty//Anaggha Nethra
Student Rep//Shivani Radhakrishnan
EARLIEST
PUBLICATIONS
Indian media was active since
the late 18th century
Print media (1780)
Radio broadcasting (1927)
The screening of Auguste and Louis Lumière
moving pictures in Bombay (1895).
India is among the oldest and largest media of the world
Media in India has been free and independent throughout most of its history
The period of emergency (1975–1977), declared by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, was the brief
period when India's media was faced with potential government retribution
India consumed 99 million newspaper copies as of 2007 - second largest market in the world for
newspapers
By 2009, India had a total of 81,000,000 Internet users
7,570,000 people in India had access to broadband Internet as of 2010 - 11th largest country in
the world in terms of broadband Internet users
India is among the 4th largest television broadcast stations in the world with nearly 1,400
stations
'A Chronicle of Media and the State', by Jeebesh
Bagchi in the Sarai Reader 2001 is a handy timeline
on the role of the state in the development of media
in India for more than a century.
Bagchi divides the timeline into three 'ages'. The Age
of Formulation-starts with the Indian Telegraph Act
in 1885 and ends with the Report of the Sub-
Committee on Communication, National Planning
Committee in 1948.
RUDYARD
A renowned man of the pen was born in Bombay
KIPLING
He joined Civil and Military Gazette (1872) at the age of 17-
worked for five years in Gazette- then moved to the
Pioneer
His writings specially monologue and fictions were very
impressive- ‘writing and everything associated with, is a
glorious fun’, ‘I love both the fun and riot of writing’
He served about 7 years in India as a journalist
He is still remembered as a creative journalist in the
history of Indian journalism
Reflections of his Indian experience can be seen in his
several writings: The Jungle Book, Kim, and many short
stories, including "The Man Who Would Be King"
TURNING POINT OF INDIAN
JOURNALISM
The Indian Rebellion of 1857 was a
major, but ultimately unsuccessful,
uprising in India in 1857–58 against
the rule of the British East India
Company, which functioned as a
sovereign power on behalf of the
British Crown
British owned press acted like blood
mongers of Indians.
This event worked as a fuel to
Indian owned press against the
British rule in India.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Gangadhar Bhattacharjee,
Bhawani Charan Bannerjee, Dwarkanath Tagore,
Girish Chandra Ghose, Harischandra Mukharjee,
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Kristo Pal, Manmohan
Ghose, Keshub Chander Sen
Other major publications by Indians- The
Reformer, Enquirer, Gyan Auneshun, Bengal
Herald, Bang Doot, Hindu Patriot, Indian
Mirror, Sulab Samachar, etc.
AFTER MUTINY
The Bombay Times and Telegraph merged into Times of
India in 1861, Robert Knight was the owner, he was also
owner of Statesman daily (1875) from Calcutta, Indian
Economist monthly and Agriculture Gazette of India, his
editorials and writings were balanced and impressive.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF SOCIETIES
1.Republic society
A republic society is a form of
government in which "power is held
by the people and their elected
representatives". In republics, the
country is considered a "public
matter", not the private concern or
property of the rulers.
For example, The United States,
Germany, and Switzerland, India
Democratic society is a form of government in
which the people have the authority to choose 2.DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY
their governing legislators.
The notion of democracy has evolved over
time considerably, and, generally, the two
current types of democracy are direct and
representative.
In a direct democracy, the people directly
deliberate and decide on legislation.
In a representative democracy, the people elect
representatives to deliberate and decide on
legislation, such as in parliamentary or
presidential democracy.
For example, Norway, Iceland, Sweden, and
New Zealand.
3.COMMUNIST SOCIETY
In Marxist thought, a communist society or the
communist system is the type of society and economic
system postulated to emerge from technological advances
in the productive forces.
A communist society is characterized by common
ownership of the means of production with free access
to the articles of consumption and is classless and
stateless, implying the end of the exploitation of
labour.
For example, The People's Republic of China, The
Republic of Cuba, The Lao People's Democratic
Republic and The Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
FREEDOM REFORMERS IN INDIA
1. Mahadev Govinda Ranade
An Indian scholar, social reformer, judge and author.
Founding members of the Indian National Congress party and co-
founded the 'Widow Marriage Association'
Establish the Vaktruttvottejak Sabha, the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha,
Maharashtra Granthottejak Sabha, and the Prarthana Samaj.
Rise of the Maratha Power (1900), Note on the Decentralization of
Provincial Finance(1894),Essays on Indian Economics: A Collection
of Essays and Speeches(1899) were some of M.G.Ranade’s
publications.
2. Dadabhoi Naoroji
Also known as the "Grand Old Man of India" and
"Unofficial Ambassador of India"
Dadabhai Naoroji is regarded as one of the most
important Indians during the birth of the nascent
independence movement.
In the year 1883, Dadabhai Naoroji started
publishing the newspaper "The Voice of India"
from Bombay.
Rast Goftar ("The Truth Teller") was an Anglo-
Gujarati paper operating in Bombay that was
started in 1854 by Dadabhai Naoroji and
Kharshedji Cama and championed social reform
among Parsis in Western India.
3. Gopal Rao Hari Deshmukh
An Indian activist, thinker, social reformer and writer from
Maharashtra.
In 1867, the government appointed him a small cause judge
in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
Deshmukh started writing articles aimed at social reform in
Maharashtra in the weekly Prabhakar under the pen name
Lokhitawadi.
He started a weekly Hitechchhu in both Gujarati and
English.
He took a leadership role in founding Gyan Prakash , Indu
Prakash, and Lokhitwadi periodicals in Maharashtra.
He wrote Panipat war, Kalyog, Jatibhed, Lankecha Itihas.
4. Vishu Shastri Pandit
A Marathi writer, whose writings have had a decisive influence on
modern Marathi prose style.
In 1880, he founded (together with Gopal Ganesh Agarkar and Bal
Gangadhar Tilak) the newspapers Kesari (केसरी, in Marathi) and
Mahratta (in English).
In 1878, he founded Kavyetihas Sangraha with the objective of
better familiarizing the readers with the poetry and history of
Maharashtra.
The same year he established two printing presses, namely
Aryabhushan Press and Chitrashala press, the latter for the purpose
of printing pictures of historical and spiritual figures and deities in
Maharashtra.
.The next year, he opened a bookshop named Kitabkhana, with the
objective of making available inspirational books to Marathi
readers.
5. Karsondas Mulji
A Gujarati language journalist, writer and social
reformer from India.
He started Satyaprakash, a weekly in Gujarati, in
which he attacked what he perceived to be the
immoralities of the Maharajas or hereditary high
priests of the Pushtimarg Vaishnavism, to which the
Bhatias belonged.
6. Bal Sashtri Jambhekar
Also known as Father of Marathi journalism for his efforts in
starting journalism in Marathi language with the first newspaper in
the language named 'Darpan' in the early days of British Rule in
India.
The newspaper Darpan was born out of this patriotism and social
awareness.The first issue of Darpan was published on 6 January
1832.
The newspaper was printed both in English and Marathi languages
in two separate columns. Marathi was meant for the general public
and English was meant for the ruling British.
In 1840 he published the first Marathi monthly, Digdarshan
(meaning direction in English). He edited this magazine for 5 years.
He was the first person to print Dnyaneshwari in 1845. It was known
as the first ever-printed version.
7. Surendranath Banerjee
One of the earliest Indian political leaders during the
British Rule.
He founded a nationalist organization called the
Indian National Association.
In 1879, he founded the newspaper, The Bengalee.
In 1883, Banerjee was arrested for publishing remarks
in his paper, in contempt of court, protests and hartals
erupted across Bengal, and in Indian cities such as
Agra, Faizabad, Amritsar, Lahore and Pune.
He became the first Indian journalist to be
imprisoned.
8. Motilal Ghosh
Moti Lal Ghosh started Amrita Bazar Patrika as a
weekly first.
It was first edited by Motilal Ghosh, who did not
have a formal university education.
It had built its readership as a rival to Bengalee
which was being looked after by Surendranath
Banerjee.
9. Bipin Chandra Pal
An Indian nationalist, writer, orator, social reformer and
Indian independence movement freedom fighter.
He stood against the partition of Bengal by the colonial
British government.
Pal is known as the Father of Revolutionary Thoughts in
India.
As a journalist, Pal worked for Bengal Public Opinion, The
Tribune and New India, where he propagated his brand of
nationalism.
10. G. Subramania Aiyer
A leading Indian journalist, social reformer and freedom
fighter who founded 'The Hindu' English newspaper on 20
September 1878.
He was proprietor, editor and managing director of The Hindu
from 20 September 1878 to October 1898.
Also founded the Tamil language newspaper 'Swadesamitran'
in 1882.
Swadesamitran became a daily in 1899 and dominated the
Tamil journalism until 1934.
It became the mouthpiece of the Indian National Congress
party.
The Golden Era of Indian Mission Journalism (1920 – 1947)
Declaration of non-cooperation movement against British rule in
India.
Press marched shoulder to shoulder with Satyagrahis.
Mahatma Gandhi lauded for freedom of expression, ideas and
people’s sentiments
Gandhi would not accept adv., he believed newspapers should survive
on the revenue from subscribers
He would not accept any restrictions on the paper, he rather close it
down
His writings were widely circulated and reproduced in the newspapers
all over the country
A big challenge to non-Gandhian newspapers.
Gandhi declared ‘Salt Satyagraha’ in
1930
The nationalist press played a
memorable role, which perhaps is
unique in the history of any freedom
movement.
Press ordinance issued in 1930 to
suppress Indian press through heavy
security deposits.
When second world war broke out ,
British rulers became more
suppressive to the Indian press
All India Newspaper Editors Conference held in 1940 at
Delhi voiced against the suppressive attitude of the British
govt.
Fresh suppression and struggle started from 1942 when
Quit India Movement initiated
Many press, publications and journalists including
Neharu suspended and arrested in 1942
It continued until the declaration of independence in 1947
August
K. Rama Rao, Editor, Swarajya “ It was more than a
vocation, it was a mission and the newspaper was a noble
enterprise working for patriotic purpose”.
Indian Press: 1947 Onwards
India received independence from British rule on
1947 August 15th
The press celebrated the independence, because it
was their victory too.
At the beginning of independence the relation
between the national govt. and press was good, but
a year after situation was changed
P M Nehru, Sardar Ballav Bhai Patel, etc. were not
happy with the press.
Press Commission- 1952, report- 1954
Recommendations – Press Council, press registrar, minimum basic salary for
working journalists, strengthen the role of the editors
The working journalist act-1955
The newspaper (price and page) act- 1956
Press Council established – 1965
P.M. MRS. INDIRA GANDHI DECLARED
STATE OF EMERGENCY ON 1975 JUNE
A shocking blow to the freedom of press
Ignored the press freedom guaranteed by article 19
(1) in the constitution
Heavy censorship during the emergency period
under Defence Rule “ in order to maintain public
order…”
1975 Dec 8th ordinance banned the publication of
all ‘objectionable matter’, no permission to report
parliament, close down Press Council , blaming it POST-
was failed to curb provocative writings
EMERGENCY
During 19 months of emergency 253
journalists detained and 7 foreign
correspondence expelled
When Janata Dal came into power, all the
restrictions over press were removed
After emergency Indian press became more
professional along with high tech.,
simultaneous publications increased,
tremendous change in the contents, more
supplements, booming of specialized
magazines
Press Council re- established under new act-
28 member, chaired by retired judge of high
court
Top Circulation
The Times of India – approx. 18 lakh copies / day
The Indian Express – approx. 15 lakh copies / day
NOTE : Circulation information may differ in changing situation.
CENTENARIAN
NEWSPAPERS OF
INDIA
The Times of India – 1861
Amrit Bazar Patrika – 1868
Pioneer - 1872
The Statesman - 1875
The Hindu - 1878
Press Trust of India (PTI) 1947
NEWS AGENCIES
Hindustan Samachar 1948
United News of India (UNI)- 1961
Samachar Bharati –1965
Hindustan Samachar and Samachar
Bharati produce news in various
Indian languages while PTI and UNI
in English
Press Information Bureau (PIB),
under the Ministry of Information,
provides government news and
information in English, Hindi, Urdu
and 13 regional languages.
State of Modern Mass Media
Indian media had evolved, realigned and reinvented itself to a large
extent.
Now-a-days you can see a clear division between commercial and
aesthetic expressions of our Media Giants, sometimes arbitrary.
Modern mass communication media is poles apart relative to any
aesthetic feeling: vulgarity and arrogance nullify any hypothesis of
meaning.
Aesthetics is the more powerful answer to violence of modern mass
communication.
Goal of mass communication is always the unbiased dissipation of
any content, and the world wide web is no exception, and surely is
the most efficient media tool.
For example It’s also very interesting to observe how the old media are becoming more and
more permeable to blogs and D.I.Y. information.
This phenomenon is not due to a fascination in more democratic information sources. On the
contrary - the pressure is rising due to the growth of the eyes’ (cameras and new digital devices)
that are watching the same events that mainstream media are reporting to us: the possibility of
being uncovered are too many and broadcast journalists are forced to tell the truth (or at least a
plausible version of it).
Post liberalization of the economy boom
in magazine
BENGALI
MAGAZINES
Anandalok
Bengali film magazine published by
Ananda Publishers from Kolkata, India. It
is usually published on the 12th and 27th
of every month. Anandalok started on 25
January 1975.
2. Anandamela
Children's periodical in the Bengali language
published by ABP Limited (Ananda Bazar Patrika
Group) from Kolkata, India.
Colourful page is distributed free of cost on
sundays.
Rituparno Ghosh was a significant editor of
Anandamela.
Satyajit Ray designed the cover of first issue.
On 19 June 2004, Anandamela split up into two
different magazines, the original Anandamela (for
children age 8 – 14), and Unish Kuri, (for teens and
young adults age 15 – 25).
3. Desh
Desh is an esteemed Bengali language literary
magazine published by Anandabazar Patrika
Limited from India on 2nd & 17th of every month.
This magazine, which is in publication since 1933,
has been edited by editors like Sagarmoy Ghosh in
the past.
After the death of Sagarmoy Ghosh, Desh started
publishing non-fiction articles and essays on topics
of current, historical and cultural interest.
Journalist and Ramon Magsaysay award winner
Amitabha Chowdhury edited the magazine for quite
some time after Sagarmoy Ghosh.
It is often referred to as the "New Yorker of Bengal".
GUJRATI / HINDI
MAGAZINES
1. Grihshobha
Grihshobha was the second best-selling women's
magazine in India
Started in 1979 as a monthly by the Delhi Press Group.
Biweekly magazine.
It focuses on women's issues, and often features
racy short stories, fashion, recipes, advice columns,
and comments on socialites and current events.
It was started in Hindi language, it has editions in
languages Bangla, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam,
Marathi, Tamil and Telugu.
2. Buddhi Prakash
Established in 1850 as a lithotype fortnightly.
The first issue of the magazine was
published on 15 May 1850 from Ahmedabad.
It had 16 pages with articles on 26 subjects
ranging from science and technology to
philosophy.
It cost 1.5 Anna to readers per issue then.
Buddhiprakash was the leading magazine in
the social reform era of Gujarat in the 19th
century, advocating reforms in a variety of
fields.
3.Chitralekha (weekly)
Chitralekha's first issue was
published in 1950, under the
editorship of Vaju Kotak.
Part of the Chitralekha Group
from Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
It has given rise to many
prominent Gujarati columnists
including Kanti Bhatt,
Chandrakant Bakshi, Taarak
Mehta, and others.
On 20 April 2011, the Indian Postal
Service issued a Rs. 5
commemorative postage stamp
honouring Chitralekha.
4.Safari
A monthly science and general
knowledge magazine published in
Gujarati and English language, by
Harshal Publications, Ahmedabad in
Gujarat, India.
Editor and publisher: Nagendra Vijay.
The tagline of the magazine reads "A
magazine for intelligent readers".
It also updates the knowledge of readers
by the Section 'New Research'.
It is considered as one of the best
magazines in Gujarati language, in terms
of popularity and quality of content
5.Femina
Founded in 1959.
It has organized and sponsored the Femina Miss
India beauty pageant since 1964.
Femina is an Indian magazine owned by Worldwide
Media, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Times
Group.
Femina, the oldest women's English magazine in the
country, has been published for almost six decades.
It has evolved to cover a broad spectrum of topics,
including relationships, career, fashion, beauty, and
women achievers who have left a mark in their
chosen field.
6. Akhand Jyoti
Monthly magazine published from Mathura.
It was started in 1938 by Pt. Shriram Sharma
Acharya, the founder of All World Gayatri Pariwar.
The main objective of the magazine is to promote
scientific spirituality and the religion of the 21st
century, that is, scientific religion.
The magazine is published in more than 10
languages and has more than a million subscribers
all across the globe.
Akhand Jyoti covers various aspects of life, such as,
personality development, health management,
familial management, societal development, social
sustainability, nation building and scientific
spirituality.
7. Pratiyogita Darpan
Established by Shri Mahendra Jain in 1978.
Published by Upkar Prakashan based in Agra, it
is a widely read and popular magazine for
exams and covers wide areas from current
affairs, economy, geography, history, politics
and constitution of India.
The magazine also has an online version, and is
published in English and Hindi languages.
According to Indian Readership Survey (IRS),
with an average issue readership (AIR) of 2.154
million, in 2011 Q2, it topped the list of career/
education magazines in India it also had a total
readership of 5 million, and was the 3rd largest
magazine in India.
8. Meri Saheli
Known for its women-oriented, strong and
powerful content that aims to touch every aspect
that matters to the womenfolk.
Torchbearer of feminine growth and changing
time.
The magazine is renowned to be a progressive one,
focussing not just on fashion, beauty, and
relationships but also on finance, careers and
education.
It encourages them to adopt new thinking and
concepts, without compromising on our culture's
good values and rich traditions.
Issue by issue, Meri Saheli comes loaded with
informative, liberal content, with only one agenda
—catalysing the growth and development of
women, in not just the metros but all over India.
Kannada Magazines
1. Kasthuri or Kasturi
Monthly family-interest magazine, which has its
headquarters in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
It is also published from Mangalore, Gulbarga,
Davangere, and Hubli.
Kasthuri covers topics like society, Kannada poetry,
science fiction, spirituality, health, travel, technology,
cookery, book review, beauty. It publishes a large
number of editorial cartoons, on politics and society.
The magazine is subscribed in educational institutions
like Tumkur University, JSS College of Arts, Commerce
& Science, Kuvempu University, Mysore University,
Mangalore University, and Gulbarga University, etc.
2. Taranga or Tharanga
Kannada weekly family interest
magazine, published in Karnataka,
India, which has its headquarters in
Manipal, Karnataka.
Taranga covers topics such as short
stories, poems, serialized fiction,
spirituality, health, travel and
technology, cookery, fashion,
beauty, film news, sports, culture etc
It publishes cartoons too, on politics
society.
3. Tunturu
Major Kannada bi-monthly
children's magazine, published in
Karnataka, India, which has its
headquarters in Manipal,
Karnataka.
For the past few years, Sandhya Pai
has been the Managing editor of
the magazine.
The magazine was launched in
January 2000, by Manipal Media
Network Ltd. (MMNL).
4. Udayavani
"Morning Voice" in Kannada, its is a
Kannada Daily News Paper with
editions from Manipal, Bengaluru,
Mumbai, Hubballi, Davanagere and
Gulbarga.
Launched in January 1970 by
Mohandas Pai and T.Satish U Pai,
Udayavani with a combined circulation
exceeding 3,00,000 copies widely read
in Coastal Karnataka region.
It has also substantial circulation in
Bangalore and other centers.
5. Mangala
A weekly Kannada film magazine,
circulated in Karnataka, India owned by
Mangalam Publication (India) Pvt. Ltd.,
located in Kottayam, Kerala
6. Mayura
Major Kannada monthly literary magazine,
published in Karnataka, India, which has its
headquarters in Mysuru, Karnataka.
Mayura was started in 1968 by The Printers,
Mysore.
It is also published from Davangere, Gulbarga,
Mangaluru, Hubli, Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata,
Chennai and Hyderabad.
The magazine includes novels, stories (detective,
scientific and secular), short stories, children
stories, comedy write ups, film reviews, celebrity
interviews, serials/soaps and more.
Stories translated from Telugu, Tamil,
Malayalam, Hindi, Marathi, English and other
languages are often published.
