Team News Riveting
National Press Day is observed on November 16 every year to acknowledge and honor the Press Council of India, a statutory and quasi-judicial establishment.
The day marks the presence of an independent and responsible press in India.
An independent and free press is one of the four pillars of a strong democracy. To highlight the importance of a free and independent press in India, National Press Day is celebrated on the November 16 every year. The press council of India is a free-acting body. Press Day is celebrated to also honour its contribution to making India a democracy.
While the media acts as one of the pillars of a democratic nation, the journalists working in various media houses (print and broadcast) act as the mirror whose reports and stories reflect various aspects of society, as they are and with complete truth. The Day portrays the press’s freedom, duties, and responsibilities towards the citizens.
In November 1954, the First Press Commission envisioned forming a committee or body that enjoyed statutory authority to keep the ethics of journalism under check and maintain it properly. In addition, the commission realized that a proper managing body was required to maintain an appropriate connection with all the press bodies and tackle issues that the press faced.
Thus, ten years later, in November 1966, the PCI or the Press Commission of India was formed under Justice J R Mudholkar to monitor the proper functioning of the Indian media and press, checking the quality of the reporting. PCI’s job is to ensure that the press and media are not swayed by any influence or external factors. After the Press Council of India was established on the 4th of July, it started functioning from the 16th of November. To commemorate the establishment of the body, the day is celebrated as the National Press Day of India.
This year, National Press Day 2022 will mark the 56th anniversary of the Press Council’s establishment.
