History of Journalism

Malti Mehta
Educational Multi Media Research Centre

Ahmedabad

What is Journalism ?
    

Calling ? A Public service ? An Entertainment ? A Cultural Industry ? A Tool for Propaganda, Public Relations & Advertising ? A combination of all Above ?

Origin of the word..



Journalist , Journal & Journalism derived from Latin term Diurnalis meaning Daily The Acta Diurna a hand written bulletin put up daily in the Forum the main public square in ancient Rome was the first News paper in the world

Origin of the word..



Later on, Pamphlets, Reviews, Periodicals, Gazettes, News Books, News Sheets & Letters termed as Newspapers Those who wrote for them were called News writers or Essayists and later on as Journalists

Journalism in India


Journalism is over two centuries old It was made possible by coming together of number of technologies and several social, political & economic developments

Printing machine

Journalism in India


The main technology that facilitated large scale printing was the Printing press Distribution of print material made possible by the Railways

Journalism in India- Beginning India

James Augustus Hicky, a printer by profession, is considered as the Father of Indian Press He started Bengal Gazette also known as Hicky s Gazette in 1780 as a Weekly political & commercial paper open to all parties but influenced by none

Journalism in India- Beginning India

The Bengal Gazette was no better than a scandal sheet, aiming at individuals like Mrs. Warren Hastings; publishing likely engagements &announcements of marriages A year later, in 1781, Sir Warren Hastings first denied postal facilities to Hicky & later on, he was arrested & sent to jail. He was writing from jail also, but was stopped by the types used for printing were seized

After Hickey..


Five news papers in Bengal within next six years by Englishmen. Some with government patronage The Madras Courier & Bombay Herald in 1789, subservient to the govt., hence flourished. Total circulation of all these weekly news papers was not more than 2000.

Indian Language Press



Samachar Darpan by Serampore Missionaries in Bengali. First daily published on May 23, 1818 Miratool Akbar , a Persian News paper by Raja Ram Mohan Roy. He wished to indicate to the rulers a knowledge of the real situation of their subjects with the established laws & customs of their rules . He stopped his paper in protest against Govt. Press regulations

Raja Ram Mohan Roy

Indian Language Press



Bengal Gazetti a Bengali news paper by Ganga Kishore Bhattacharya in 1818. On July 1, 1822, the first Gujarati news paper Bombay Samachar , published from Bombay, which is still exist as Mumbai Samachar

Indian Language Press



 

Mombai Vartaman in 1830, Jan-eJanJamshed in 1831, Bombay Darpan in 1850 (dailies) Oodant Marthand , first Hindi news paper in 1826 In South, a Tamil & a Telugu news papers established with the aid from govt. grant

News paper from South

Indian Language Press



In 1839, nine Bengali news papers with circulation of 200 each British press with 26 news papers including six dailies flourished under the liberal rule of Lord Metcalfe & Lord Auckland

Indian Language Press



After 1857, with the Crown taking over the Colony from East India Company, Religious tolerance & Press freedom were promised Main topics of discussion in press were sati, caste, widow remarriage, polygamy, crimes & opposition to the teaching of English in schools & Colleges Gujarati Press in Bombay excelled in defense of Indian way of life

Indian Language Press



During the next two decades till 1880, The Times of India ( 1861), Pioneer , Madras Mail & Amrit Bazar Patrika were established Kesari in Marathi, founded by Lokmanya Tilak played key role in reporting the first meeting of Indian National Congress on December 28, 1888

Indian Language Press



Kesari & Amrit Bazar Patrika opposed British govt. s attempts to suppress Nationalist Aspirations. They also oppose govt. s interference with traditional Hindu customs & its disrespect for the privacy of Indian people. Tilak charged the govt. with negligence in providing relief during the country wide famine in 1896-97, which resulted death of 1896over a million people.

Indian Language Press



Tilak was arrested, convicted & jailed for six years as Lord Elgin added sections to the Indian Penal Code to enable govt. to take action against those who creates disaffection against Crown . Kesari continued to influence people as a national daily.

Indian Language Press



Bande Mataram by Aurobindo Ghose, Sandhya by B.B.Upadhyaya & Jugantar by B.N.Dutt promoted Press freedom. They also were prosecuted. In 1910, the Indian Press Act clamped further controls in the wake of the partition of Bengal & violent attacks by terrorists in Ahmedabad, Ambala & elsewhere

Indian Press
 

Vernacular press suffered rigorous suppression during 1910-14. 1910World War I ( 1914-18) introduced still 1914more severe press laws. Yet Nationalist Agitations were on. New India by Annie Besant supported by Bombay Chronicle & Maratha advocated for Home Rule

Annie Besant

Indian Press


Annie Besant was exiled; Benjamin Horniman, editor of Bombay Chronicle was deported. The Rowlatt Act of 1919 infuriated Indian opinion. Mahatma Gandhi took the leadership. His Non-cooperative Nonmovement took the Press by storm

Indian Press


The Bangalar Katha in Calcutta, Swadesh Mitram in the South & Hindustan Times , Pratap & Basumati in the North were launched by the Swaraj Party, led by C.R.Das, Vallabhbhai Patel & Motilal Nehru Several laws were made during 1930s to force the closure of many press

Indian Press


Indian Express & Dhenamani in Madras, Free Press Journal in Bombay & Gujarati & Marathi Journals started by Free Press of India News agency during 1930s. During Quit India movement ( 1942) & World War II, Press in India, including English Press played important role in reporting the freedom struggle fairly.

Indian Press


We can say that the press played no small part in India s victory to freedom. Free India s Constitution upheld the citizen s right to freedom of speech & expression. This includes Freedom of Press.

India became Independent..

After Independence..


October 1951, Press Act ( Objectionable Matters) was passed, which was reminiscent of earlier press laws by British Rulers. It was opposed and in 1956, it was lapsed. First Press Commission was formed in 1956.

Press during Nehru era..



Indian press successfully covered all major events like three General Elections, Formation of Linguistic states, Take-over of Goa, War with TakeChina etc.

During Indira Gandhi s time..



She was not in favour of complete freedom of press. Press was critical to her decisions about Nationalization of Banks, Privy Purses, the Congress split etc. Press supported her govt. during IndoIndoPak war in 1971.

Emergency -1975-76 1975

Press became critical for rampant corruption in the country and corrupt election practices by Mrs. Gandhi. Allahabad High court s verdict of her being guilty, reached to its climax and as a result, Internal Emergency was declared on 25 June, 1975.

Emergency -1975-76 1975

PrePre-censorship was imposed. Govt. suppressed transmission of news by imposing censorship on News Papers, Radio, T.V., Telex, Telegrams, News Agencies & on Foreign Correspondents

Emergency -1975-76 1975

The underground press was still very active. More than 34 printing presses were seized. More than 7000 people were arrested in connection with publishing and circulating the literature against govt.

Post Emergency..


In 1976, emergency was lifted & general elections announces. She was defeated by Janata Party. Second Press Commission was formed to decide about the Freedom of Press in a democratic country like India.