Press Freedom

Delhi High Court quashes govt's 1987 eviction notice to Express Newspapers

The Delhi High Court has held as arbitrary and malafide the Centre's decision to terminate its lease deed with Express Newspapers for the Express Building' at Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg here and quashed the 37-year-old notice seeking ejection of the media house from the premises. Justice Prathiba M Singh, while dealing with the lawsuits by both the central government and Express Newspapers Ltd filed over three decades ago, said the action of the authorities was an attempt to "muzzle Express Newspapers and dry up its source of income." The court nonetheless directed Express Newspapers to pay around Rs 64 crore to the Centre as payment towards conversion charges, ground rent and additional ground rent in relation to the building. The termination of the lease dated 17th March, 1958 by notice dated 29th September, 1987 and 2nd November, 1987 is arbitrary and mala fide, it ruled on Friday. The re-entry notice to Express Newspapers as also the notices to the tenants (in Express building) b

Urge stakeholders to stand against threat to press freedom: Subhash Chandra

He also said that there have been structured attempts against it by the governing class

Targeting journalists a crime, says Al Jazeera as Israel shuts down channel

Al Jazeera Media Network stated that it would pursue legal channels through international legal institutions against the Israeli cabinet's decision to shut down its offices in the country

World Press Freedom Day 2024: History, theme, importance, and more

Press Freedom Day highlights the fundamental principles of press freedom, which is observed annually on May 3. It gives people a chance to think about how important free media are to society

World Press Freedom Day 2024: Here's the best inspirational quotes, wishes

World Press Freedom Day 2024: Media is the fourth pillar of democracy and media personnel often face challenges in performing their duties. Here are the best quotes and wishes

From 'god-gifted' to press freedom: What PM Modi said in Newsweek interview

The Prime Minister spoke on a host of issues ranging from India-China border tensions to India's economic growth and Ram Mandir, among others

Will back legislation to ban foreign ownership of British newspapers: UK

The UK government said on Wednesday it will back legislation banning foreign state ownership of British newspapers and magazines, a move that could upend a planned takeover by a United Arab Emirates-led consortium of the Telegraph Media Group. The development comes after numerous lawmakers from across the political divide urged for an explicit ban, rather than using a regulatory approach to ensure that publications don't parrot views of state actors. The minister in charge of media, Stephen Parkinson, said the government will table an amendment to the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill currently making its way through Parliament. The bill, which is expected to pass easily, will prevent the takeover of British publications by foreign governments. However, foreign individuals and firms will continue to be able to own papers and magazines. Freedom of the press is fundamental to a functioning democracy," said Parkinson. What freedom of the press means is freedom from ...

Congress deplores arrest of 2 editors in Manipur, demands their release

The Congress on Sunday strongly deplored the reported arrest of two editors of vernacular newspapers in Manipur and demanded their immediate release, alleging a "double engine assault" by the Modi government and the Manipur dispensation on the state. In a statement, Congress' media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said that in yet another crackdown on press freedom, two editors from two language newspapers have been arrested by the Manipur government. On December 31, 2023, the BJP-controlled police arrested Wangkhemcha Shyamjai, the editor of vernacular daily Kangleipaki Meira, for allegedly publishing "provocative news", Khera said. On January 5, the Manipur Police also arrested Meitei language newspaper Hueiyen Lanpao's editor Dhanabir Maibam for "promoting enmity on the ground of religion and race", the Congress leader said. In a joint statement, the All-Manipur Journalists' Union, of which Shyamjai was a former chief, and the Editors Guild Manipur (EGM) condemned his .

Govt which restricts press freedom danger to democracy, says Congress

The opposition Congress in Kerala on Thursday attacked the ruling CPI(M) over its recent action against an online channel and reporters of two Malayalam TV channels, saying that a government which intervenes with or restricts press freedom is an "insult" and a "danger" to democracy. Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president K Sudhakaran said that the ruling Left in the state holds "grudges" against those media houses or reporters who criticise them and "takes revenge" when they get an opportunity. "That is the low standard politics of the CPI(M) in Kerala. Such a stand is reprehensible," the KPCC chief said and announced that a 'Media Freedom Meet' would be organised by it and as part of that police station marches would be held on July 26. Referring to the recent police action against a Thiruvananthapuram-based online news channel -- 'Marunadan Malayali' -- and its employees, Sudhakaran said that the force acted like "attackers" in the matter. "They can take action, but t

Press freedom in China has reached lowest point to date, finds report

Press freedom in China has reached its lowest point to date during and after the pandemic, revealed a recent survey

Hong Kong journalist wins in rare court ruling upholding media freedom

An award-winning Hong Kong journalist won an appeal quashing her conviction related to work on her investigative documentary Monday in a rare court ruling upholding media freedom in the territory. Bao Choy was found guilty in April 2021 of deceiving the government by getting vehicle ownership records for journalistic purposes after she had declared in her online application that she would use the information for other traffic and transport related issues. The investigative journalist was trying to track down perpetrators of a mob attack on protesters and commuters inside a train station during the massive anti-government protests in 2019 for her documentary. Choy was fined 6,000 Hong Kong Dollars (USD 765) for two counts of making false statements at that time and called it a very dark day for all journalists in Hong Kong. That ruling also sparked outrage among local journalists over the city's shrinking press freedom. On Monday, judges of the city's top court unanimously ruled in

World Press Freedom Day 2023: Importance, theme, quotes and more

May 3 is celebrated as World Press Freedom Day all over the world. The day aims to promote freedom of expression and freedom of the press.

Govt does not interfere with press freedom: Anurag Thakur tells Parliament

Press Council of India (PCI), a statutory autonomous body, has been set up under the Press Council Act, 1978 mainly to preserve the freedom of the Press and improve the standards of newspapers

Attack on press freedom is akin to suppressing people's voice: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said media is the fourth pillar of democracy and suppressing its voice is akin to suppressing the voice of the public. His comments came a day after the Income Tax department carried out a survey operation at British Broadcasting Corporation's (BBC) offices in Delhi and Mumbai. The operation was conducted as part of an investigation into alleged tax evasion, according to officials. "Media is the fourth pillar of democracy and an attack on its freedom is similar to suppressing the voice of public. Whosoever speaks against the BJP, these people deploy CBI, ED and I-T behind him," Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi. "Does the BJP want to crush the country's democratic system and institutions and turn the entire country into its slave?" he said. The action, which sparked a sharp political debate with the ruling BJP accusing the BBC of "venomous reporting" and the opposition questioning the timing of the move, comes weeks after the broadcaster ai

Income Tax department's survey on BBC India continues for second day

The Income Tax department survey operation against the BBC India continued for the second day with the sleuths understood to be making copies of electronic and paper-based financial data of the organisation, officials said Wednesday. The tax department had launched the action on Tuesday at the BBC's Delhi and Mumbai offices along with at least two linked premises as part of an investigation into alleged tax evasion against the British broadcaster in India. Sleuths knocked at the doors of the BBC around 11:30 AM on Tuesday and they are still present, sources aware of the development told PTI. The tax officials are speaking to staffers of the BBC in the finance and some other departments even as other staffers and journalists were allowed to leave Tuesday night. Some computer peripherals and mobile phones were cloned as part of the operation, officials had said. The action, which sparked a sharp political debate with the ruling BJP accusing the BBC of "venomous reporting" and the ..

There should be more activism by SC: Ex-judge Lokur flags issues of freedom

While assaults on press freedom continue in India, there have also been some instances of violation of the citizens' fundamental rights, former Supreme Court judge Madan B Lokur noted on Friday, saying the apex court should be alert to such cases. Referring to some recent cases, Justice (retired) Lokur also noted that getting released from jail on bail has been difficult for some people and said there should be "more activism" on the part of the Supreme Court when it comes to the issue of personal liberty. Justice Lokur was addressing an event organised to present the prestigious IPI-India award for excellence in journalism. Former chief justice of India UU Lait and Justice Lokur, who was the chairperson of the jury, presented the award to news portal "The Print" and NDTV's journalist Saurabh Shukla. The Print's editor-in-chief Shekhar Gupta received the award on behalf of the portal. "Between the last award ceremony and the present one, there has been one area where change has tak

Centre revives bill to regulate registration of digital news media: Report

The govt will propose the Registration of Press and Periodicals Bill, 2019 with the changes before the Union Cabinet soon, says a media report

Journalists under pressure amid erosion of press freedom: Google News Lab

Misinformation is top of mind almost everywhere in the region, and journalists feel as if it's their cross to bear

WEF 2022 day 4 schedule: Here's what will happen at Davos Annual meeting

WEF 2022 day 4 schedule: Leaders from the tech world looked at improved collaboration on Wednesday

Hong Kong plummets in Press Freedom rankings as China tightens control

The People's Republic of China ranked 175th and North Korea ranked the lowest at 180.