The Fourth Pillar Of Democracy: Celebrating National Press Day Today

New Delhi: It is National Press Day today, November 16. It is celebrated every year across the country as a day to commemorate the setting up of the Press Council of India, a statutory and quasi-judicial establishment.

India was labelled among the five most dangerous countries in terms of journalists killed across the world last year, according to a report by media watchdog Reporters Without Borders.

Yet journalists continue with their jobs undaunted, for the sheer passion of reporting. Despite adverse circumstances, journalists are said to be a mirror of society, reflecting the truth. Symbolic of the freedom of the press and the responsibilities it has towards society, this day also marks the freedom of the press in the country.

The Press Council of India started functioning on this day. The day marks the presence of an independent and responsible press in India. The media is known as the fourth pillar of democracy.

On November 16, 1966, the Press Council of India was established to monitor the quality of Indian press reporting. In 1956, India’s First Press Commission envisioned a committee to protect journalism ethics and freedom of expression. All journalistic activities are monitored by the Press Council of India in order to maintain credibility.

According to the Press Council of India’s official website, the council is traditionally chaired by a retired Supreme Court Judge and 28 additional members of which 20 are members of the media outlets operating in India. Five members are nominated from the Houses of the Parliament and the remaining three represent cultural, legal and literary fields.

Here are some tweets congratulating journalists: