One of the pillars of democracy in any nation is the media. The power that the media holds is commendable, but at the same time one must not ignore the responsibility it wields as well. The media holds an immense amount of influence on the public, and it can make or break the system as we know it. While it is important to regulate the media, as too much of power can lead to potential abuse, it is equally important to protect the media against encroachment of their basic rights. In a democratic society media enjoy more powers and face less restrictions and regulations. In an authoritarian form of governance, the working of the media is restricted and controlled to a great extent. Sometimes media in autocracies or under military rule are not all free.
In India, the situation is a mixed one. The mass media enjoy certain freedom. But the Constitution imposes certain reasonable restrictions. Then there are laws that regulate the functioning of mass media in India. Media laws in India have a long history right from the British rule. The Government enacted several rules and regulations in India to perpetuate in rule. After independence, more laws have been enacted and the old ones amended for the benefit of the society. In the olden days, whenever one would speak of the media, it would normally be the newspapers and at most the television. Today, times have changed. Media not only includes newspapers, but also the news TV channels, the internet, and much more. While the Constitution of India does not grant a direct right to the media, there is an indirect provision that is present in the form of Article 19(1)(a), which guarantees the freedom of expression of speech. However, it is pertinent to note that such a right given is not absolute, and must be used with discretion.
Since the situation of the laws that govern the media is so dicey, it becomes difficult to teach the same via simple classroom teaching.This is precisely why Enhelion has partnered with Scriboard Advocates and Legal Consultants to bring about a course titled “Certificateon New Media Laws”, which has a comprehensive syllabus that empowers the learner with all the knowledge needed in the particular field.