BANGLADESH
Media History – 3 phases a) Under British Rule b) East Pakistan Era c) After Independence
a)Under British Rule (1780 – 1947) Calcutta , then capital city of India was the center of social ,cultural and intellectual activities of whole India.- Bangbhumi was an influence area of Calcutta-J. A. Hicky published first newspaper Bengal Gazette (English weekly) in 1780 from Calcutta- it was the first newspaper in Indian sub- continent
- Bengali monthly magazine for youth DigDarshan published in 1818
- Weekly Samachar Darpan and Friend of India (1819), Rangpur barta (1847),
- Amrit Bazar Barta (1868), English biweekly Bengal times from Dhaks (1871)
Other publications- Rangpur Dikprakashan, Kabita Kushumabali, Dhaka Prakash, Bangabandhu, Gramdoot, Balarangika,Hitasandhani, Barishal Barta, Hindu Rangika etc.
- more than 65 publications from 1900 to 1947 from Dhaka, Barishal, Rajshahi, Rangpur etc. as a part of revolution and socio- cultural reform.
a) East Pakistan Era (1947 – 1971)
About 40 publications- major dailies were Azad, Morning News,Purbo Pakistan, Pakistan Observer, Ittefaq, Paigam, Dainik Bangla, Purbo Desh, Sangbad, Evening Post, Banglar Bani, Dainik Kisan, etc.
others- Zindagi, The people, Azadi, Nabajat,The People’s View, Bichitra, Amod, the Eastern Examiner etc.
Media played a vital role for the cause of Bengali language, culture and an independent nation.
c)After Independence ( 1947 on wards)
After independence from Pakistani rule, media came forward very actively. According to UNESCO , . leading dailies - Ittefaq, Bhorer Kagoj, Janakantha, Sangbad, Inquilab, Dainik Bangla, Ajker kagoj, Amar Desh, Juganter, The Observer, Daily Star, The Independent, New Nation, Dhaka Courier, The Holiday, Jai Jai Din, Blitz etc.
- newspapers are highly politicized
- almost every political parties are publishing or backing the newspapers
- the days were very hard for press under President Hussain Md. Ershad ‘s rule
RADIO (Bangladesh Betar)
Radio broadcast from 1939- first radio station in Dhaka as an extention of Calcutta station. Capacity – 5kw, coverage area –64km (only 8% of the land)
In East Pakistan era 100kw medium wave and 1000kw short wave transmitters installed in Dhaka. – relaying stations were in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Rangpur and khulana by 1971
- except national news and commentaries from Karachi, Dhaka Radio network functioned independently
- in 1971 during the war of liberation radio stations were destroyed.
-After independence, Bangaladesh opened first earth satellite station at Betbunia in 1975.
- Now 12 stations- Dhaka, Chittagong, Barisal,Bogra, Comilla, Cox bazaar, Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangmati, Rangpur, Sylhet, Thakur gaon.
- On air Language- Bengali, Arabi, Urdu, English, Hindi, Nepali
FM Radio- Metro Wave, Radio ABC, Radio Amar, Radio Foorti, Radio Today, Traffic Info. Broadcasting
- Now radio in Bangladesh is being regulated by 27 points official guidelines of National Broadcasting Authority, promulgated in 1986.
- Major problems- highly politicized , technological backwardness, dearth of advertisements and lack of private investment.
Bangladesh TV ( BTV)
- TV broadcast commenced in 1964 from Dhaka through 3kw transmitter during East Pakistan era
- Nippon Electric co. of Japan had great contribution in development of tv media in Bangladesh
- Nippon installed satellite station in Chittgong and relay stations in Khunla and Rajshahi before independence. Nippon is one of the major supporter of BTV.
- After independence BTV installed a tv station in Rampura in 1974, one of the largest tv station in South Asia.
- BTV 17 stations, 79 % program local production, 21% imported, more than 77% broadcast in Bengali, entertainment-55%, news- 15%, religious, social ,economic etc- 30%
- CTV ( Chittgong TV , BTV’s second channel), BTV world, Private Channels- ATN Bangla, Bangla Vision, Channel-1, Diganta, Equishey TV, Islamic TV, NTV, RTV, Boishaki TV, North Star Music TV, Desh TV
- All TVs have to follow the 27 points guidelines of National Broadcasting Authority
NEWS AGENCIES
1)Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) – estd.1972 a state run news agency
2) United News of Bangladesh (UNB) 1988 private
3) Bangladesh News Agency (BNA) 1993 private
4) News Agency of Bangladesh (NAB)private
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BHUTAN
- Bhutan was following policy of isolation.
- After Chinese occupation in Tibet in 1959, Bhutan established long term relation with India .Then after process of modernization began.
- KUENSEL ( clarity) the state run newspaper of Bhutan
- the only newspaper for about 45 years
- Hand written Nepali monthly Kuensel published from Thimpu in 1960
- First editor Bhim Kumar Rai and Suk Man Rai
- Published as a government gazette from 1964 in Nepali and English
- monthly, fortnightly , weekly (from 1986)
- At the beginning it was printed at Kalingpong
- A press machine was brought to Thimpu from Calcutta
- from 1974 Kuensel is being printed from Thimpu in Dzongkha language too
- At the beginning it was published only in Nepali language
- Kuensel corporation established in 1992
- 7 member board, headed by Secretary to Ministry of Communication
- An editor – in – chief and 3 separate language editors
- Combine circulation (English, Dzongkha and Nepali) 20,000
- From 1996 Kuensel improved the quality of printing with the assistance of DANIDA
- First color edition of Kuensel – 1999 July
PRIVATE PUBLICATIONS
- In 1979 Druklosel quaterly was published from private sector initiative
- Editor was Gaurishankar Adhikari
- one article titled ' Nepali kasari Bhutan puge" published in 1982
- then Druksel banned for ever
- The Bhutan Times – 2006- private weekly from Thimpu in English
- Bhutan Observer – 2006- private weekly from Phuentsholing in English &Dzon.
BHUTANESE PUBLICATIONS FROM FOREIGN LAND
- 1971/72 ‘ Amar Bhutan’ monthly, published by the Bhutanese students studying
at Banaras , Editor- Hari Pd. Adhikary
- I t was not in against of the Bhutanese government but they were called to Thimphu and forced to make written commitment for not to do so again
- All copies of Amar Bhutan were burnt
- New situation after 1990, democratic movement started
- Paper publication was a medium for the democratic movement
- In 1990 ‘Mukti ‘ monthly published by Bhutanese Peoples Party, editor – Jagir Man Lama, only 4 issues published
- 1991 Bhutan Focus by Bhutanese students organization
- 1993 Human Rights Organization of Bhutan published monthly Bhutan Review
- 1993 Nav Sandesh by students studying in Banaras
- 1994 Bhutani Kopila , yearly journal of Nepali Bhasa Parishad Bhutan
- 1995 The Refugee Post (Engish) by AHURA Bhutan
- 1996 Bhutan Observer by Bhutan Human Right Forum
- 1996 The Struggle monthly
- 1998 Sanatan Sandes
- 1998 Bhutan To-day by Druk National Congress
- 1999 Bhutan Times by Bhutan National Liberation Front
- 1999 Nari Mukti Sandesh by Bhutanese Women’s Forum
- 1999 Bhutan Jagaran fortnightly by Nepali Bhasa Parishad Bhutan
- 1999 Saptahik Sandesh by AHURA
- 2000 Dragon Times by Bhutan Youth Org.
- 2000 The Sangrila monthly by Raj Kamal group
- 2002 Naulo Awaj by Bhutan Jana Sanskritik Manch
-from 1990 to 2008 = about 25 Bhutani publications from foreign land in Nepali and English languages
Main objectives of these publications-
- to support democratic movement
- to attract international communities and foreign donors on Bhutanese situation
- to inform and educate the new generation of Bhutan who are in foreign land now
RADIO
- started in 1973 by National Youth Association of Bhutan (NYAB)
- an initiative taken by the members of royal family
- Radio NYAB one hour weekly program on Sun days
- specially English news and various musical programs
- coverage limited only in Thimphu
- Ministry of Comm. took over the station in 1979 and named as Bhutan Radio
- 3 hrs program thrice a week in 4 languages
- 1n 1986 UNESCO provided 10 kw short wave transmitter
- renamed as Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS)
- 1991 India provided 50kw SW transmitter
- 15 hrs. daily prog. from 2004
- Program in 4 languages – Dzongkha, English, Nepali (lotsamkha) and Sharchop
- From 1990 two FM under BBS management by UNESCO support
- International news from BBC, All India Radio and Radio Nepal
- radio covers 75 % of the country, plan to cover rest 25% by 2010
- 3 private FM from 2006 – Kuzoo, Radio Valley and Youth FM
TELEVISION
- In 1989 king banned all private satellites and channel distributors
- 28 private dishes dismantled
- In 1998 the king who is also a football fan, permitted to installed a large screen at sports ground in Thimphu to live cast the world cup football tournament held in France
- Started domestic TV only in 1999 June 2nd on the occasion of silver jubilee of coronation of the king
- Purpose of TV is mainly education
- at beginning 7 pm to 9pm broadcast in Dzongkha and English
- now 6 to 11pm daily program, next morning 7 am to 12 recasting the same
- from 2004 satellite transmission, coverage Bhutan + 40 countries
- no private tv
- no permission for foreign tv channels in order to protect cultural values
- Complicated geographical condition, conservative political system, small population etc. are major problems of Bhutanese media.
NO NEWS AGENCY IN BHUTAN TILL 2009 June
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INDIA
Under British Rule
- Bengal Gazette ( English weekly) published by James Augustus Hicky in 1780 Jan 29th from Calcutta
- It was the first news paper in South Asian sub- continent
- Bengal Gazette alias ‘Hicky Gazette’, ‘ Calcutta General Advertiser’
- Declaration ‘ a weekly political and commercial paper open to all but influenced by none’
- Hicky had his own column, many persons wrote by pen names
- Bengal Gazette could not survived more than two years due to sharp confrontation with Governer General Warren Hastings and Chief Justice Elijah Impey
- Indian Gazette as a rival to Bengal Gazette, published in the same year (1780) by Peter Reed, a salt agent (backing by Hastings)
- After Bengal Gazette, other publications from India were- Madras Courier weekly(1785), Bombay Herald weekly (1789) merged into Bombay Gazette in 1791, Hurukaru weekly (1793), Calcutta Chronicle (1818), Bengal Journal,Indian world, Bengal Harkarer etc.
- In the early period newspapers in India were run by Britishers
RUDYARD KIPLING-
A renowned man of the pen – born in Bombay – his father, a British citizen was a government officer in India – Rudyard joined Civil and Military Gazette (Lahore) in 1872 at the age of 17- worked for five years in Gazette- then moved to the Pioneer- his writtings specially monologue and fictions were very impressive- ‘ writing and every thing associated with, is a glorious fun’, ‘ I love both the fun and riot of writing’- after suffering from malaria he was compelled to left India and went ti England in1890- he served about 7 years in India as a journalist- he is still remembered as a creative journalist in the history of Indian journalism- reflections of his Indian experience can be seen in his several writings.
Indian’s involvement in publication
- Raja Ram Mohan Roy,( 1772- 1833) the pioneer Indian journalist and social reformer
- By his inspiration Gangadhar Bhattacharjee published Bengal Gazette (1816), the first Indian owned English daily newspaper, but could not survive long
- Raja’s own publications- Sambad Kaumudi (Bengali1821), Mirut ul Akhbar (Persian1822) and Brahminical Magazine (English1822)
- Press Regulation –1823 imposed by British govt. in India to control newspapers.
- The regulation was used as a tool to deport James Silk Buckingham, Editor of Calcutta Chronicle.
- Raja presented a petition to Supreme Court to protest the regulation in favour of J.S. Buckingham.
- It was his bold step for the preservation of press freedom, however he defeated the case.
- Anti reformists Hindu fundamentalists published Samachar Chandrika weekly to challenge Raja’s social reforms.
- Raja passed away in 1833
- 1857 Mutiny ( the first war of Indian independence) was a turning point to Indian journalism.
- In the issue of mutiny, British owned press and Indian owned press blamed each othe in the lowest level.
- British owned press acted like blood mongers of Indians.
- This event worked as a fuel to Indian owned press against the British rule in India.
- Pioneers Indian journalists on those days- Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Gangadhar Bhattacharjee, Bhawani Charan Bannerjee, Dwarkanath Tagore, Girish Chandra Ghose, Harischandra Mukharjee, Ishworchandra Vidyasagar, Kristo Pal, Manmohan Ghose, Keshub Chander Sen etc.
- Other major publications by Indians- The Reformer, Enquirer, Gyan Auneshun, Bengal Herald, Bang Doot, Hindu Patriot, Indian Mirror, Sulab Samachar etc.
After Mutiny
- Standard, The Bombay Times and Telegraph merged into Times of india in 1861, Robert Knight was the owner , he was also owner of Statesman daily (1875) from Calcutta, Indian Economist monthly and Agriculture Gazette of India, his editorials and writings were balance and impressive.
- Other major publications- Indu Prakash weekly, Gyan Prakash, Lokhitavadi (all 1861), Amrit Bazar Patrika (1868 Cacutta), Pioneer (1872 Allahbad), The Hindu (1878 Chennai) , Keshari (marathi) and The Maratha (English) (both in1878 from Pune by veteran freedom fighter Balgangadhar Tilak)
- Pioneer Indian Journalists- Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Mahadev Govinda Ranade, Dadabhoi Naoroji, Gopal Rao Hari Deshmukh, Vishu Shastri Pandit, Karsondas Mulji, Bal Sashtri Jambhekar etc.
- British govt. enacted Vernacular Press Act-1878 to supress Indian language newspapers
- Indian National Congress (INC) founded in 1885
- It was led by many nationalists like Surendranath Banerjee, Balgangadhar Tilak, Dadabhoi Naoroji, Motilal Gosh, Bipin Chandra Pal, G.Subramania Aiyer etc. who were active journalists too.
- After establishment of ANC, Indian press became an important part of struggle for independence .
Leading Newspapers After Establishment of INC
-1900- Bangalee English Daily (ed)- Surendranath Banarjee
-1901- New India English Weekly (ew)- Bipinchandra Pal
- 1901- Bande Mataram – Bengalee weekly- Bipinchandra Pal
- 1906- Yugantar – Bengali daily- Barendra kumar Ghose
- 1909- Leader- ed-Madan Mohan Malviya
- 1913- New India –ed- Annie Besant
- 1913- Bombay Chronicle –ed- Phiroj Shah Mehata
- 1918 –Justice- ed- Dr.T.M.Nair (published by non- Brahmin movement inMadras)
- 1918 – Searchlight- English biweekly- Shachindranath Sinha
-1919- The Independent -ew– Pandit Motilal Neharu
- 1919- Young India – ew- Mahatma Gandhi
- 1920 – Nav Jeevan – Gujarati weeky- Mahatma Gandhi
- 1922- Swarajya- ed- T.Prakasham
- 1923- Forward- ed- Chittaranjan Das
- 1923- The Hindustan Times –ed- K.M. Panikar (first daily in Delhi)
- 1929- Liberty-ed- Subhas Chandra Bose
-1932- Harijan- Gujarati weekly- Mahatma Gandhi
- 1938- National Herald- Jawaharlal Neharu
- Viceroy Lord Curzon Vs. Indian press
- In 1907 series of arrests and prosecutions against the journalists and press
- India Press Act –1910 asked for heavey security deposite
- 963 publications and press were prosecuted under the act
- 173 new printing press and 129 newspapers were killed at their birth by the weapon of security deposite
- British govt.collected about 5 lakhs Indian Ruppes in the first year of the act inforcement
- During the First world war (1914-1918) Indian press were divided
- The act was forcefully executed against the press who were not in support of British side in the world war.
- In 1919 Jaliawala Bagh massacre was a big disaster to the Indian press.
- Even the Anglo- Indian press were not escaped .
The Golden Era of Indian Mission Journalism (1920 – 1947)
- declaration of non-cooperation movement against British rule in India.
- Press marched shoulder to shoulder with satyagrahis
- Mahatma Gandhi lauded for freedom of expression, ideas and people’s sentiments
- Gandhi would not accept adv. , he belived newspapers should survive on the revenue from subscribers
- He would not accept any restrictions on the paper, he rather close it down
- His writings were widely circulated and reproduced in the newspapers all over the country
- A big challege to non-Gandhian newspapers
- Gandhi declared ‘Salt Satyagraha’ in 1930
- The nationalist press played a memorable role, which perhaps is unique in the history of any freedom movement
- Press ordinance issued in 1930 to supress Indian press through heavy security deposites
- When second world war broke out , British rulers became more supressive to the Indian press
- In 1940 UP government directed the press to submit the headlines of the news to the secretary of the information department for his pre- approval
- In response to this, National Herald (newspaper run by Jawaharlal Neharu) published the news without headlines
- Second world war and freedom fight gave more fuel to Indian press
- Britishers charged them as ‘ pro Hitler’
- All India Newspaper Editors Conference held in 1940 at Delhi voiced against the supressive attitude of the British govt.
- Fresh supression and struggle started from 1942 when Quit India Movement initiated
- Many press, publications and journalists including Neharu suspended and arrested in1942
- It continued until the declaration of independence in1947 August
- K.Rama Rao, Editor, Swarajya “ It was more than a vocation, it was a mission and the newspaper was a noble enterprise working for patriotic purpose”.
1947 Onwards
- India received independence from British rule on 1947 August 15th
- The press celebrated the independence, because it was their victory too.
- At the beginning of independence the relation between the national govt. and press was good, but a year after situation was changed
- P. M. Neharu, Sardar Ballav Bhai Patel etc. were not happy with the press.
- Press Commission- 1952, report- 1954
- Recommendations – Press Council, press registrar, minimum basic salary for working journalists, strengthen the role of the editors
- The working journalist act-1955
- The newspaper (price and page) act- 1956
- Press Council established – 1965
- P .M. Mrs. Indira Gandhi declared state of emergency on 1975 June
- It was a shocking blow to the freedom of press
- Ignored the press freedom guaranteed by article 19 (1) in the constitution
- Heavy censorship during the emergency period under Defence Rule “ in order to maintain public order…”
- 1975 Dec 8th ordinance banned the publication of all ‘ objectionable matter’, no permission to report parliament, close down Press Council , blaming it was failed to curb provocative writings
- During 19 months of emergency 253 journalists detained and 7 foreign correspondence expelled
- When Janata Dal came into power, all the restrictions over press were removed
- After emergency Indian press became more professional along with high tech., simultaneous publications increased, tremendeous change in the contents, more suppliments, booming of specialized magazines
- Press Council re- established under new act- 28 member, chaired by retired judge of high court
According to UNESCO
Top circulation – The Times of India – approx. 20 lakh copies / day
- The Indian Express – approx. 16 lakh copies / day
Total no. of all publications – approx. 40 thousand
Out of them dailies- 4,453 ( including 320 English dailies)
CENTANARIAN NEWSPAPERS OF INDIA
- The Times of India – 1861
- Amrit Bazar Patrika – 1868
- Pioneer - 1872
- The Statesman - 1875
- The Hindu - 1878
RADIO
- Amateur Radio Club started local broadcasting in 1924 at Madras
- Indian Broadcasting co.(private) 1927- Bombay and Calcutta
- Indian State Broadcasting Service – 1930
- Name changed as All India Radio (AIR) / Aakashbani
- Before independence AIR stations in Hyderabad, Baroda, Mysore, Trivandrum, Aurangabad, Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, Lukhnow, Pesawar and Dhaka
- During second World War radio became more popular in India
- After independence AIR was a major tool to dissiminate govt. information
- AIR as an ‘ electronic ambassador’ in abroad
- Now AIR have more than 200 stations covering 90% of the land and 97% of the population
- News in 24 languages including Hindi, English and many other languages of India
- From 1997 broadcasting is being regulated by an autonomous corporation under Prasar Bharati Act
TELEVISION
- Door Darshan (DD) started as an experiment in 1959 from New Delhi, for educational purpose
- Regular broadcasting started from 1965 from New Delhi
- Indian Space Research Organization borrowed a satellite from NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) in 1975
- Community tv sets in 2,400 villages
- Colour broadcasting from 1982 on the eve of Asian Games held in New Delhi
- 40 different broadcasting centers
- covers 70% of land and 87% 0f population
- programs in about a dozen languages
- after 1995 many private channels
- all tv broadcasting regulated by Prasar Bharati Act
NEWS AGENCY
- Press Trust of India (PTI) 1947
- Hindustan Samachar 1948
- United News of India (UNI)- 1961
- Samachar Bharati –1965
Hindustan Samachar and Samachar Bharati produce news in various Indian languages while PTI and UNI in English
- Press Information Bureau (PBI), under Ministry of Information, provides government news and information in English, Hindi, Urdu and 13 regional languages.
MALDIVES
- country of 1200 islands, inhabited islands 200
- 640 km south west of Sri Lanka
-Per capita income more than 3,500 US $
- unemployment less than 1 %
- population 2,86,000
- literacy rate 96 %
- previously colonized by Portuguese, Dutch, French and lastly British
- independent in 1965
- till 12th century followed Buddhism
- Arabian traders imposed Islam in 12th century
- national language Divehi
- First newspaper – Al Islah weekly (1943)
- Early newspapers- Saru Kaaruge, Khabaru, Viyaafari, Miyadhu etc.
- Early magazines – Munnaru, Male Times, Moon Light etc.
After 1965
- Hafta weekly ( Divehi), Out Look (English weekly)
- Divehi monthly magazines- Aabaaru, Amaaz, Faiy Thoora, Spectrum (English )
- Dheenugu Mage published by Presidents’s office
- Faiy Thoora pub. by National Council of Linguistic
- Furudhana pub. by Ministry of Information
- Jamaathuge Khaburu pub.by Non-formal Education Center
dailies-
- Haveeru (1978) highest circulation 4500, Aafathis (1979) both in English and Divehi and Miadhu (1998) only in Divehi, other dailies – Hamma, Minivan, Jazeera
- weeklies – Adduvas, Fiyes, Huvaas, Manas, Monday Times, Divehi observer, Evening weekly, Kalhale, Kavaasa, Olhuala etc.
- Article 13 and 14 of the constitution guarantees the press freedom but about 30 clauses and laws limits the freedom.
- The press freedom is guarantee as long as the specific provisions of the Shariat are not contravened.
- In 1990 authorities arrested several journalists and writers foor criticising election system and the govt.- Sangu and Hukuru magazines closed down
- National Press Council estd. 1993 – for reviewing, monitoring and development of media
- Main problems – geographical condition, very small population (0.3 million), almost all people know each other in capital
- All most all print media published from Male
RADIO
- Voice of Maldives (VOM) 1962
- Govt. owned
- Most effective and popular media
- 3 radio stations ( 2 AM, 1 FM)
- 90 –95 % of population listen Radio
- 16 hrs/ day service in Divehi and English
- wall magazines by slow motion news of vom
- highly used for distance education
TELEVISION
- Television Maldives –1978
- Govt. owned
- about 70 % programs based on foreign production
NEWS AGENCIES
- Haveeru News Service (HNS) – 1979
- Himaya News Agency (HNA)
- Maldives News Bureau (MNB) under Ministry of Information
- No press freedom
- No journalism education or trainings
- Journalism as a hobby not a profession
- Highly influenced by foreign press, specially Indian and English
PAKISTAN
Pre- Independence
- Turning point for Indian muslims was establishment of All India Muslim League in 1906, for the promotion of muslim interest
- League inspired muslims for paper publications
- By 1925 muslim press comprised 220 various publications in Urdu, English, Bengali etc.
- In 1930 muslims began their struggle for a separate state
- Then they faced the hostility with both Hindu owned press and Anglo- Indian press .
- Mohammad Ali Jinnah helped to established Dawn English weekly in 1930 from Delhi, (Dawn became daily in 1942)
- Influencial muslim papers – Azad, Jung, Dawn,The Star of India, Morning News, Manshoor, Anjam, Nawa-e-Waqt, Eastern Times, Weekly Observer, Sindha Times, New Life, Khaiber Mail, Zamindar etc.
- Dawn shifted to Karachi from Delhi after its Delhi office attacked and burnt by anti separation groups in 1947 August .
- Jung and Anjam also shifted Karachi from Delhi
Post Independence (1947- 1958)
- Press was weak in Pakistani territory
- Only Lahore, Karachi and Dhaka were ahead
- After 1949 war between India and Pakistan on Kashmir issue, press freedom has been curtailed
- Pak.govt. believed completely free press could threaten the country’s security
- Public safety act-1949 and Security of Pakistan act-1952 were sufficient to supress the press freedom
- During the first seven years of independence Pak. Govt. banned 33 newspapers in Punjab alone
- Between 1947 to 1958 no. of periodicals- 1106, dailies- 103, weeklies and biweeklies- 379
- Circulation of dailies increased from 1, 25,000 (in1948) to more than 7 lakh (in 1958)
The Authoritarian Period (1958 – 1988)
- Field Marshal Ayub Khan came into power in 1958
- He imposed system of ‘press advice’, a power to dictate press what to publish and what not
- In 1960 decline of dailies from 103 to 74, weeklies and biweeklies from 379 to 260
- In 1959 govt. took over Lahore Progressive Paper ltd., the publisher of leading English daily Pakistan Times and leading Urdu daily Imroze
- In 1961 govt. took over APP
- In 1963 Ayub Khan imposed PPO (press and publication ordinance), ‘the blackest of the black laws’
- It gave obsolute power to govt. to supress the press and to prohibit reporting on a wide range of subjects
- Second Indo-Pak war in1965 led to declared Marshal Law and Defence of Pakistan, lasted for 20 yrs.
- After Ayub Khan, his successors Yahya Khan, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Zia-ul- Haq followed the same supressive attitude towards the press.
- Situation changed after sudden death of Zia ul Haq
- Care taker govt. lifted PPO and introduced RPPPO ( registration of printing press and publication ordinance) , comparatively liberal than PPO`
- 1n 1990 govt.of Benazir Bhutto ended govt. monopoly over import and distribution of newsprint paper
- Art.19 of the constitution of Pakistan provides the freedom of press, subject to a number of restrictions
- Should not against the glory of Islam, integrity, security or defence of Pakistan, friendly relation with foreign states, public order,decency or morality,related to contempt of court, defamation.
- Official secret act, Security of Pakistan act., Maintenance of public order act etc. are sufficient to punish any news organization or journalist
- In 1995 a Lahore based free lance journalist was arrested and charged for his reporting on child labour in Pakistani carpet industries.
- In 1995 June, under Maintenance of public order ordinance, license of 122 newspapers were cancelled, but nationwide strike of journalists forced the govt. to withdraw the decision
- In 1998 editor and several journalists of Urdu daily Pakistan were arrested for publishing negative aspects of Prophet Mohammad
- RPPPO is an ordinance yet
- According to RPPPO not more than 25% foreign ownership in print media, and pre- approval by the govt. is compulsory
- News paper employees (condition of service) act –1973
Out of more than 300 dailies , 6 major dailies who have more than 1 lakh circulation-
(according to UNESCO Report)
- Jung,.Nawa-e- Waqt, Pakistan,Khabarain,The News, Dawn etc.
- Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad are major cities for press.
- Govt. do not owned newspapers
RADIO
- After the partition, India and Pakistan divided the assests of All India Radio.
- Pakistan inherited AIR stations in Lahore, Pesawar and Dhaka
- In 1949 August, Radio Pakistan formally launched in Karachi
- Now stations in 22 places
- 100% coverage
- Broadcasting in 20 languages
- 48% entertainment, 13% religious, 11 % news and current affairs,28% socio-eco
- National news bulletin 18 times / day in Urdu and English
- Govt. controls over Radio Pakistan through Pakistan Broadcasting Corp. (1973)
- After 1995 private FM increased in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, allegation to Benazir Bhutto for giving license only to her close persons.
TELEVISION
- PTV launched in1964 November from Lahore
- Agrrement with Nippon Electric corp.
- Colour broadcast from 1976 Dec.
- 6 centers- Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad (2), Pesawar and Quetta
- High power broadcasting stations in 32 places
- PTV-2 from 1992
- PTV World from 1998
- PTV Middle East Channel from 1999
- PTV coverage 86% population and 38% territory
- Entertainment – 56%, News and Current aff. 16%, educational 10%, religious 8%, others 10%
- PTV broadcastes 54 % program in Urdu
- Shalimar tv network (STN)- 1989
- Approved by Benzir govt.
- 54% govt. share
- Shaheen Pay tv – 1996
- Approved by Benazir’s second govt.
- Private tv with foreign investment
- now about 50 tv channels of different capacity
- All tv channels are regulated by Pakistan Broadcasting Act-1973
NEWS AGENCIES
- Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) – 1948
( a part of Ministry of Information and Media Development)
- Pakistan Press International (PPI) – Private
- Many other small news organizations funded by political parties and groups.
SRI LANKA
- Colony of Portuguese , then Dutch and lastly British
- Liberated from British colony on 1948 Feb.4th
- Dutch set- up first printing press in 1737 in Colombo
- British produced the first regular publication weekly Government Gazette in 1802
- Colombo Journal, English biweekly 1832
- A group of British merchants started other two bi weeklies – Observer and Commercial Advertiser in 1834
- Other early newspaper publications- Ceylon Chronicle, Ceylon Herald, Ceylon Times, Jaffna Freeman, Kandy Herald, Galle Telegraph, Ceylon Independence, Morning Leader etc.
- All of them were published by Englishmen in English Language
Sinhala Press
- First Sinhala newspaper Lankaloka weekly published from Galle city in 1860
- Other Lakmini Pahana, Lakrivikirana, Gnanartha Pradipaya (first daily 1866), Sarasavi, Sandaresa, Dipnapatha Pravurthi, Sinhala Jathiya, Sinhala Boudhaya, Dinamina, Lakmina, Silumina etc.
English press were pro western and pro Christian where as Sinhala press were pro- nationalist and pro Buddhism.
Tamil press
- Udaya Tharakai ( weekly 1841) served about 130 years
- Other Tamil newspapers- Usaithalu, Paliya Narsan, Elangai Pathukaralan, Alamat Lankapuri, Elekesari, Virakesari, Thinakaran etc.
Hindu press
- Illangai Nasen ( weekly 1877), Sivabhimani
Muslim press
- Muslim Nasen (weekly 1882), Islam Mithiran
SINCE INDEPENDENCE – 1948
- 5 major publication houses- Associated Newspapers of Ceylon ltd (ANCL) a govt. corp, private sector publication houses - Wijeya, Upali, Express and Independent
- more than 30 major newspapers by these 5 publications
Leading Sri Lankan Newspapers
- Sinhala language- Dinamina, Silumina, Lankadeepa, Divaina, Lokbima
- English language- Daily News, The Sunday Observer, Daily Mirror, The Island, Sunday Times
- Tamil language- Thinakaran, Thina khurah, Uthayan, Virkisari, Sudar Oli
- popular periodical magazines Tharunee, Navaliya and Sirikanta for women, Mihira, Wijeya and Bindu for children, Kreeda and Visura for sports, Sarasaviya for movie, Vidusara, Samatha, Sadhana, Sathara for education
- political weeklies – Podujana (supported by Sri Lankan Freedom party)
Siyarata ( supp.by United National party)
Haraya (supp. by Nava Samaj party)
Aththa ( supp. by Communist party)
Thinamarasu ( supp. by Eelam Peoples Democratic party)
- Article 10 and 14 of Sri Lankan constitution guarantees freedom of thought, conscience, religion, speech, expression and publications .
- Article 15 has provision of restrictions over the freedom
- Press was supressed during the emergency periods in 1971 to 1977, 1982 to 1983 and 1987 to 1989 .
- For a long time Sri Lankan press was under cross fire between the government and the Tamil rebels
RADIO
- First radio broadcasting in 1924 July by Department of Telegraph - Speech of the Governer
- Radio Ceylon established in 1949 ( govt. run)
- Radio Ceylon converted into Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corp. (SLBC) in 1967 Jan
- SLBC as a public corporation
- Service in three languages Sinhala 65%, Tamil 19% and English16%
- Other broadcasting institutions – Asian Broadcasting Com. (ABC), Maharaja B.C.
- more than 30 radio channels ( state run and private)
- first FM Lakhanda – 1996
- some major fm- Sirasa, Siyatha, Lok, Yes, Shakthi, Max, Shree etc.
TELEVISION
- first TV network Independent TV Network (ITN) – 1979 April from private sector
- ITN converted into state run broadcasting service in 1979 June
- name changed in 1982 as Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corp.(SLRC) under Sri Lanka Rupavahini Act – 1982
- govt. allowed private TV channels in 1992
- first private TV - Maharaja TV -1992
- about 28 tv channels ( terrestrial, satellite, pay)
- TV channels- ITN, Sri Lanka Rupavahini, Sirasa, TV Lanka, Derena, Max, Siyatha, Prime, Channel Eye, Wasantham TV, Hiru, The Buddhist TV, Lakvision, Channel C, Lanka Broadband Network (LBN), Dialog TV etc.
NEWS AGENCY
- Lanka Pubhat – 1978, a state run national news agency
AFGHANISTAN (new member of SAARC)
- Landlocked by 6 – pakistan, iran, tajikistan,turkmenistan, uzbekistan and china
- population 2 karod 70 lakh
- territory- 652,225 sq km ( about 4.5 times bigger than Nepal)
- literacy rate- 31.5 %
- language- pasto,dari, english, uzbek, turkmen,baluchi etc.
- Monarchial history from 1747 to 1973
- Independent from Britain in 1919 ( British in Afghanistan1838 – 1919)
- popular king Jahir Shah toppled by his brother Daud Shah in 1973
- declared republic in 1973
- Soviet army invasion from 1979 to 1989
- after Soviet army with drawl, mujahiddin came into power
- civil war by Taliban from 1994
- Taliban captured capital Kabul and 2/3 of the nation in 1996
- due to 2001 sept.11 attack in US by al-quida, Taliban kicked out from power
- US backed interim govt. headed by Hamid karjai in 2002
- General election in 2004- Karjai elected president
- Liberal period 1963 – 1973 ( active period of king Jahir Shah)
- Most conservative period 1996 – 2001 ( Talibani period)
PRINT MEDIA
- first afghan news paper Saraj – al- Akhbar – 1911
- a state newspaper in dari language, not in regular intervals
- regular state newspapers – Anis 1927 in dari, Hawad 1959 in pashto and Kabul Times 1970 in English
- all twice a week
- highest circulation Hawad ( 6000 copies / issue)
- 14 publications by 1973
- during republican and talibani period most of the newspapers closed down
- non- state publications – kabul weekly 1992, Payam –e-Mujahiddin 1996, Shariat, Malalai, Afghan daily, Bassirat, Daily Outlook, Kabul Express, My Afghan, Tol Afghan etc
- recently about 180 media publications in various languages from different places
Afghan publication from foreign land ( media in exiled)
- Pesawar of Pakistan is the main center for Afghan media publication in exiled
- Pesawar is the main shelter for Afghan refugees since 1978
- NGO/INGO are more active for such publications
- major publications- Sahar,Wahdat,Heela,Watan,Azad, Afghan, Sab, Zan Afghan etc.
RADIO
RTA = Radio TV Afghanistan, a government regulatory body for all broadcast media
- Radio Kabul 1927 – state run
- Radio Kabul changed into Radio Afghanistan
- 12 hrs service / day
- 17 provincial stations
- main service in pashtu,dari,english
- Azadi Radio from non-state sector
- many community and FM radio services run by ngos and local influential groups
- Talibans didnot banned radio but stopped entertainment programs
- changed the name from Radio Afghanistan to Shariat Ghagh ( voice of sharia)
- they run 10 hrs daily service only for religious programs and official information
- they dismissed all the female staff from radio stations
Zakia Zaki
- Mrs. Zakia Zaki, age 35, a journalist in Radio Peace, also a school teacher, killed by unidentified gunmen at her home in front of her kids, they poured 7 bullets to her,
- she was against of the Muslim fundamentalism which was inforced by Taliban, Mujahiddin and other hardliner Muslim groups
- she was killed in 2004, that means after downfall of Taliban and beginning of peace process
- Zakia Zaki is regarded as a symbol of gruesome violence and threat against the press freedom as well as the female liberty in Afghanistan.
TELEVISION
- state run Afghanistan National TV ( ANTV)- 1978
- Taliban locked up ANTV station
- they ordered not to have tv sets in any one's home
- if so, punishment of flogging and 6 month prison
- in non Talibani area (Faizabad) northern alliance ran Badakhashan tv
- after downfall of Taliban tv broadcast restarted from 2002
- about one dozen tv channels (state run and private) being operated
- ANTV, Ariana tv(1989), Ayna tv, Lemar tv, Tolo tv, Noor, Shamshad, Saba, Tamadan, Payam- e- Afghan, Ujala etc.
NEWS AGENCY
- Bakhtar News agency, state run
- most influential and reliable source of news
- service in dari, pastu and english
- good network through out the country
- non- state news agencies- Kabul Press, Pajhwak and Afghan Islamic Press
- New media law introduced in 2007 march
- Provision of HMC ( High Media Council) and MAC ( Media Affairs Commission)
Major Challenges for Press Freedom and Media Development in South Asia
1) Lack of political freedom and democratic norms
2) Political instability
3) Religious domination
4) Low educational status
5) Social discriminations
6) Economic constraints
7) Geographical complications
8) Technological backwardness
9) Weakness in policy implementation
10)Lack of professionalism
11) Growing violence against media and media persons
PRESS FREEDOM SITUATION IN ASIA
- Freedom House, based in New York
- a press freedom institution recognized by the UN
- evaluates press freedom situation all over the world since 1979 in five year interval
- evaluation based on Universal Declaration of Human Rights Art.19
- 5 major criteria for evaluation press freedom in each country:
a) legal provisions
b)government ownership in media
c)political domination
d)economic pressure on news
e)violence against media and media professionals
- three stander of press freedom : Free, Partly Free and Not Free
- according to 2005 report 17% global population are in free media society, 38% in partly free society and 45% are in not free media society
- In Asian continent:
· Free- Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Mauritius
· Partly Free – India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Mongolia
· Not Free – China, Russia, former soviet states, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Arabian nations .
According to International Press Institute (IPI) based in Vienna –
- From the beginning of the new millennium (2001 – 2008) total 575 media persons have been killed
- highest number of the victims – 100 in 2006, lowest 54 in 2002
- According to IPI Report, total 66 media persons were killed around the world in 2008
- Highest killing - Iraq - 14
Second - Pakistan- 6
Third - India, Philippines and Mexico - 5 each
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