Context: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday underlined the need for effective guidelines and laws to work out a revenue sharing model between tech-based social media giants and the traditional media struggling to generate revenues. While the traditional print media has been sincerely enduring to adapt to the technological disruption by going online, it is struggling to come up with a viable revenue model. The Vice President said some countries were taking measures to ensure revenue sharing by the social media giants to the print media. "We also need to take a serious look at this problem and come out with effective guidelines and laws with a consensus to enable print media get their share from the huge revenues of the technology giants," Naidu emphasised. The vice president said advertisement revenue has been a key for the viability of a media organisation but in the mushrooming of the media outlets, and the sinking revenue pie, the traditional norms and principles of journalism are forced to be compromised with a serious consequence.
Is freedom of the press an absolute freedom?

• In India, freedom of the press has been treated as part of the freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, vide Brij Bhushan and Another vs. The State of Delhi, AIR 1950 SC 129 and Sakal Papers (P) Ltd vs. Union of India, AIR 1962 SC 305, among others. 
• However, as mentioned in Article 19(2), reasonable restrictions can be placed on this right, in the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the state, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence. Hence, freedom of the media is not an absolute freedom.

Importance of Journalism

• Voice of voiceless: As the fourth estate of democracy and voice of voiceless'. The news media and the institution of journalism plays a crucial role for keeping the citizens informed about powerful instruments of public information, opinion and debates.
• Public watchdog: One cannot imagine a vibrant democracy without a vibrant, independent and critical news media which not only disseminates news and views of public importance but also acts as a watchdog that monitors, investigates and critically examines the functioning of key organs and institutions of the State, and evaluates the performances of those in the public office and holds the accountable.
• Enhances vibrance of democracy: An independent news media which includes legacy media like newspapers, magazines, television radio and new media like online news portals and digital news platforms, has been integral to democracy's long and tumultuous journey.
• Over time, it has evolved with democracy, especially in the late 19 and 20' century. There and vibrant media is treated as a key parameter for the success of a democracy and in fact, is among the crucial factors in measuring its health.
• Shaping the public perception: It has an influential role in shaping public perception, setting the agenda for public debate and its widespread impact on the society, politics, economy, culture and governance, news media and journalism enjoys a powerful position in a democratic society.

Issues with Journalism in India

• Erosion of ethics in journalism: In India instances of violation of ethical norms and principles; from indulging in Paid News, spreading Fake News, engaging sensationalism and exaggerating trivial stories, creating misleading headlines, breach of privacy, distortion of facts has increased manifold.
• Biased reporting: Openly taking sides and bias in reporting. Besides this, many mainstream news media outlets and their journalists are found to be engaging in one-sided media trials, lobbying for personal gains, blackmailing, manipulating news stories, engaging in malicious and defamatory reporting, running propaganda and disinformation campaigns.
• Misuse of freedom of speech and press: There is a growing concern in the country that many Indian news media outlets have shown little respect for journalistic ethics and norms by regularly crossing the limits and becoming habitual offenders.
• In fact, the critics of unethical conduct of the news media are demanding stringent regulation in place of ineffective self regulatory mechanism and their voices are growing louder day by day.
• It may be noted that like many other liberal democracies, India too recognises the primacy of the Freedom of the Press and allows for self regulation of news media
• Manipulation of TRPs: Recently, various claims have been made about the manipulation of TRPs (Target Rating Points) by some TV channels by rigging the devices used by the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India.
• TRP is the metric used by the marketing and advertising agencies to evaluate viewership. It represents how many people, from which socio-economic categories, watched which channels for how much time during a particular period. This period is one minute as per the international standards.

Road Ahead

• Our people face enormous inequalities which need to be articulated and highlighted continuously – by the media — in order to ensure they are addressed by those who govern. For it to be able to aim for the highest standards of professionalism, journalists and media organizations must turn the spotlight inwards, on themselves. They must hold themselves to the standards they demand of others.
• Press and the media are considered to be the fourth pillar of the democracy. It wields extra ordinary powers of not only holding the other three pillars accountable, but also influencing and shaping public opinion like no other institution of democracy can. While this enormous power, to sustain itself requires the basic dictum of freedom of expression, at the same time it puts an equally enormous responsibility of accountability and credibility on the media itself.
• Media must learn the art of withstanding pulls and pressures without sacrificing its commitment to free and fair reportage and always remain on guard against conformity. Because any tendency towards conformity to be enforced, often requires disguising or dissembling the truth and the facts.

The fundamental task of the Press is to stand up and ask questions with honesty and fairness. That’s the sacred compact it has with citizens in a democracy.