Press Laws/Media
Laws are very important for any mass communication student. Media Laws form an
important part of any mass communication course. Even in UGC-NET Syllabus and
entire unit (unit 6) is dedicated to Press Laws and Ethics. In the previous NET
examinations, a number of questions were dedicated to Press Laws and Ethics.
These questions are sometimes based on a particular law itself and sometimes
they give chronology. Thus, apart from knowing the laws itself, it is important
to know their chronology, which is quite common these days. Reasoning and
Assertion based questions are also given sometimes based on Press Laws.
Thus, let’s
discuss the chronology of important
Press Laws in India.
- Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867
- Official Secrets Act, 1923
- Cinematograph Act, 1952
- Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954
- Working Journalists and other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1955
- Young Persons (Harmful Publications) Act, 1956
- Copyright Act, 1957
- Contempt of Courts Act, 1971
- Press Council Act, 1978
- Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986
- Schedule Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989
- Prasar Bharati Act, 1990
- Cable TV Networks Rule, 1994
- Cable TV Network (Regulation) Act, 1995
- Information Technology Act, 2000
- Right to Information Act, 2005
- Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill, 2006
Apart from these
there are Press Laws that were present during the British era and later
repealed when India gained Independence. We will discuss about it in another
post.
