Report of the Working Group on Autonomy for Akashvani and Doordarshan, 1978 – Merlin Oommen /Neeti Duaneria - Semester 3 (Batch 2010 - 2012)

5/28/2018 Report of the Working Group on Autonomy for Akashvani and Doordarshan, 1978 Merlin Oommen /Neeti Duaneria - Semester 3 (Batch 2010 - 2012)

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Policy WorkshopAakashbharti National BroadcastTrust, 1977

Submitted By:Merlin OommenNeeti Dauneria


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ONTEXTHistorical and Social

The Working Group was formed after the White Paper on the Misuse ofMass Media and the K.K.Das (former Secretary of the Ministry ofInformation and Broadcasting ) Report; both commissioned by the JanataGovernment

The working group was headed by Mr. B. G. Varghese

The working group envisaged an Autonomous National Trust namedAkash Bharati National Broadcast Trust.

Free flow of news and information was seen to be very important in aDemocratic Country. The same was highlighted in the Chanda CommiteeReport of 1964.

The need of free media was felt to be pertinent after and during theemergency as people living in a democratic country had the right to access

news free from any form of government censorship and propaganda.


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Economic Context:

Chanda Committee Report talked about and highlighted the need forgenerating revenue for both AIR and Doordarshan

If both these organisations could generate revenue they would nothave to depend on government funds to such an extent and thegovernment would not be able to arm-twist these organisations


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IDENTIFYING THE POLICY:

The Policy is Regulatory in Nature.A Regulatory policy is a policy that targets the behaviour of individuals andindustry.

Is it Regional, National or Global in Nature:It is all of the above, it is National in nature as it talks about setting a National

Autonomous Trust. It is regional in nature also as it talks about working withregional Akashwani centres for disseminating information, and bridging thegap between rural and urban India. Global as the working committee visitedthe many broadcasting centres around the world to develop NBT policy.

The interconnections between each level if any:Yes there are interconnections as each level is interdependent on each other.


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POLICY COMMUNITIES:

B.G. Verghese: Chairman, Journalist

V.G. Rajadhyaksha, Bureaucrat

Dr. Malcom. S. Adiseshiah, Academician (Education and Economics)

Chanchal Sarkar ,Journalist

P.L. Deshpande, Artist

Dr.Ishwar Dass


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Umashankar Joshi, Artist

A.G.Noorani, Lawyer

J.D.Sethi,

P.J.Fernandes, IAS Bureaucrat

C.R.Subramanium


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CORE VALUES:

The Core Values of the Players:

The core value of the players was to work towards the creation of anautonomous nation trust authority under which Akashvani and

Doordarshan would grow.

The Core Values of the Document:

The core value of the document is based on the Social Welfarist Values.


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IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM:

The Policy was enacted to address the issue of repression of Press,as observed during the Emergency (1975).

The Fundamental Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression wasaddressed with regard to the Emergency.

A need was felt to develop an Autonomous Media entity away fromthe influence of the Government.

The NBT was envisaged in order develop a free media system forthe entire nation, as free media is regarded as the backbone of a truedemocracy.


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THE ENVISIONED TARGETS AND

OUTCOMES:

To examine the functional, financial and legal aspects of the proposal togive full autonomy to Akashwani and Doordarshan, consistent withaccountability to Parliament, keeping in mind the different forms ofautonomous organisations existing in other democratic countries inmatters of broadcasting .

To suggest the form and the structure of the autonomous organisationand its relationship with Govt.

To grow and reach the masses in the New Information Era.

To work towards Democratising Communication.

Vision 2000AD, to increase Radio Sets.


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CONTD:

Desired Outcomes:

To promote national integration and awareness along with

entertainment, information and instruction.

To promote Rural Development.

To reach every corner of India.


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SOURCE:

Data used for identifying the problem: Working Group wasestablished after The White Paper on the Misuse of Mass Media, whichbrought forth the haphazard growth of mass media to the absence of a well

defined communication policy, The Chanda Commitee Report 1964 and theK.K.Das Report

Data used for planning and formulation: Questionnaire,Examining witnesses from a cross-section of society to elicit all shades ofopinion.

Data used for conclusion and implementation: Held meetings,Visited nearly all the states and several Akashvani and DoordarshanKendras, replies to questionnaires. Visited several foreign countries to studytheir broadcasting structures.


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COSTS AND BENEFITS:

Monetary Cost: Not Indicated.

The ElectronicMedia will be

out of Govt.Control.

The policy is

trying to bringforth aNational

AutonomousBroadcasting

Trust

Policy Cost:


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RECOMMENDATIONS:

Recommended a Draft Constitutional Amendment , facilitating theestablishment of NBT

That NBT should be funded by the Govt. For a period of 5 years afterwhich it should be allowed to borrow from the market or from the Govt.With interest.

That the content must cater to all sections of the society including theunderprivileged, women and minority audiences.

That radio and TV should be operated as separate streams but underNBT.

To authorise grant to approved educational institutions as franchises.

AIR and DD should be awarded special Transnational Status.


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CONTD:

Recommended commercial content but monitored advertising.

To develop external services in the Indian Sub-Continent and develop asubject matter specialisation with regard to foreign affairs and culturalexchange.

Radio and TV should have individuals as their target audience; thus, needfor the establishment of a strong audience research division.

Should make audience more critical in accepting programmes, with theoption to switch off or turn the knob to another station.


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GOVERNANACE:Contribution Towards Democratic Environment:The Policy is contributing towards a democratic environment as it movingtowards a free and autonomous media, which is the pillar of a growingdemocracy.

Is the Policy bringing positive change in Governance:Yes, the policy is bringing in positive change in governance as it is movingtowards an autonomous media.

Is it aiding the Government and the Modern State:Yes, it is as an autonomous media would both question and challenge the

Government and help question its functioning

Is it contributing towards social and cultural environment:Yes, as the policy is working towards a media which caters to all section ofthe society.


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IMPLEMENTATIONS AND RESULTS:Possibilities of Gains and Benefits:The policy indicates shift towards a democratic media. But the question iswhether a media dependent on Govt. funds can still remain democraticand truly autonomous.

Any indication for social welfare and cultural growth:The policy talks about social upliftment and cultural growth, but onlywithin the ambit of nation building.


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CONTD:

Environmental Changes:The Policy was never implemented, even the Janata Govt which won theelection in the aftermath of the emergency and constituted thiscommittee (B. G. Verghese ) omitted two of its most importantrecommendations.

Political Gains:The Janata Govt. came to power after the emergency. The electionmanifesto of the Govt. mandated a free and autonomous media for thecountry. No political gains in the long run for any political party, as theywould not be able to use the media for propaganda.


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THE SHORTCOMINGS:

The policy is heavily depended on Govt. funds, hence its autonomy canbe questioned.

The objective is to develop an autonomous electronic media, but thesystem of finance and the selection of the Board of Directors keep underGovt. control.

Social welfare is one of the envisioned target as it focuses on developingan autonomous public media broadcasting model.

Public Interest is the Focus of the policy but was never fullyimplemented and DD and AIR continued to serve political interests

instead.


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ALTERNATE SUGGESTIONS:Method to identify the Problem:- Autonomy should be guaranteed in the Constitution and no ruling orlegislation should be able to surpass it-Reduce dependency on Govt. funds

Policy Communities:-We suggest inclusion of Policy Researchers in the Policy Community as

they will help arrive at a broadcast model which will be best suited for theenvironment of India

The Purpose and Aims:

-We agree with the purpose and aims of NBT. Also recommend includingall sections of the society in the ambit of broadcasting

The Methods of Implementation:- We propose the implementation of the policy for a period of 5 years afterwhich any discrepancy, if felt, should be studied and rectified with

suggestions from some members of the earlier policy community and somenew


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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lindstadt, Nadine (2010) Germanys PSB Going Online IsThere an Economic Justification for Public Service MediaOnline; papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm

Singh, Indu B (1980) The Indian Mass Media System:Before, During and After the National Emergency;www.cjc-online.ca/../154

Aggarwal, Bala Vir (2001) Handbook of Journalism andMass Communication; Concept Publishing Company

Humphreys, Peter: Public Policies for Public ServiceMedia: The Uk and German Cases (with warning lessonsfrom the USA); ripeat.org/../Humphreys.pdf

Nehru on Indian Press;

https://www.sarcajc.com/Home_Page.html
https://www.sarcajc.com/Home_Page.htmlhttps://www.sarcajc.com/Home_Page.html


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CONTD:

B.P. Sanjay; Communication Policies in the Nehruvian Era;thehoot.org

B.G. Verghese (1997); The Media in a Free Society: Proposals forRestructuring ; The Economic and Political Weekly

Sharma, Kanchan (2003); Mixed Signals; Economic and Political Weekly

Gupta;R.R (2012); Mass Communication and Journalism in India (PopularGuide); Ramesh Publishing House; Delhi

Gupta;R.R (2012); History of Print and Broadcast Media;MassCommunication and Journalism in India (Popular Guide); Ramesh PublishingHouse; Delhi

Documents

Report of the Working Group on Autonomy for Akashvani and Doordarshan, 1978 – Merlin Oommen /Neeti Duaneria - Semester 3 (Batch 2010 - 2012)