Journalism and Mass Communication

Unit I: Origin of Print Media

I. Definition of Journalism and Mass Communication

Journalism is the activity of gathering, creating and presenting news and information. The word
Journalism was originally applied to the reportage of current events in printed form, specifically
newspaper, but with the advent of Radio, TV and the internet in the 20th century the use of term
broadened to include all printed and electronic communication dealing with current affairs.
The earliest knowing Journalistic product was a news sheet circulated in ancient Rome ‘’The Acta
Diruna’’before 59 BC, recorded official business and matters of public interest. It constituted a type of
daily gazette. It also recorded daily events such as public speeches. It was Published daily and hung in
prominent places.
In China during the Tang Dynasty, a Court circular called “Bao” or “Report” was issued to Govt officials. It
appeared in various forms under different names until 1911.The first regularly published newspaper
appeared in German cities in 1609. The first English Newspaper “The Weekly News” was published in
1622. One of the first daily newspapers “The Daily Courant” appeared in 1702. At first hindered by Govt.
imposed censorship, taxes and other restrictions. Newspapers in the 18th century came to enjoy the
reportorial freedom and indispensable function that they have retained to the present day.
The growing demand for newspapers owing to the spread of literacy and the introduction of steam and
then electronic driven presses caused the daily circulation rise from the thousands to the hundreds of
thousands and eventually to the millions.
Magazines which had started in the 17th century as learned Journals began to feature opinion forming
articles on current affairs. The cost of large scale news gathering led to the formation of news agencies,
Organizations that sold their international reporting to many different newspapers and magazines.
The invention of the Telegraph by Samuel Morse in 1843 and then Radio and TV brought about a great
increase in the speed and timeliness of journalistic activity and at the same time provided massive new
outlets and audiences for their electronically distributed products. In the late 20th century, satellites and
later the internet were used for the long distance transmission of journalistic information.
Journalism in the 20th century was marked by growing sense of professionalism.
An Organization of Journalists began as early as 1883, with the foundation of England’s chartered
institute of Journalists. The first University course in Journalism was established at the University of
Missouri (Columbia) in 1879-1884. In 1912 Columbia Unive rsity in New York City established the
graduate program in Journalism.
By 1950’s courses in Journalism or communication was commonly offered in colleges.
The purpose of Journalism is to provide citizens with the information they need to make the best
possible decisions about their lives, their communities, societies and their Governments. Journalism is
the collection, preparation and distribution of news and related commentary and feature materials
through such print and electronic media as newspaper, magazines, books, blogs, podcast, social
networking and social media sites as well as through radio, motion, pictures and TV.

II. Types and methods of communication:

Communication is a process of exchanging information, ideas, feelings and emotions through speech,
signals, writings and behavior. In communication a sender (encoder) encodes a message and then using
a medium/channel sends it to the receiver (decoder) who decodes the message and after processing
information, sends back appropriate feedback/reply.
Shramm defines communication as “A tool that makes societies possible and distinguish human from
other societies”
“Communication is the process of transmission of ideas, information skills through the use of symbols,
words, pictures, figures and graph” Berelson

“Communication is the process of transmitting ideas, information and attitudes from the source to a
receiver” Rogers
Kar defines communication as “all those planned and unplanned processes through which the
relationship between the source and the receiver may include:
Sender Receiver
Encoder Decoder
Source Destination
Actor Audience
Communicator Communicate
The left column represents the part of guiding the act of communication. The right column represents
those participants who by their receiving the message allow the communicative act to be completed and
thus have an effect.
Process of Communication
Source----Message----Channel----Receiver---Noise-----Feedback

Types of Communication:
People communicate with each other in a number of ways that depend upon the message and its
context in which it is being sent.
Verbal Communication:
Verbal communication refers to that form of communication in which message is transmitted verbally;
communication is done by word of mouth and a piece of writing. Objective of every communication is to
have people understand what we are trying to convey. When we talk to others, we assume that others
understand what we are saying.
Usually people bring their own attitude, perception, emotions and thoughts about the topic and hence
create barrier in delivering the right meaning. So in order to deliver the right meaning, you must put
yourself on the other side of the table/conversation and think from your receiver’s point of view.

Verbal Communication is further divided into:

1: Oral Communication
2: Written Communication

Oral Communication: Spoken words are used in oral communication. It includes face to face
conversation, telephonic conversation, videos, radio, TV, voiceover, internet. Communication is
influenced by pitch, volume, speed and clarity of speaking.
Advantages:
It brings quick feedback.
One can easily determine whether to trust or not what is being said.
Disadvantages:
User is unable to think deeply

Written Communication:
Written signs or symbols are used to communicate. A written message may be printed or hand written.
In written communication message can be transmitted via email, letter, report, memo etc.
Message in written communication is influenced by the vocabulary, grammar used, writing style and
clarity of language used. It is the most common form of communication being used in business. So it is
considered core among business skills.
Memos, reports, bulletins, job descriptions, employee manuals and electronic mail are the types of
written communication used for internal communication. For external communication internet,
websites, letters, proposals, telegrams, faxes, postcards, contract advertisements and news release are
used.
Advantages:
• Message can be edited and revised many times before it is actually sent.
 • It provides record for every single message sent
• It enables receiver to fully understand it and send proper feedback.
Disadvantages:

• No instant feedback
• More time consuming

Nonverbal Communication
Nonverbal communication is the sending or receiving of wordless messages. We can say that
communication other than oral and written such as gestures, body language, posture, tone of voice or
facial expression. It is all about the body language of speaker. N.V communication helps receiver in
interpreting the message received. Often N.V signals reflect the situation more accurately that verbal
messages.
Elements of N.V communication
Speaker’s appearance: clothing, hairstyle, neatness, use of cosmetics.
Surroundings: Room size, lighting, decorations, furnishings, body language, facial expression, gestures,
sound, voice tone, volume, speech rate.
Based on the purpose and style there are two main categories of communication.
1. Formal Communication: Certain rules, conventions and principles are followed while communicating
message. Formal C occurs in formal and office style. Usually professional settings, corporate meeting
conferences undergo this form of communication.
2. Informal Communication: It is just a casual talk. It is done orally and using gestures. It helps in
building relationships.

III.Definition and Elements of News

News can be defined as “Newsworthy information about recent events or happenings, especially as
reported by news media”
Important Definitions
“A contemporary issue or event which is of interest to a large number of people is news. Best news is
that in which the majority has maximum interest” William G. Blair
“News is that description of any current issue, event or dispute which entices consumers”
Woolsely and Campbell
“News is that information which was unknown to you till yesterday” Turner Katliz
What makes News as Newsworthy?
There is a list of several factors/elements which are considered when deciding if a story is newsworthy.
1. Timeliness and Novelty: The word news means exactly that information, story, update which is new.
New should necessarily have the attributes of timeliness and novelty. News loses it meaning if it is
delayed. Any delay makes news useless and meaningless.

2. Proximity: An event happening in geographical propinquity holds more importance for the audiences
of that area than an event taking place in remote places.
3. Conflict: Conflict is the most basic element of any news; conflict is a part of modern lifestyle and
augurs well for a good news story.
4. Prominence: Any event related to prominent personalities
5. Number and size
6. Human interest
7. Growth and development
8. Impact

Types of News

1. Hard News:
Those news items fall under this category which hold importance of majority of readers, listeners, and
viewers. News from the Govt departments, political news, and news related international affairs,
educational news; industrial and commercial news, religious new etc come under the purview of hard
news. These items cannot be withheld. They have to be communicated to the readers/listeners/viewers
as soon as they are received. ‘
2. Soft News:
Soft news is concerned with human interest news. Generally crime, tragedy, comedy and other such
elements of appealing to the emotions audience constitute soft news.
Basically soft news is that news which does not demand immediate transmission to the audiences as
opposed to the hard news.
Basic News values

• Accuracy
 • Balance and fairness
• Objectivity
• Clarity

Hard News report structure

The Headline (Top of the story, it grabs reader’s attention)

The Lead (Beginning of the article or hook of the article that tells what the story is all about)

Body of Language (Elaboration of 5 W’s and 1H)

End of article/conclusion (It could be a quote)

IV. Press Before and After Independence

What is press?
By press we mean “printing press”, but in journalistic and mass communication terminology we mean
print media, newspapers, journals, magazines, periodicals, pamphlets, leaflets books or any other
printed material like document etc.
The Press is a sense as old as human race itself. Human beings instinctive curiosity to know about what
is happening around has always been there.
The writings on the walls and stones dating back to several centuries BC were the first signs of the origin
of the press in India.
Later paper and writing materials were invented, State records in the form messages.
According to J. Natarajan “newsletters” were the earliest though rough form of a newspaper.
The newsletters were regularly issued during Mughal period. These manuscript newspapers were the
only source of information about the developments taking place in various parts of the Empires of King.
The practice seems to have continued until the East India Company began ruling India.
Hicky’s Bengal Gazzette

It is the dissemination of these newsletters which perhaps inspired James Augustus Hicky to start his
newspaper “The Bengal Gazette” in 1780.
Dr. R Das Gupta, former director, National Library, Calcutta writes
“About 14 years before the establishment of the Bengal gazette’’, one William bolts a merchant of
Dutch origin pasted a notice on the door of the Council house in Calcutta to inform the public that the
demand for a printing press in this City is a great disadvantage. On 17 April 1767 the Council at the Fort
William asked bolts to quit Bengal and proceed to Madras in order to take his passage from there to
Europe .The history of the Indian press begins with the deportation of a person who wanted to establish
a newspaper.Hicky’s initiative to publish his gazette was therefore an adventure. Hicky’s newspaper
known as Bengal Gazette or Calcutta General Advertiser was established on 27 Jan 1780 and described
itself as a “ weekly political and commercial paper open to all parties but influenced by none’’. The
newspaper was mostly devoted to gossip about the doings and misdoings of the East India Company
where he himself was employed as a clerk.
Hicky exposed private lives of people at high places which led to his imprisonment and banning of his
paper for some time. His paper however languished as he suffered heavy losses. The closure of the
paper came about in March 1782 where an order was issued for the seizure of the printing types.
In Mumbai the first newspaper was established in 1789 Mumbai Herald. After Bombay held many Indian
newspapers were established in Urdu, Bengali, Tamil, and Marathi. Newspapers began printing in Hindi
seriously from the 1870's. Hicky’s Bengal gazette or the Kolkata General Advertiser was the first English
newspaper to be published in the Indian subcontinent. The news paper soon became very famous not
only among the British soldiers posted in India at that time, but also inspired the Indians to write
newspapers of their own. It was published in Kolkata the capital of British India. Some of the prominent
newspapers include.
G.Subramaniya Aiyar founded The Hindu in 1878 and Swadesamitran in 1899.
Surendranath Banerjee, popularly known as the father of Indian Nationalism was the editor of the
newspaper "Bengalee" in 1905.
To overcome illiteracy in India Bala Gangadhar Tilak founded Khesari in Marathi and Maratha in English.

V. Some Important Personalities

John Adam's Press Regulation 1823:

In 1823 licensing regulation Ordinance was brought out by acting governor general John Adams. This
regulation made operating Press without a license a punishable offence. The restriction was primarily
aimed at Indian language newspapers or those edited by Indians.

This prompted Raja Ram Mohan Roy to discontinue is Persian journal Mirat ul Akhbar which he founded
in 1822.
Adam's seven month administration was marked by great energy, but it is remembered only for his
illiberal actions against the press and vindicated persecution of Mr. Bukingham who had come out to
Calcutta in 1818 and founded the Calcutta journal.
It was the most capable newspaper that had ever appeared in India and it give journalism a higher tone.
Using the freedom granted to the press by Lord Hastings the editor commented on public measures with
great boldness.
Regulation was accordingly past in April 1823 which completely extinguished the freedom of unlicensed
printings.

Impact of the 1823 Regulations

Every publisher was required by the government to obtain a license.

In the event of default, the penalty was rupees 400 and the government would shutdown the press.
The Government also had the authority to revoke the license as a result of this restriction, Raja Ram
Mohan Roy's newspaper Mirat ul Akhbar had to seize his publication.

Sir Charles Metcalfe:

Sir Charles Metcalfe passed the Press Act in 1835, thus restoring press freedom, Metcalfe was the acting
Governor General of India from 1835-1836.
He repealed the Licensing Regulation Act 1823. Metcalfe was a member of Council who persuaded
Governor General Bentinck to include natives in the Country's Governance. The new Press Act 1835
required a printer, publisher to give a detailed account of the premises of a Publication and to cease
operations if a similar declaration was issued. A liberal press policy resulted in a rapid expansion of
newspapers.
Features:
Governor General Charles Metcalfe had a liberal attitude towards the Indian press and he repealed the
1823 regulations.
The Act is known as the liberator of the Indian Press.
This Act remained in force till 1856 and led to the rapid growth of newspapers in the Country.
Impact:
The Act was enthusiastically received by the European community in India and the principal inhabitants
of Calcutta.

Raja Ram Mohan Roy 1772 - 1833

Raja Ram Mohan Roy is considered as the pioneer of modern Indian Journalism for the
remarkable reforms he brought in the 18th and 19th century to India. He was studying all the
scriptures of Hinduism. He was a political personality. From the year 1803, he worked for East
India Company as personal diwan and resigned in the year 1814 in order to devote his life to
religious, social and political reforms. . R.R.M Roy was a staunch supporter of free speech and
expression. He fought for the rights of vernacular press. During these days, items of news and
articles had to be approved by the Government before getting published. Roy protested against
this control by arguing the newspapers should freely operate and the truth shall not be
suppressed simply because the Govt doesn’t like it. He was the founder of great newspaper and
Bengal Weekly.

Sambad Kaumudi: 1819 (The man of intelligence)

The main aim of Sambad Kaumudi was to abolish Satti. In 1935 the practice was abolished. S
Kaumudi played a very important role for the betterment of society and other social matters.
Some opponents tried a lot to drag down this newspaper, but Roy managed its survival.

Mirat Ul Akhbar: 12 April, 1822 (Persian) It was published weekly (Friday)

This newspaper is also known as mirror of news. It mostly covered international issues. Roy
appealed people help the people of Ireland who were refugees. Raja Ram Mohan Roy preferred
Persian language for this newspaper because Persian was still recognized in Courts and was
seen as a means to reach the top policy makers of the Country. Roy also realized that he could
express himself best in a language he was most comfortable with.
In 1823, Press Regulation Act was passed by the British Government. Roy protested against this
Act, because this Act was all about abolishment of Mirat Ul Akhbar.
Brahminical Magazine: 1821 (Religious periodical paper)
To revolt against Christian Missionary, Roy wrote different articles in Brahminical Magazine to
make people aware of the British tactics. He did not want to dilute the essence of Hindu
religion. So this paper played a vital role to protect the people from getting deprived of their
religious freedoms/ practices etc.
Apart from these three newspapers, He use to write for international newspapers.
The Reformer
The Enquirer

He started a kind of school of Journalism “Progressive Hindu Journalism”. It worked until 1891.
For his honorary work as a journalist, every year “Raja Ram Mohan Roy” National award is
presented to a Journalist for his contributions in the field of Journalism.

M.K Gandhi 1869 – 1948

Journalism was a factor that transformed ordinary Gandhi into Mahatma Gandhi. His work in
Journalism has a strong influence not only on every newspaper in India, but also on the entire
world. He went to South Africa in the year 1893 and returned to India in 1914.He edited three
Journals during his lifetime. Gandhi used the Press as an important weapon to fight against the
British.

1. Indian Opinion (1903 – 1914) based in South Africa

2. Young India (1919 – 1932)
3. Herijan (1933 – 1948)
In order to ventilate the grievances of Indians and mobilize public opinion in South Africa,
Gandhi started writing and giving interview to newspapers. He needed a mouthpiece to reach
out to the public. So Gandhi started weekly newspaper “The Indian Opinion” in June 1903,
issued on Saturdays in Africa’s four natal languages. Three years later he dropped two of those
languages for the want of competent editors. He himself edited the paper in other two
languages and issued the paper in time until he left South Africa in 1914. It was published under
his supervision expressing liberal ideas and giving correct information on both Indian and South
African affairs. It served the purpose of newsletter which disseminated the news of the week
among Indian Community. It became an important instrument of education. In 1914 M. Gandhi
returned India after his successful political and social experiment in South Africa. Gandhi took
charge of the Indian National Movement. He acquired Young India English weekly on Oct 18,
1919. Later Navajeevan a Guajarati weekly of Young India brought by Gandhi with the help of
few friends in 1921.
These have played very important role in India to propagate his views and quicken the attempts
to acquire freedom. From 1920 onwards, the Indian Press played a prominent part at various
stages of Non-Co-operation, Civil disobedience, Quit India campaigns. The Press incited the anti
British agitation and played a definite role in infusing into the common people bitter aversion of
the alien rulers. The advent of Gandhi on the political scene of India marked a great change in
the attitude of the Indian Press.
The Indian Nationalist Press took up the propagation of the revolutionary ideals of freedom in
the Country as its mission. Gandhi’s opposition to the Montague Chelmsford reforms
(Government of India Act, 1919) was published in all the Nationalist papers. The reforms were
not satisfactory to Indians. Sensing this, the British Government appointed the Simon
Commission to enquire into the reforms and suggest modifications. The Simon Commission was
boycotted by the Indian people and demonstrations were held. The Press gave a wide coverage
to this news. The struggle to win Indian freedom continued despite British checks and even
atrocities. On April 5, 1930, Gandhi started historical Dandhi March to break the Salt Tax Laws
by himself; he was arrested by the Britishers. The Press was vigorous and gave full publicity to
the news of the Dandhi March.
To curb the freedom of the Press, the Government promulgated Indian Press Ordinance of 1930
to provide the better control of the Press. The newspapers were asked to deposit securities,
forfeiture of the deposits and seizing of the printing presses was the order of the day.
N.C Kelkar of the Kesari was fined Rs 5000 for the contempt of Court. The Indian Nationalist
Press played an important role in the National campaign of the Salt and Satyagraha. By July
1930, some 131 newspapers were called to pay securities, 9 suspend publications and a total of
Rs 1, 50,000 was collected by the Govt as deposits.
Gandhiji started Harijan, an English weekly on Feb 11, 1933. It had a clear and simple style
direct and free from all flourishes. Gandhi defined the objectives of Journalism as:

• To understand the popular feelings and give expressions to them

• To arouse among the people certain de3sirable sentiments
• Fearless to express popular defects
As the World War II broke out in 1939, Gandhi demanded complete independence before India
could co-operate with the allies for the war. The Nationalist Press supported Gandhi’s demands
in true sense. The struggle for Indian independence reached its culmination. In 1942 Gandhiji
started Quit India Movement. The Government tried to suppress the Movement with bayonets,
rifles and machine guns. Press gave wide coverage, subsequently the Govt. issued orders
relating to Press activities and imposed restrictions. Several newspapers including Harijan,
National Herald and Indian Express stopped publications in protest. Following the pressure on
the Government, the prohibitory orders were withdrawn. On August 15 India achieved
freedom. The Indian Press contributed over more than half a century of the Nation’s struggle
for liberation.
Unit II: Press Code and Ethics of Journalism

I. The Basic Concept and Objective of Press Codes and Ethics of Journalism

Sunnenberg (A female Journalist worked in Germany, China and Southeast Asia ) reported that a Study
was conducted in 31 Countries on the ethical code and it was found that Journalists adhered 57
principles and 10 principles were found to be common in all the 31 Countries.
• Truthfulness
• Honest
• Accuracy of Information
• Prohibition of discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity / religion etc
• Respect for privacy
• Prohibition to accept bribes or any benefit
• Fair means of information collection
• Prohibition of discrimination on the basis of sex/class etc
• Prohibition to allow any outsider to have influence on the Journalistic work

Ethics is a system of moral principles. They affect how people make decisions and lead their lives. Ethics
is considered with what is good for individuals and society and is also described as moral philosophy.

Ethics cover/include the following dilemmas

• How to live a good life

• Our rights and responsibilities
• The language of right and wrong
• Moral decisions – what is good and bad

Approaches to ethics

Philosophers nowadays tend to divide ethical theories into three areas

1: Meta Ethics: It deals with the nature of moral judgment. It looks at the origins and meaning of ethical
principles.
2. Normative Ethics: It is considered with the content of moral judgment and the criteria for what is
right or wrong.

3. Applied Ethics: Looks at controversial topics like war, animal rights and capital punishment.

Need of ethics in Journalism:

The term ethics is derived from Greek word “ethos” which means custom, character or disposition. In
Journalism ethics are very important because they create guidelines for Journalists to follow that help
people from feeling unequal and out casted. Ethics are important in making sure that media stays true
and further and help them maintaining sense of equality.
Journalists have the social responsibility to ensure that information is presented in a fair, balanced and
truthful manner. Journalists should not sensationalize any media event for their own benefit.
We now live in internet and highly mediated system. The sheer amount of information produced and
distributed by the mass media on a daily basis can impact significantly on the manner in which people,
communities and societies understand or (misunderstand) each other. Media is considered as a fourth
estate, a watchdog or a pillar of Democracy, the Press undoubtedly an essential element of public
sphere.
However, it continuously faces several challenges and is assailed by multiple forces. Indeed competition
on the digital front, pressures to publish fast and quick, the temptation of sensationalism, job insecurity
and high staff turnover are some of the threats to the profession. It is expected from a Journalist that he
does his job honestly and objectively along with the protection of the sources and loyalty with the
employer. These factors create dilemma at times. Hence, it is important to understand all the aspects of
ethical issues. It should be noted that ethics in the profession are only guidelines, which are necessary in
the process of information dissemination. These ethics relate to language use and means adopted in
securing information for ensuring objectivity and fairness in presenting facts to public. Collection and
dissemination of information is the duty of press because the press as a mass communication channel
operates in a public sphere for the benefit of the ground. The public scrutinizes the actions of the press
on all occasions and expects the press to reflect values and ethics of the profession.

SPJ (Society of Professional Journalists) Codes

Earlier known as Sigma Delta Chi. SPJ is one of the old Organizations representing Journalists in the US.
It was established in the year 1909. Members of the SPJ believe that public enlightenment is the
forerunner of justice and the foundation of Democracy. Ethical Journalism strives to ensure the free
exchange of information that is accurate, fair and thorough. The fundamental objective of Journalism is
to serve the people with news, views, comments and information on matters of public interest in a fair,
accurate, unbiased and decent manner. To this end, the press is expected to conduct itself in keeping
with certain norms of professionalism.

The following mentioned universally accepted norms of professionalism will help the Journalists to self
regulate his/her conduct:

• Accuracy and fairness (seek truth and report)

• Pre-Publication verification
• Caution against defamatory writings
• Parameters of the right of the press to comment on the act and conduct of public officials
• Right to Privacy
• Caution against identification
• Privacy of public figures
• Recording interviews and phone conversations
• Obscenity and vulgarity to be avoided
• Glorification of social evils to be avoided
• Violence not to be glorified
• Headlines not to be provocative
• Unauthorized lifting of news
• Minimize Harm
• Plagiarism

II. Press Council of India and Press Council’s Guide to Journalistic Ethics
The Press Council of India was setup on the recommendations of the first Press Commission in the year
1954 with purpose of preserving the freedom of the press and of maintaining and developing the
standards of press in India. The Commission felt that high standard of Journalism was being maintained
by only few players/Journalists, while others were prone to publishing sensational news. The
Commission had opined that only an autonomous body comprising people principally connected with
the industry could ensure that no code of Journalistic ethics are breached by any player. The
Commission identified roles for the proposed commission.

Recommendations of First Press Commissions:

1. Establishment of Press Council with the following goals:

The Council must be established on a statutory basis in order for it to have the legal authority to conduct
investigations.
The appointment of men as members who have earned the profession’s trust and esteem.
The Council shall have 25 members except the Chairman, the Chairman should be a former High Court
Judge. The Chief Justice of India will nominate him.
So accordingly Press Council of India was initially established in the year 1966 and started its operation
from November 16, 1966 (Nov 16 is observed as the National Press Day). The existing Press Council of
India functions under the Press Act, 1978. It is a statutory, quasi judicial agency which functions as a
watchdog of the Press. It adjudicates complaints against and by the Press for violation of ethics and for
the violation of the freedom of the Press. Justice J.R Mudhalkar was the first Chairman of PCI.

Press Council of India under Press Council Act, 1978 shall consist of:

• Chairman
• Two Rajya Sabha Members
• Three Lok Sabha Members
• Seven Working Journalists (other than editors of newspaper)
• Six Editors of Newspapers
• Three persons with specialized knowledge on public life
• One person who manages news agencies
• Six persons in the business of managing newspapers

Functions of PCI:

• To help newspapers maintaining their independence

• To build up a code of conduct for newspaper agencies and journalists in accordance with
high professional standards
• To ensure on the part of newspapers, news agencies and journalists the maintenance of
high standards of public taste and foster a due sense of both the rights and
responsibilities of the citizen
• To encourage the growth of sense of responsibility and public service aiming all those
engaged in the profession of Journalism
• To keep under review any development likely to restrict the supply and dissemination of
the news of public interest
• To keep under review cases of assistance received by any newspaper or news agency in
India from any foreign source including such cases as are referred to it by the Central
Government or by any other person, association of persons or any other Organization
Press Council’s Guide to Journalistic Ethics

• Accuracy and fairness

• Pre publication verification
• Caution against defamatory writings
• No personal remarks
• Respect for the Right to privacy
• Caution against defamation
• Recording of interviews and telephonic conversations
• Obscenity and vulgarity to be avoided
• Violence not to be glorified
• No glorifications to social evils
• Covering communal disputes to be thoroughly verified before publication
• Provocative or sensational headlines to be avoided
• Reporting on National Calamities to be verified from the authentic sources

P.B Sawant, former chairman of Press Council of India noted that the code of ethics all over the
world emphasizes the following:

• Honesty and fairness

• Reply to critical opinions
• Objectivity in reporting
• Prohibition to receive gifts
• Respect for privacy
• Distinction between fact and opinion
• Not to inflame hatred
• Not to use dishonest means to obtain information
Unit III- Role and Responsibility of the Press
Since Media is known to be the fourth pollar of Democracy, it acts as a bridge between the
individuals and the Government. It also is an extremely powerful tool with the ability to make
and break the opinion of the individual. Democracy cannot achieve success without free press.
It plays an important role in shaping human minds, it makes people at large aware about day
today activities of Politics, Sports, economic, Social and Cultural fields.

Responsibilities of the Press:

• The Press and other people connected with media owe a higher responsibility towards
the society and people of the Country.

• The Press must equip the consumers with unbiased data and shall not taint the facts;
they must present them as they are.
• To play a vital role in broadening the thinking of the individuals by empowering them
with knowledge
• To fairly criticize any action against the spirit of justice
• To impart social education
• To foster the spirit of unity and brotherhood

Some Basic Roles of the Press

Academic commentators have often characterized the media or the press as being a separate
player on behalf of the public against the agencies of power and that media organizationstake a
position between government agencies and the public. This is true only to a certain extent as
several media outlets (print, broadcasting or otherwise) are fundamentally part and parcel of
government and, therefore, cannot, and will not, play any role that is not supportive of the
government. However, it is true that a strong and independent media, together with other
organs of civil society, can play mutually reinforcing roles to exert pressure on governments to
support democracy and socio-economic development.Media commentator and academic
Masudul Biswas said that the major aim of the independent media is to make: ‘political
participation meaningful’.
This leads to one of the instrumental rationales for freedom of expression namely that the free
flow of information and exchange of ideas is good for democracy because it makes for better
democratic decision-making by government, improves transparency and accountability and
gives citizens the ability to make informed political choices. To achieve the important aim of
assisting in giving democratic participation ‘meaning’, the press must fulfill several other roles.
These are expanded on next.

The press as a public watchdog

The role of the press as a watchdog is a traditional characterization of the role of the news
media in particular. Biswas describes the media as ‘a watchdog of the society [monitoring] the
activities of public administrations and other institutions and practices that directly and
indirectly affect the public’.
This watchdog role can take many forms, depending on the nature of the medium concerned,
as well as on the state of democracy and development in a particular country. Essentially, this
role is to provide information to be the ‘eyes and ears’ of the public in monitoring what is
happening in public life by reporting on daily events as they unfold.

Reporting on government
When one thinks of the press as a watchdog, one thinks of the press as reporting on the
happenings of government. In and of itself reporting on government is a huge task. It involves
reporting on the programmes and activities of the three branches of government:
The legislature:Its activities include not only deliberating upon and passing legislation, but also
important committee work, overseeing the executive’s operations and being the body to which
public authorities are generally accountable.
The executive:Its activities include the day-to-day management of government and
government policy development. The activities of all ministries and government departments
fall under the auspices of the executive, which is essentially the ‘engine room’ of governance in
a country. The media needs to be able to report on all these ministries finance, health, trade,
education, sports and more.

The judiciary:These are the courts — that is, the administration of justice within a country. The
media needs to be able to communicate judgments and court proceedings.

Reporting on economic development

Economic issues can be as important as political ones. Hence, a watchdog press also needs to
report on economic developments and news. While these will often overlap with government-
related reporting (for example, when covering issues such as interest rates, unemployment
figures, gross domestic product figures, the budget, development projects or the use of
international donor aid), this is not always necessarily the case.
Often economic issues involve the private sector, and a watchdog press will need to be able to
report on the activities of major corporations and concerns in all spheres of the economy,
including energy, mining, oil operations, agriculture, manufacturing and services. In doing so,
the press needs to keep the public informed about the side-effects of economic activity, such as
the actions of polluting companies

Reporting on social issues

The press also needs to be able to report accurately on the social life of the nation. This means
covering artistic and cultural happenings and sporting events, as well as social trends and
developments that impact on the daily life of all, including children, the youth, the elderly and
the disabled.

The press as detective

The role of detective is a critical adjunct to the role of the press as public watchdog; however, it
is dealt with separately here to emphasize the difference between reporting on public affairs
and journalistic investigations into wrongdoing in the administration of public affairs.

The press as a public educator

The press also plays a general educative role in society. This can be done at several levels. For
example, in support of early childhood development, broadcasters can, and often do, air basic
educational materials aimed at teaching children the alphabet, colors or animals.
In support of secondary education, print media outlets sometimes include supplementary
educational materials for school goers. Similarly, broadcasters can and do, air historical,
scientific or even mathematical programmes also aimed at school-goers.
However, education is much broader than simply formal schooling, and the press can play a
general educational role. For example, the media (print or electronic) can inform the adult
population about a wide range of educational topics, including climate change, nutrition, health
(especially concerning diseases such as HIV and Aids, malaria and diabetes) basic money
management and budgeting, developments in agriculture, child care and the like.
The press as democracy and good governance advocate

III. Sensational and Yellow Journalism

Sensationalism:

Nowadays the media have transformed its main mission of reporting news that actually happened in an
accurate and objective way into covering stirring and controversial issues as news stories due to
capitalistic motives. Moreover, today’s media took the motto “If it bleeds it leads” as a criteria to report
any story. The aim of following this motto was to achieve high viewership rates and as a result gain more
advertisers which will ultimately increase the profits. However, this motto changed the media from
reporting facts into reporting sensational-fearful news.
Harrap’s 21st Century Dictionary defines sensationalism as “the practice of or methods used in
deliberately setting out to cause widespread excitement, intense interest or shock”. Going by this
definition it is clear that the concept is totally different from the event, it is the act and depends solely
on the journalist or media house and what they make out of a particular story. Thus, a journalist being
the first gate keeper has to choose to be sensational or not.

Sensationalism is the presenting of stories in a way that is intended to provoke public interest
or excitement at the expense of accuracy. It is a type of editorial bias in mass media in which
events and topics or news stories are overhyped to present biased impressions which may
cause a manipulation to the truth. The notion of sensationalism in the news has brought about
heated discussion in a variety of Countries like U.S, Japan, India and some parts of Europe and
Nigeria.
The issue of sensationalism in the media is both an ethical and a theoretical one.

Sensationalism is neither a new word nor a new concept. Agreeably it has been in the
Journalism bad books before the 2oth century. U.S Journalism Professor Mitchell Stephens in
his book “A History of News” writes that Sensationalism has been around since early humans
began telling stories. I have never found a time when there wasn’t a form of exchange of news
that included sensationalism. Whatever the time or setting, sensationalism is unavoidable in
news because we humans are wired, probably for reasons of natural selection.
Sensationalism spreads across all the other conventional media and is even more visible in the new
media today, which people use most often for activism. Sensationalism takes many forms. In the print, it
ranges from outrageous headlines to the selection of pictures, while in broadcasting the sound and
images could also be put in question.
According to Mehrotra (2011), media sensationalism is defined as “style of reporting news to public
which involves use of fear, anger, excitement and crude thrill undertaken by the media to increase the
viewership, ratings and lastly profits”. Moreover, this technique is used for two reasons: first to increase
the rate of the viewers, and the second is to persuade the viewer that the solution for the suggested
fear will be demonstrated in the news story. (Serani, 2011) .Additionally, the key to the success of
sensational based news is in presenting the news in a sensational - fearful anecdote format instead of
scientific facts. Thus, the media is promoting inaccurate news as the reports are aired without fact
checking and based on sensationalism rather than on accurate facts. Hence, this style of reporting
inaccurate news has hazardous effects.

Yellow Journalism
Brief History of Yellow Journalism
The Spanish-American War is often referred to as the first "media war." During the 1890s, journalism
that sensationalized—and sometimes even manufactured—dramatic events was a powerful force that
helped propel the United States into war with Spain. Led by newspaper owners William Randolph Hearst
and Joseph Pulitzer, journalism of the 1890s used melodrama, romance, and hyperbole to sell millions of
newspapers--a style that became known as yellow journalism.
The term yellow journalism came from a popular New York World comic called "Hogan's Alley," which
featured a yellow-dressed character named the "the yellow kid." Determined to compete with Pulitzer's
World in every way, rival New York Journal owner William Randolph Hearst copied Pulitzer's
sensationalist style and even hired "Hogan's Alley" artist R.F. Outcault away from the World. In
response, Pulitzer commissioned another cartoonist to create a second yellow kid. Soon, the
sensationalist press of the 1890s became a competition between the "yellow kids," and the journalistic
style was coined "yellow journalism."Yellow Journalism is a term used for the use of negligent and
flamboyant newspaper reporting, without regard to facts. With yellow journalism the truth is usually
misrepresented or concealed, more often than not, there may be no truth to the story at all.
Yellow journalism and the yellow press are any journalism that treats news in an unprofessional,
unethical, and sensationalized pattern. The techniques utilized in yellow journalism include exaggeration
of news stories, events, and untrue information.
It involves sensationalism of news, distorted stories, and misguiding images and information for the sole
purpose of increasing newspaper sales, exciting public opinion, and attracting them.
According to Frank Luther Mott, Yellow Journalism can be defined based on five characteristics that are
as follows;
 • Scare headlines in huge print, often of minor news
• Lavish use of pictures, or imaginary drawings
• Use of faked interviews, misleading headlines, pseudoscience, and a parade of false Learning
from so-called experts
• Emphasis on full-color Sunday supplements, usually with comic strips
• Dramatic sympathy with the “underdog” against the system
Some other characteristics of yellow journalism are stated below:

• The use of multicolumn headlines, oversized pictures, bold colors, and dominant graphics.
• Self-promotion within the news medium to increase the audience of a particular newspaper or
news channel.
• There are a certain set of topics that were given preference based on the interest of the
audience always, topics like politics, war, international diplomacy, entertainment, and sports
were generally given a front-page placement to make them more attractive and appealing.
• The journalists and publishers always tried to make an attractive layout. Sometimes, page
number one would only have a single piece of article to grab readers’ attention more. Along
with the layout and article, they emphasized using different illustrations.
• This type of news usually did not have any verified source.
Impact of Yellow Journalism on Society

• Sensationalization of cultural norms

• Persuade politics interest
• Gender Discrimination
• It creates fear in public.
• Conflicts: Human security issues and country security issues
• Mass Media and Interest of Public: Norms and various Ethics of Media
• The danger to the credibility of Mass Media and Democracy
• Media Change and Social Change- Promoting Violent Behavior and irrelevant practices
• Yellow journalism increases readers and sales in unethical ways.
Unit IV
I. Freedom of the Press

Personal Liberty is the most important of all fundamental rights. Article 19 to 22 deals with the
different aspects of the basic right. Right to freedom of speech and expression being the one.
Freedom of Speech and expression (Freedom of Press) Article 19 (1) (a)

Freedom of the Press is not specifically mentioned in the Article 19(1) (a) of the Constitution,
but the Freedom of Speech and expression does cover Press as well. In the Constituent
Assembly debates it was made clear by Dr. Ambedkar, chairman of the drafting committee that
no special mention of the freedom of press was necessary at all as the press and an individual
or citizen were the same as far as their right of expression was concerned.
To perceive the Democratic way of life it is essential that people should have the freedom of
express their feelings and to make their views known to the people at large. The Press is a
powerful medium of communication, should be free to play its role in building a strong viable
society. Denial of freedom of the press to citizens would necessarily undermine the power to
influence public opinion and be counter to Democracy.
The framers of the India Constitution considered freedom of the Press as essential part of the
freedom of speech and expression as guaranteed in Article 19 (1) (a) of the Constitution.
Article 19 (1) (a) guarantees that all the citizens shall have the right to freedom of speech and
expression, but this right is subject to limitations imposed under Article 19 (2) which empowers
the State to put reasonable restrictions on the following grounds
• Sovereignty and integrity of the State
• Security of the State
• Friendly relations with foreign Countries
• Public Order
• Decency and Morality
• Contempt of the Court
• Defamation
• Incitement to an offence

Meaning and Scope of Freedom of Speech and Expression

Freedom of speech and expression means the right to express one’s own convictions and
opinions freely by words of mouth, writings, printing, pictures and other modes. It thus includes
the expression of one’s ideas through any communicable medium or visible representation
such as gestures, signs etc. The expression connotes also publication and thus the freedom of
the Press is included in this category. Free propagation of ideas is the necessary objective and
this may be done on the platform or through the Press. The freedom of propagation of ideas is
secured by freedom of circulation, Liberty of circulation is essential to the freedom of liberty of
publication. Indeed without circulation publication would be of little value.
The freedom of speech and expression include liberty to propagate not one’s views only. It also
includes the right to propagate or publish the views of others.
Freedom of press has four broad special purposes to serve
• It helps an individual to attain self-fulfillment.It assists in discovery of truth
• It provides a mechanism by which it would be possible to establish a reasonable balance
between stability and social change.
• All members of the society should be able to form their own beliefs and communicate
them freely to others.
In sum, the fundamental principle involved here is the people’s right to know. Freedom of
speech and expression should therefore receive generous support from all those who believe in
the participation of people in the administration.
In Prabhu Datt v UOI the Supreme Court held that right to know news and information
regarding the Government is included in the freedom of press.
In Romesh Thapper v State of Madras Patanjali Sastri J. rightly observed that:
“Freedom of speech and of the press laid at the foundation of all Democratic Organizations for
without free political discussion no public education, so essential for the proper functioning of
the process of popular Government is possible.”

Right to Privacy

If we try to understand privacy in the layman’s terms it can be stated as “No unwarranted public
interference’’ it generally means to be free and alone without unnecessary public interference as one’s
personal information is considered to be his personal property and he/she has the right to not disclose
any such personal information. It may be said that privacy is the reversal of being public, if any private
letter of one’s friend is published by anyone without his/her express or implied permission then his/her
privacy would be violated.

Right to Information

The right of access to information held by the government bodies provides that individuals have a basic
human right to demand information held by the government bodies. It can be inferred from the right to
expression to seek and receive information, and it is recognized as a human right throughout the world.
Under this right, any person can claim information from a public body, and that body is legally bound to
disclose such information unless there is a legal reason not to disclose such information. In a democratic
country, RTI is an important tool for countering abuse, mismanagement and corruption to enforce
essentials of economic and social rights. In India, right to information can be derived from the
fundamental right of freedom of speech and expression which is guaranteed under Article 19. Several
incidents have proved that the right to information is an integral part of the Constitution of India and is
a recognized right for all its citizens. As RTI is a constitutional right it has also been incorporated in
legislation and is known as the Right to Information Act, 2005 which now deals with the disclosure of
information by the government bodies for the needs of the community or individuals public interest.
This has provided the appointment of designated officers to release information to the public, a
complaint mechanism, a proactive disclosure by the government for specified types of information and
this act also protects the privacy of both citizens and public figures. The development of the right to
information can also be seen through various Supreme Court judgments also, as in the case of Bennett
Coleman and Co. vs. Union of India, the right to information was held to be included within the right to
freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by Article 19(1)(a). Then in the case of SP Gupta vs. Union
of India, the right of the people to know about every public act and the details of every public
transaction undertaken by public functionaries were described.

Relation between Right to Privacy and Right to Information

Right to privacy and right to information in India are the two most important rights to ensure that
people can live their lives with dignity and integrity. These two rights are fundamental in maintaining the
quality of life of an individual. While the right to privacy allows people privacy to their personal
issues/affairs, the latter allows citizens to hold various government departments accountable for
important public affairs. Most of the time, these two rights complement each other in holding the
government accountable to individuals. But there is a conflict between these rights when there is a
demand for access to personal information held by government bodies. The relationship between right
to privacy and right to information laws is currently considered the most important subject of debate
around the world as various countries are adopting different types of concepts in relation to these laws
and are making different legislations. In India, in August 2017 the Supreme Court of India issued a
landmark judgment recognizing the basic rights guaranteed by the Constitution of India as the right to
privacy. The right to privacy was considered to be inherent in the right to life as stated in Article 21 of
the Constitution of India. On the other hand, the right to information acquires the constitutional right of
freedom of expression guaranteed to all citizens under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. A bill
stipulating various provisions for exercising this right was passed in 2005 and named the Right to
Information Act, 2005.

Right to privacy has now be granted the status of fundamental right but is not an absolute right overall
and is subject to certain restrictions or limitations that are:

• National Security and Public Safety.

• Public Interest.
• Scientific or Historic Research.
• Criminal Offences, etc.

Conflicts between both the rights

It is very well-known that the authorities are the custodians of numerous non-public records of various
citizens. The income-tax returns of a person, his clinical records, his biometric facts and so forth are his
personal belongings of which authorities could have access. If such records are made subject to RTI, it
will result in a large invasion with respect to the privacy of an individual. On the other hand, it
additionally aims to ensure that no one puts on a facade of safety or privacy with the intention to
protect himself against the disclosure of data which can be mandated through RTI. In instances wherein
there may be a dispute concerning whether or not the data needs to be protected under Section 8(1)(j)
or not, the applicant will have to satisfy the Public Information Officer that the data is for public interest
and its disclosure will benefit the public as a whole. If the officer is satisfied, the data can be provided.
Here, the general public interest surges in advance of the right to privacy of the individual. Thus, there
may be a likely paradox among these rights. However, the question is whether or not these rights are so
opposing in nature to the quantity that they can’t be reconciled? Many efforts have been made to
harmonize these provisions and it has met with a fair amount of success. These rights may be
complementary to each other and promote extra transparency and accountability from governmental
authorities.

Unit V- Basic Operations in Newspaper Design

I. Suitability of various printing processes for Newspapers and Magazines

There are several printing processes that are suitable for newspapers and magazines, each with its own
advantages and disadvantages. Here are some of the most common printing processes used in the
industry:

1. Offset printing: This is the most widely used printing process for newspapers and magazines. It is a
high-volume, high-speed printing process that produces high-quality images and text. Offset printing
uses a series of rollers to transfer ink onto paper, and can print on a variety of paper stocks. It is ideal for
large print runs and produces consistent, high-quality results.

2. Digital printing: This process uses digital files to print directly onto paper. It is ideal for short print
runs and can produce high-quality images and text. Digital printing is also more cost-effective than offset
printing for small print runs.
3. Flexography: This process is similar to offset printing, but uses flexible plates instead of metal plates.
It is ideal for printing on non-paper materials, such as plastic or metal, and can produce high-quality
images and text.

4. Gravure printing: This process uses engraved cylinders to transfer ink onto paper. It is ideal for
printing high-quality images and text, and is often used for printing magazines and catalogs. Gravure
printing is more expensive than offset printing, but produces high-quality results.

5. Letterpress printing: This is an older printing process that uses raised type and images to transfer ink
onto paper. It is ideal for printing small print runs and produces a unique, vintage look. However, it is
more expensive than other printing processes and is not suitable for large print runs.

Overall, the choice of printing process will depend on the specific needs of the publication, including
print run size, image quality, and budget.

II. Principles of Newspaper Design

BALANCE

In the balance concept, the page designer (hereafter referred to as the editor, although it may be any
member of the newspaper staff performing this function) tries to balance heads against
heads, pictures against pictures, stories against stories and artwork against artwork. This balance,
however, is a relative balance, and it is not measurable but is something gauged in the viewer's mind.
Therefore, the editor has to sense, rather than measure, the balance for a page.

CONTRAST

In the contrast concept, the editor strives to separate display items on the page so each gets the
attention it deserves. The editor uses type, headlines, pictures, white space and color to achieve
contrast.

For example, the editor can achieve contrast with type by using regular type with boldface type.
Headlines also can be contrasted by using bold, blackheads or by displaying reman type with italic type.
The editor can achieve contrast with pictures by using verticals with horizontals, small column widths
with large column widths or dark and light photographs. Further, the editor can achieve contrast
through color by displaying black type with color boxes, pictures and heads.

RHYTHM

By using the rhythm concept, the editor tries to get the reader to move from one element to another
element on the page. Rhythm is achieved in newspaper makeup by staggering headlines, stories and
pictures on the page.

UNITY
The unity concept of newspaper makeup is used to tie the page together; therefore, the page is not
divided into one, two or more sections. A page that lacks unity is called a paneled page. You can avoid
paneled pages by crossing the column gutters (space between columns) with headlines and pictures
in the middle areas of the page.

HARMONY

The harmony concept is used to give a newspaper a standard appearance from day to day. Harmony
generally refers to typographic harmony. This means using one typeface for body type and a contrasting
typeface for cutlines. Headlines should have the same typeface as the body type and maybe varied by
weight and the use of italics on occasion.

PROXIMITY

The Principle of Proximity states that to group related items on a page, you must bring them physically
close to each other. For information to be perceived as cohesive, it should be organized into groups of
related elements. This approach will make it both easier to be read and remembered. Proximity implies
a relationship. By grouping similar elements together, the page becomes more organized. The reader
understands where to begin reading, and the white space becomes more organizes as well.

ALIGNMENT

The Principle of Alignment states that nothing should be placed on a page arbitrarily; everything should
have a visual connection to something else on the page. When elements are aligned, they create a
stronger, visually cohesive unit. This will help in organizing and unifying the page.

WHITE SPACE

White space, or negative space, is the absence of text and graphics. It doesn’t have to be white; it is
whatever colour the background of your page is. White space provides visual breathing room for the
eye, and keeps things from being too cramped, busy and overwhelming.

Although white space is the lack of information, it doesn’t mean that it’s unimportant. White space is
essential in creating an elegant appearance, composure and harmony. Novice designers often feel
compelled to fill the entire page, but it’s important to remember that in design, sometimes less is more.

Elements of Newspaper Design

Newspaper layout design is an essential aspect of creating an engaging and informative publication. The
layout is the visual structure of the newspaper, and it plays a crucial role in determining how readers will
engage with the content. In this blog post, we will explore the key elements of newspaper layout design
and how they can be used to improve the overall reading experience for your audience.
The first element of newspaper layout design is typography. Typography is the art of arranging type in a
way that makes the text legible, readable, and appealing. The font, size, and spacing of the text all
contribute to the overall readability of the newspaper. The main headline should be in a large font size,
making it easy to read from a distance, while the body text should be smaller and more legible.

Next, the use of images and graphics is crucial in newspaper layout design. Images and graphics add
visual interest to the newspaper and can be used to help convey the message of an article. For example,
an image of a person can be used to represent the subject of an article, while a graphic can be used to
illustrate a process or concept. The images and graphics should be placed strategically throughout the
newspaper to enhance the overall reading experience.

The third element of modern newspaper layout is the use of white space. White space is the space on a
page that surrounds the text and images. It is important to use white space effectively because it helps
to separate different elements of the newspaper and makes it easier for readers to focus on the
content. A good rule of thumb is to use more white space on the page as the text becomes more
complex.

The fourth element of newspaper layout design is the use of grids. Grids are a system of horizontal and
vertical lines that help to organize the content of the newspaper. They help to create a consistent look
and feel throughout the newspaper and make it easier for readers to find the information they need.
Grids can be used to align text and images, and to create a hierarchy of information.

The final element newspaper page design is the use of color. Color can be used to create a visual
hierarchy and to emphasize certain elements of the newspaper. For example, the main headline can be
in a bright, bold color, while the body text can be in a more subdued color. The use of color can also be
used to create a mood or atmosphere, such as using warm colors to create a feeling of warmth and
comfort.

In conclusion, newspaper layout design is an essential aspect of creating an engaging and informative
publication. It is important to consider the key elements of typography, images and graphics, white
space, grids, and color when designing a newspaper layout. By following these principles, you can create
a newspaper that is easy to read, visually appealing, and engaging for your audience.

In today’s digital age, newspaper layout design services are also in high demand. Many newspapers are
now also available in digital format, and therefore, designers need to adapt to the new medium while
still keeping the traditional elements in mind. It’s important to understand that while the medium may
have changed, the goal of creating a visually appealing and easily readable newspaper remains the
same.

Overall, newspaper layout design is an art form that has evolved over the years. With the right design
elements and techniques, you can create a newspaper that is both visually appealing and easy to read,
making it an enjoyable experience for your readers.

III. Page Make Up

Page makeup in newspaper refers to the process of arranging and designing the content of a newspaper
page. This includes selecting and placing articles, headlines, photos, graphics, and advertisements in a
visually appealing and organized manner. The goal of page makeup is to create a balanced and easy-to-
read layout that engages the reader and effectively communicates the news and information. It is
typically done using specialized software and is the responsibility of the newspaper's layout or design
team.

Importance:

Page makeup is crucial in newspapers for several reasons:

1. Visual appeal: Page makeup helps create an attractive and visually appealing layout for the
newspaper. It involves arranging headlines, text, images, and advertisements in a way that is visually
pleasing and engaging for readers. A well-designed layout can grab the attention of readers and
encourage them to explore the content further.

2. Readability: Page makeup plays a significant role in ensuring that the newspaper is easy to read. It
involves selecting appropriate fonts, font sizes, and line spacing to enhance readability. Proper
alignment and spacing between columns and paragraphs also contribute to the overall readability of the
newspaper.

3. Organization of content: Page makeup helps in organizing the content in a logical and coherent
manner. It involves placing related articles, images, and advertisements together, making it easier for
readers to navigate through the newspaper. A well-organized layout allows readers to find the
information they are looking for quickly and efficiently.

4. Branding and consistency: Page makeup helps establish and maintain the newspaper's brand identity.
It involves using consistent colors, fonts, and design elements throughout the newspaper, creating a
cohesive look and feel. A consistent layout and design help readers recognize and identify the
newspaper easily, building brand recognition and loyalty.

5. Advertisement placement: Page makeup plays a crucial role in determining the placement of
advertisements within the newspaper. Advertisements need to be strategically placed to maximize their
visibility and impact. Properly placed ads can generate revenue for the newspaper and provide
businesses with an effective platform to reach their target audience.
Overall, page makeup is essential in newspapers as it contributes to the overall aesthetics, readability,
organization, branding, and revenue generation. It plays a significant role in attracting and retaining
readers, as well as creating a positive and engaging reading experience.

IV. Importance of White Space

What is White Space?

In web and print design, white space is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the space between the lines and
around the images. White space frames your pages so you can see different UI elements, content
blocks, and so forth.
However, white space does not have to be white. What if your web page has a dark palette with a black
background?

White space means that as you compose a design, you are also thinking about how to organize and
isolate elements on the page to make them more meaningful. Without this space, your designs may
come across messy and difficult to peruse.

Importance

White space is integral to any design. When you use white space correctly, you can transform a design
into an iconic piece of work that informs, highlights, and entertains. This is because each element has its
own space framed by the “silence” (white space) of the page.

There are some other things to consider when designing with white space:

1. Easy-to-Consume Designs

Print and web design use white space or negative space the same way. Designs have to be easy to
understand in an instant. With print design, graphics and white space must balance out cohesively.

Today’s online users view pages in a second and bounce off just as quickly if it’s not something that they
want to read.

White space helps you improve that legibility and readership. This means adding lines of white space
between paragraphs, changing margins, and blocking out important images.

2. Attention Here, Please

White space also calls attention to more important aspects of your design. Designers block out
important images with a decent amount of white space, or perhaps they use a full-width image followed
by a paragraph in the middle with large left and right margins.

This makes the reader focus on the image and the text.

3. Highlight CTAs

A CTA is a call-to-action that you can highlight using white space. The average attention span of Internet
users these days is quite low. In fact, recent studies revealed that even a 1-second delay on the loading
of your page will mean a loss of readership.

So what can you do as a designer to increase interaction? You can use white space to get directly to the
message and CTA. The CTA is typically a phrase with a button. You may see it at the top, inside of an
image as a button labeled “Sign Up.” The CTA is meant to direct the reader’s attention to what you want
them to do the most.
4. The Law of Proximity

This simply means, how close are elements to each other? If you have a set of icons together, do you
have them wide enough from one another to allow for logical grouping for the user?

This helps with your organization of the page. With some designs, if images are too close to one
another, it can look like one giant image instead of logical groups.

The proximity of the white space can be greater in order to separate images and allow users to consider
each as its own bit of information. When you do any type of grid design, it’s important to use white
space to make sure people can see the differences in each symbol, icon, or image.

5. Breathable Designs

Have you ever looked at a design and not known what to look at first? Nothing stands out in these type
of designs except for possibly the CTA, but what if you wanted to have a significant headline with a
supporting tagline?

The headline is meant to evoke a feeling, while the tagline below should support and explain for readers
who are more interested. If both of these elements have the same size and white space, it comes off as
a block of text. Breathable designs play with font size and white space to make it more readable down
the page.

Continuation of Copy

Continuation of copy in newspaper design refers to the practice of carrying over an article or story from
one page to another within a newspaper layout. This is done when an article is too long to fit on a single
page or when the design layout requires it. The continuation is indicated by using a specific
typographical symbol, such as a line or a small box with the word "continued" or "continued on page X"
to guide readers to the next page where the article continues. This helps maintain the flow of the story
and allows for more efficient use of space in the newspaper layout.

Importance:

The continuation of copy in newspaper design is important for several reasons:

1. Readability: Continuation of copy ensures that readers can easily follow the flow of the article. It
allows them to pick up where they left off and continue reading without any confusion or interruption.
This is especially important for longer articles or stories that span multiple pages.

2. Engagement: By continuing the copy, newspaper designers can maintain the reader's interest and
engagement. If an article is abruptly cut off and continued on another page, it may disrupt the reader's
reading experience and make them less likely to continue reading. By providing a seamless continuation,
designers can encourage readers to stay engaged with the content.

3. Context: Continuation of copy helps to provide context and coherence to the article. It allows readers
to understand the full context of the story and ensures that they don't miss any important information
or details. Without continuation, readers may lose track of the narrative or miss out on crucial points.
4. Aesthetics: Continuation of copy is also important for the overall aesthetics of newspaper design. It
helps to create a visually pleasing layout and ensures that the design elements, such as headlines,
subheadings, and images, are properly aligned and balanced. This contributes to the overall
professionalism and attractiveness of the newspaper.

5. Advertising: Continuation of copy also plays a role in advertising revenue for newspapers.
Advertisements are often strategically placed next to or near continued copy to ensure that readers see
them. By ensuring a smooth continuation, designers can optimize the placement of advertisements and
maximize their effectiveness.

In conclusion, the continuation of copy in newspaper design is crucial for readability, engagement,
context, aesthetics, and advertising revenue. It ensures that readers can easily follow the flow of the
article, stay engaged with the content, understand the full context, and appreciate the overall design of
the newspaper.

Optical Centre

The optical centre in a newspaper refers to the area on a page that is most likely to attract the reader's
attention. It is the point where the reader's eyes naturally gravitate towards when scanning the page.
Newspapers often place important headlines, images, or advertisements in the optical center to
maximize their impact and ensure they are noticed by readers.

Importance:

The optical centre, also known as the visual centre or the focal point, is an important aspect of
newspaper design and layout. It is the point on a page where the reader's eye naturally falls first, and it
is where the most important content should be placed. Newspapers use the optical centre to guide
readers through the page and draw their attention to the most important stories and images. By placing
headlines, photos, and other key elements in the optical centre, newspapers can ensure that readers
will see them first and be more likely to engage with the content. In addition to guiding readers through
the page, the optical centre also helps to create a sense of balance and harmony in the layout. By
placing elements symmetrically around the optical centre, designers can create a pleasing visual effect
that makes the page more attractive and easier to read. Overall, the optical centre is a crucial element
of newspaper design that helps to ensure that readers engage with the content and enjoy the reading
experience.

References:

• Mass Communication in India, Kaval J. Kumar

• Theory and Practice of Journalism, B.N. Ahuja
• Comparative Media Laws and Ethics
• YouTube
• Cyber Law in India (Law on Internet) by Dr.Farooq Ahmad
• Online Search engines
• University Lectures (recorded)