Corporatisation of media curtailing press freedom in India: Academician

Mysuru: US-based academician Nikhil Moro on Sunday said corporatisation of Indian media organisations and news channels is curtailing the press freedom in the country.
He was speaking on the topic ‘Press Freedom in the United States and India— A Legal Analysis’ at a seminar organised by Mysore Literary Association.
Moro, who did his graduation at the Maharaja's College, said half of the 900 licensed broadcast channels in India are owned by private players, politicians, real estate barons and large corporations.
“Most of them have emerged as public relation arms of their companies, firms and political parties. As major channels are concentrated in metros, there is no little scope for issues in small towns and semi-urban and rural areas,” he said.
“India has now emerged as the fifth largest media and entertainment market in the world by revenue,” he said.
While freedom of the press is protected in the United States with the stringent laws and powerful democracy, India's freedom of the press is governed by the Indian Constitution. As many as 46 personalities are facing sedition charges for violating Indian laws of freedom of the press, speech and expression rights. US media laws have more scope for localism, diversity, community unlike Indian channels concentrated on metros neglecting larger rural India, he said.
Mysore Literary Organisation president Prof K C Belliyappa, vice president Prof Balaji, secretary Reginald Wesley were present during the seminar.