Four Theories of the Press: Libertarian Theory

The libertarian theory is based on the absence of government in deciding norms for the individual. The best early expression is in “Areopagitica” and essay published by Milton. In this theory, the individual is protected, there is no government that decides the norms for the media. The libertarian theory is a hands-off approach and can be both liberal and conservative. It does not make assumptions on what someone is and doesn’t say have a really liberal mindset. The theory assumes that in the absence of state control, the media is free. In this theory it identifies deregulation which presumes to be consistent with liberty. It presumes also that the state is the only possible sourch of obstruction to media operation. This theory arose from the works of men like Milton, Locke, Mill and jeffereson and avowed that the search for truth is one of man’s natural rights. An example of this would be Jefferson. 

Four theories of the Press: Authoritarian Theory

The basis of the authoritarian theory is to determine the function and relationship of the popular press to contemporary society. The theory states that the ownership of printing remains mostly in the private hands, but broadcasting and cinema usually remain in the hands of the government. It state that the linear flow of power is the same as the control the government exercises over the people. The two of these are inseparable. There is prior restraint in the theory especially in licensing. Ownership can be either private or public. They deal with censorship in religion, military politics and moral. Authority has all the power and is able to protect and prevent media from certain licenses. The authorities have all the right to permit or restrict any sensitive issues that may ensue. The authoritarian theory describes that all forms of communication are under the control of the governing elite or authorities.  Examples of this theory are Germany under Hitler, Italy under Mussolini and Islamic regimes in Iran.

Gandhi

Ghandi was a politician in South Africa and a scholar of philosophy. He lived in South Africa for more than a decade. He wrote in a very simple and understandable language. Freedom of the press was a cornerstone to all the other freedoms to Gandhi. Because he was a politician, everything that Gandhi did in public life was motivated. He was not a saint, but he was a politician. He says that freedom of the press is a privilege.  There were two recurring themes in his writings libertarian and socially responsible. He always puts the reader in the center and advances the individual through his works. He makes the individual the unit of all the analysis of the individual components. You measure the media performance based on how well they are doing. His most influential newspaper was Harijan, it was published in English, Hindi and Gujarti. He was educated in the Gujarti language. He coined the term Harijan for a large amount of Indian people who was historically discriminated against.

I have included the trailer to the movie "Gandhi" about his life. 

CBFC: Central Board of Film Certification

The Central Board of Film Certification’s role is to regulate for content. The CBFC does not regulate for financing, distribution or exhibition. It certifies the films before their public release. It covers commercial, educational, foreign and dubbed films including trailers, short films and ads that play at cinemas, but not news documentaries. They preview approximately 13,500 films a year. The CBFC is headed by a chairperson a CEO and 12 to 15 ‘board members’ headquartered in Mumbai with nine regional offices. The CBFC certifies films as U UA A S and appeals can be made to the film certification appellate tribunal.  The “U” stands for universal. This is unrestricted public exhibition and typically contains educational, social or family oriented themes. “UA” is parental guidance and means that all ages are admitted but it may contain mature themes such as sexual references and violence. “A” is for adults only. It is restricted to an adult audience, 18 and over, and may contain disturbing themes and frequent crude language. “S” is restricted to a special class or persons. This often is specialized for doctors and such special groups.

Copyright

A copyright is a right given by the law to creators of literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works and producers of cinematograph films and sound recordings. These are a bundle of rights including, inter alia, rights of reproduction, communication to the public and adaptation and translation of the work. These rights differ slightly depending on the work. India’s Copyright Act of 1957 protects the original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works and cinematograph films and sound recordings from unauthorized uses. It protects the expressions not the ideas. The history of copyright is that Queen Mary I in 1557 established copyright in England. It was not done by a royal decree that is when the law must be carried out because royalty brought it up, but it was done as an act of parliament.  The first grant of copyright was given to printers and booksellers and not to authors. The current U.S. copyright statutes are the Copyright Act of 1976 and the Sonny Bone copyright term Extension Act of 1998.

Indian Motion Pictures

The first commercial film was screened in Bombay in 1896. The title was “Arrival of a Train at Ciotat Station and Leaving the Factory.” The Times of India called it the “marvel of the century.” The first film produced in India was “Raja Harishchandra” it was a silent film and it told the story of a righteous king. It was directed by Dadasaheb Phalke, the father of indian cinema. He wrote, directed and produced more than 120 commercial films. The Indian motion pictures has a collection of some ten regional industries that produce films in more than 15 languages. Teluga film industry in Hyderaad is the largest with Hindi film industry-Bollywood which is located in Mumbai-is the second largest.  There are around 1,325 films per year and it is the most prolific film-making nation. Fewer than 15% of films recover costs; fewer than 3% are significantly profitable.  Revenue of about $3 billion. Majority of commercial films are low-cost productions. Hollywood accounts for 7% of Indian box office-no import restrictions, no quotas. Many Hollywood companies have localized. Two example of this are, Sony Pictures India and Warner Bros. Pictures India.