What kind of 'Fourth Estate' does India need?

OPINION

It is more or less clear that the news media which presently serves us does not have the "means" to help the society genuinely. It is owned or has investments in it by politicians or corporates.  India as of 2012 has 400 news channels and 86,000 news publications, and perhaps some thousand odd websites - a detailed report by the Government of India should be made to identify which are owned by politicians, and what kind of corporate revenues it depends on. Previous research in media has shown that corporate affiliations or political affiliations can have serious influence on the way a news organisation reports to people.

Arvind Kejriwal in his address to the people before breaking his fast commented on media's role, and ideally how a 'Fourth Estate' should function - and that it should be there to serve the people - but that is quite unlikely in India for reasons I had mentioned in an earlier article.

A question is - what kind of 'Fourth Estate' does India need? And how can it be achieved? In this post, I am making some recommendations, and perhaps after AAP comes into power, it should seriously consider making major changes which will make the 'Fourth Estate' more accountable. 

Recommendation/Framework:

It appears that majority of the present news media is owned or has investments by politicians or corporates. They may be allowed to continue, but a team of media experts must be formed to keep a 24/7 watch on the channels and check their content for agenda setting and framing and catch any bias. This can be a body within the PCI. In event of framing or agenda setting by any of the privately owned TV channels, the head of this media department will have the power to demand an answer from the erring TV channel. The erring channel must be obliged to give an answer within a stipulated time frame, failing which they must be levied with heavy fine and immediately asked to go off air for few days. After it returns back on air, it must be asked to 'clearly' mention the reason why it was off-air to its viewers in scrolls and by the anchor for the next 7 days. This will establish accountability of highest order - after all, the 'Fourth Estate' works for people, not for an individual or a group. 

It must also be made mandatory for all privately owned news channels to list the name of the political parties or corporates from whom they receive revenues or donations, and also list who has investments/share in the channel. This will establish transparency, and viewers will be kept updated. Editorial guidelines which a news channel, newspaper or magazine follows must be mentioned in as much detail as possible (this is how BBC does it: http://www.bbc.co.uk/guidelines/editorialguidelines/guidelines/)

National News Networks (TV/Radio) must be completely changed (for ex: DD), and a new department of 'Developmental Journalism', 'Envioronmental Journalism', 'Investigative Journalism' must be instituted. This network must not be depended on any revenues in terms of advertisements and it must be fully funded by Government of India - this is to keep the essence of 'Fourth Estate' intact, and save it from any kind of revenue-based influence.

Allocating a huge budget at the beginning of such a project should not be considered as wastage - India spends hundreds of billions in buying arms, and hundreds of billions are wasted in scams. This should be considered as a life-long investment which will help the people of India forever. 

A print newspaper, magazine and a news website in all languages must be started which follows strict principles established by a media commission of media researchers, law-makers, veteran journalists and members of civil society. This newspaper/magazine/news website may depend on small classified advertisements for revenues, but nothing from corporates or politicians or political parties. 

A sizable budget should be allocated to this project, and it is justifiable to do so as this network will be expected to be a 'patrollman' of the common man - not a watchdog/pet dog. 

All powers and access mandatory to pursue news stories in national interests must be granted to members of this news network and may also be provided security if it requires. The framework should be made in a way that it will never be influenced by political party in power in future, and each political party or any of the governmental departments will be answerable to this news network equally. 

A new team of journalists must be hired for this project, and journalists from 'privately owned' channels must be categorically denied entry - unless, they have an exceptional track record for insightful and unbiased reportage during their stint. Controversial figures in journalism must be kept out.

Next to this project, the government should encourage citizen journalism and provide workshops, and platform for the same (website, on TV, space in magazine or newspaper) - this will bring to notice issues that have been missed by journalists and enable quick redressal. In schools, a subject 'how to read and question news' must be made mandatory to study. Enabling the future generation to understand basic fundamentals of political discourse and news can go a long way.

I propose to Aam Aadmi Party that after it comes into power, it must show serious commitment in  strengthening the fourth pillar of democracy in a way it is answerable to the people of India - once and for all - and after meticulously studying the present situation.