Mass Media and Early Newspapers
In the past a crier went about beating a drum to announce news in a village. Today news comes on mobile in a moment. A means of carrying news to people is a medium.
‘Mass’ means a group of people and ‘media’ means various modes of communication; so mass media is the field of communicating with large groups. In India printing technology and newspapers came after the British arrived; the newspaper was the first mass medium to spread knowledge and information.
Key idea 1 : Precursors of newspapers — A newspaper is a publication printed and distributed at regular times with news, editorials, people’s opinions and entertainment. Newspapers are historical documents recording current events. Earlier in Egypt royal decrees were placed in public places; emperor Ashoka also reached his subjects through inscriptions. In Rome in Julius Caesar’s time ‘Acta Diurna’ (acts of the day) were put up in public places. Travellers and ambassadors also carried news.
Key idea 2 : First newspapers of India — The first English newspaper ‘Bengal Gazette’ (‘Calcutta General Advertiser’) was started on 29 January 1780 by an Irishman James Augustus Hickey. The first Marathi newspaper ‘Darpan’ was started in 1832 at Mumbai by Balshastri Jambhekar; he is called the ‘First Editor’ and his birthday, 6 January, is observed in Maharashtra as ‘Patrakar Din’ (Journalists’ Day). Jambhekar started ‘Digdarshan’, the first Marathi monthly.
Key idea 3 : Other important newspapers — News in ‘Darpan’ helps understand political, economic and social events of that time. ‘Prabhakar’ (Bhau Mahajan) printed history of the French Revolution and the ‘Shatpatre’ of Lokhitvadi Gopal Hari Deshmukh. ‘Dnyanoday’ printed the map of Asia in 1842 and of Europe in 1851; it has the honour of first illustration in an Indian newspaper; the start of railways was reported under the title ‘Chakya Mhasoba’. ‘Induprakash’ supported widow remarriage; ‘Deenbandhu’ (Krishnarao Bhalekar, close associate of Mahatma Phule) voiced issues of the masses. ‘Kesari’ and ‘Maratha’ were started in 1881 by Gopal Ganesh Agarkar and Bal Gangadhar Tilak; they spoke on social and political issues before independence.
- Easy : First Marathi newspaper? — Darpan.
- Medium : First Indian newspaper to print an illustration? — Dnyanoday.
- Exam-type : When is Journalists’ Day? — 6 January.
In the figure: Timeline of newspapers.
Hicky’s Bengal Gazette is counted as the first printed newspaper of Asia; its first issue came on 29 January 1780 in Calcutta and it ceased in 1782. (As per several sources; check with the book)
80-32-42-81.
Darpan is not the first newspaper of India; it is the first in Marathi. India’s first English newspaper is Bengal Gazette.
Memory clue: India: 1780; Marathi: 1832. Memory clue: "Seventeen-eighty, eighteen-thirty-two".
Spot the difference
| Newspaper | Founder | Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Darpan | Balshastri Jambhekar | First Marathi, 1832 |
| Deenbandhu | Krishnarao Bhalekar | Issues of the masses |
| Kesari, Maratha | Agarkar, Tilak | 1881, pre-independence issues |
Practice questions
- 1What is ‘mass media’?
- 2What is a newspaper?
- 3What were the precursors of newspapers?
- 4Who started Bengal Gazette and when?
- 5State the contribution of Balshastri Jambhekar.
- 6What is special about ‘Dnyanoday’?
- 7Write the role of newspapers in the freedom struggle.
- 8Give an example of how an old news item becomes evidence of a historical event.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1The field of communication with large groups.
- 2A publication printed and distributed at regular times.
- 3Inscriptions, decrees, Acta Diurna, handbills.
- 4James Augustus Hickey; 29 January 1780.
- 5Darpan, Digdarshan; First Editor.
- 6First printed an illustration (map).
- 7Raised social awareness and political issues (Kesari, Maratha).
- 8E.g. Chakya Mhasoba recorded the start of railways.
Periodicals, Radio and Television
Devotional songs on the home radio in the morning, news at noon; and serials on TV in the evening. Each medium has its own way.
Periodicals, radio and television are the next forms of mass media. Periodicals come out at fixed intervals like weekly, monthly, quarterly.
Key idea 1 : Periodicals and digital journalism — Periodicals are weekly, fortnightly, monthly, bimonthly, quarterly, half-yearly or annual. ‘Pragati’ (1929, Tryambak Shankar Shejwalkar) was a historiographical periodical. Today there are periodicals devoted to history like ‘Bharatiya Itihas ani Samskruti’ and ‘Marathwada Itihas Parishad Patrika’. In electronic or digital journalism, historical content reaches people through web portals, social media, web channels and ‘YouTube’. Many newspapers have started e-newspapers.
Key idea 2 : Radio — The private ‘Indian Broadcasting Company’ (IBC) broadcast daily programmes; the government took it over as the ‘Indian State Broadcasting Service’ (ISBS) and on 8 June 1936 it was renamed ‘All India Radio’ (AIR). The first English news bulletin of India was broadcast on 23 July 1927 from the Mumbai centre of IBC. After independence AIR became part of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. As per the textbook the name ‘Akashvani’ came on the suggestion of poet Pt. Narendra Sharma. Akashvani gives entertainment, awareness and literary programmes and special programmes for farmers, workers, youth and women; ‘Vividh Bharati’ broadcasts in 24 regional languages and 146 dialects; new channels like ‘Radio Mirchi’ also exist.
Key idea 3 : Television — The Delhi Doordarshan centre was inaugurated by the first President of India Dr. Rajendra Prasad on 15 September 1959. The Mumbai centre began telecast on 1 May 1972. Colour television came on 15 August 1982. In 1991 the government allowed private national and international channels; so Indians could see international events on television. As television is an audio-visual medium it crosses the limits of newspaper and radio and shows actual scenes of an event.
- Easy : 23 July 1927 — what? — First English news bulletin (IBC, Mumbai).
- Medium : 15 September 1959 — what? — Delhi Doordarshan inauguration.
- Exam-type : 15 August 1982 — what? — Colour TV.
In the figure: Timeline of radio and TV.
On 8 June 1936 the Indian State Broadcasting Service was renamed ‘All India Radio’ (as per several sources); the name ‘Akashvani’ was officially adopted in 1956. Sources differ about who suggested the name (some mention a poem by Rabindranath Tagore), so check with the book.
27-36-59-91.
Akashvani and Doordarshan are not the same; Akashvani is radio, Doordarshan is television.
Memory clue: Radio = hear; TV = hear + see. Memory clue: "Ears, eyes".
Spot the difference
| Medium | Nature | One key date |
|---|---|---|
| Newspaper | Printed | 29 January 1780 |
| Radio | Audio | 8 June 1936 |
| Television | Audio-visual | 15 September 1959 |
Practice questions
- 1What are periodicals?
- 2Which are the means of digital journalism?
- 3State the journey from IBC to AIR.
- 4State the speciality of ‘Vividh Bharati’.
- 5When and by whom was Delhi Doordarshan centre inaugurated?
- 6What was the effect of the 1991 decision?
- 7How is television an audio-visual medium?
- 8Prepare a comparison chart of newspaper, radio and TV.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Publications coming out at fixed intervals.
- 2Web portals, social media, web channels, YouTube.
- 3IBC → taken over → ISBS → 8 June 1936 AIR.
- 4Broadcast in 24 languages and 146 dialects.
- 515 September 1959; Dr. Rajendra Prasad.
- 6International events could be seen on TV.
- 7Because it has both sound and picture.
- 8Student writes in columns of beginning, nature and function.
Why Mass Media and Critical Understanding
Before forwarding a news item received on a messaging app it is wise to check if it is true. Information from media must always be checked.
Accepting information from media after checking, verifying and questioning is critical understanding. News or information in media may not always be exactly true.
Key idea 1 : Why we need mass media — We need mass media so that information flows freely to all strata of society. Editorials, columns and supplements are important parts of newspapers; readers get a platform to express opinions. Newspapers help make democracy stronger and are called the fourth pillar of democracy. Television shows an event as it actually happens; so far there is no other alternative for it.
Key idea 2 : Critical understanding — News in media must be checked carefully before accepting. Ask what is the source, whether other sources give the same information, and what is the proof. A news item may be false, half-true or deliberately altered. So even while reading historical information, confirm the source.
Key idea 3 : History and verifying news — The method of history is checking sources, judging their reliability, comparing with other sources and only then drawing conclusions. The same method can be applied to information in today’s media. So the study of history makes critical citizens.
- Easy : Checking a forwarded news item? — Critical understanding.
- Medium : Editorial and readers’ letters give what? — A platform for opinions.
- Exam-type : Stern diaries — what lesson? — Verify the news.
In the figure: Four steps to verify news.
In 1983 the German weekly ‘Stern’ bought at a large price and published so-called handwritten diaries of Hitler (about 60 volumes); within days they were proved to be forgeries made by a forger Konrad Kujau. Stern had paid about 9.3 million marks and Kujau and reporter Heidemann were sentenced. (Check with the book)
News-Source-Compare-Accept.
Not every news item printed or seen on TV is true.
Memory clue: Ask questions. Memory clue: "Who, where, what proof?".
Spot the difference
| Point | Blind acceptance | Critical understanding |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Not checked | Checked |
| Comparison | Not done | With other sources |
| Result | Rumours spread | Truth is known |
Practice questions
- 1Why do we need mass media?
- 2Why are newspapers called the fourth pillar of democracy?
- 3What is the speciality of television?
- 4What is critical understanding?
- 5Explain with an example that information in media must be checked.
- 6How is the method of history useful to check news?
- 7Write the steps to verify a news item on social media.
- 8What effect could a false news item have on society?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1So that information flows freely to all.
- 2Because they give information and a platform for opinions, strengthening democracy.
- 3Shows event with actual visuals.
- 4Accepting information after checking and questioning.
- 5E.g. Stern’s forged Hitler diaries.
- 6Check source, compare, then conclude.
- 7Find source, see other reliable sources, check proof, then forward.
- 8Rumours, fear, distrust and even violence may spread.
Mass Media, History and Careers
Newspapers have a column ‘50 years ago’. If today’s news is given a background, it is understood better.
Media use history to give background to news and to make programmes attractive and accurate; so people with knowledge of history get opportunities in the media field.
Key idea 1 : History in newspapers — While giving news the background must be told, so reporters compare with similar events of the past and print them in a separate frame. Columns like ‘50 years ago’, ‘100 years ago’ and ‘On this day in history’ are based on historical documents. History-based crosswords, e.g. using fort names, special supplements on anniversaries, articles, editorials and book reviews also need knowledge of history. E.g. World War I began in 1914, 100th year in 2014; the Quit India call completed 75 years in 2017.
Key idea 2 : History on radio and television — Akashvani has preserved prime ministers’ speeches of every 15 August; historians are invited for discussions on birth and death anniversaries of national leaders and anniversaries of historical events, and there is a programme ‘On this day in history’. Serials like ‘Ramayana’, ‘Mahabharata’, ‘Bharat Ek Khoj’, ‘Raja Shivchhatrapati’ on Doordarshan and other channels got large audiences. In such programmes it is essential to show surroundings, dress, weapons, lifestyle and language accurately; deep knowledge of that period is needed. Channels like ‘Discovery’, ‘National Geographic’, ‘History’ let one see world history at home.
Key idea 3 : Opportunities and ‘Bharat Ek Khoj’ — In all these fields people with deep knowledge of history are in demand. ‘Bharat Ek Khoj’ of Doordarshan was based on Pt. Nehru’s book ‘Discovery of India’ and directed by Shyam Benegal; it covered Harappan civilisation, Vedic period, interpretations of Ramayana-Mahabharata, Mauryan period, Mughal period, Bhakti movement, role of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, social reform and freedom struggle. The actor Roshan Seth played Nehru and was also a narrator.
- Easy : ‘50 years ago’ column — based on what? — Historical documents.
- Medium : Accurate dress in a historical serial — why? — Deep knowledge of the period.
- Exam-type : Historians’ discussion on radio — when? — Anniversaries, birth days.
In the figure: Use of history in four media.
What happened before the first Marathi newspaper ‘Darpan’? Balshastri Jambhekar was only about 20 years old. Bombay already had a Gujarati paper, ‘Bombay Samachar’ (1822), but there was no Marathi newspaper.
What happened after the first Marathi newspaper ‘Darpan’? ‘Darpan’ began on 6 January 1832 in Marathi and English and ran until 1840. In 1840 Jambhekar started ‘Digdarshan’, the first Marathi monthly. 6 January is celebrated as Patrakar Din.
Four media: newspaper, radio, TV, digital.
Historical serials are not only entertainment; experts of history are needed for accuracy.
Memory clue: Background + accuracy = use of history. Memory clue: "What before? What is true?".
Spot the difference
| Medium | Use of history | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Newspaper | Columns, supplements, articles | 50 years ago |
| Radio | Discussions, preserved speeches | On this day in history |
| TV | Historical serials | Bharat Ek Khoj |
Practice questions
- 1How is history used in newspapers?
- 2Why is it necessary to give background to news?
- 3Which history-related programmes are there on radio?
- 4What care must be taken in making historical serials?
- 5Write information on the serial ‘Bharat Ek Khoj’.
- 6Which channels brought world history home?
- 7What opportunities are there for history scholars in the media?
- 8Prepare a plan for a newspaper supplement for a historical anniversary.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Through columns, supplements, articles, editorials, crosswords.
- 2So the reader gets context and deeper understanding.
- 3On this day in history, discussions by historians, preserved speeches.
- 4Accuracy of dress, weapons, language, surroundings.
- 5Based on Nehru’s book, directed by Shyam Benegal, ancient to modern India.
- 6Discovery, National Geographic, History.
- 7Journalism, scriptwriting, research, programme production, narration.
- 8Background article, interviews, date chart, photographs and quiz.