MANU/PIBU/1947/2015

Department/Board : Press Information Bureau

Date : 29.12.2015

Print Media needs to accept the challenges put forth by the Digital Age

Shri Arun Jaitley, Minister of Information & Broadcasting, Finance and Corporate Affairs has said that the print media needed to accept the challenges put forth by the Digital and Information age. The internet revolution and fast changing technology presented a big challenge to the Print Media across the world to maintain its presence and sustained growth. However, India remained an exception wherein Print Media registered growth owing to an increasing demand and subscriber base for Regional Newspapers. The Minister stated this while releasing the 59th Annual Report on Print Media- "Press in India 2014-15" prepared and compiled by Registrar of Newspapers for India here today. Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore, Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting was also present during the event.

Elaborating further, Shri Jaitley said that Print Media had to contend with the information flow disseminating from electronic media which weakened the dividing line between news and opinion. The emerging viewpoint had brought a certain shrillness in the debates and discussions. Print Media, thus, had a role to play in maintaining objectivity and preserving the sacred nature of news. It was important to also understand that emerging viewpoints surfaced due to the vastness of the media universe where different perspectives were put forth on a given issue.

The Minister also said that it was time for the Magazine Journalism to reinvent itself since the options for the readers were expanding due to alternatives such as Digital and Social Media. Shri Arun Jaitley further said that the worldwide trends show that many popular magazines had shifted to the online digital edition, since it's time for instantaneous news with fast changing world, news and technology. Hence, the shelf life for news being collated in magazines was considered outdated.

Special Secretary, Shri J. S. Mathur in his address gave an overview of the publication and highlighted the journey of Press through history. He also touched upon the changes being brought forth in the media space, especially the Print Media.

The Annual Report "Press in India- 2014-15" was prepared on the basis of analysis of annual statements filed by the registered publications. The registered publications were required to file Annual Statements giving details including circulation figures under the Press & Registration of Books Act 1867. The report provided broad analysis of the general trend of the Indian Press based on the claimed circulation.

The print media registered a growth of 5.80% over the previous year as a total of 5,817 new publications were registered during 2014- 15 and 34 publications ceased their operation. Out of the total 1,05,443 publications regi........