Every year on November 17th, 2021, National Journalism Day is observed to honour the Press Council of India, which was founded on that day 55 years ago. But do you know what journalism is, why it is observed, how it affects society, how crucial it is, etc.? Let's   find out the answers of these questions through this article.

the Press Council of India (PCI) was created as a tool to not only monitors the level of reporting in the nation, but also to make sure that independent media endures and subsequently thrives there. The PCI is required by law to oversee, control, and monitor all journalistic activity nationwide. It keeps a close eye on all of the nation's journalists and makes sure that nothing from the outside is in any way influencing their work.

National Journalism Day: Press Council of India's history - The First Press Commission made the decision in 1956 to create a distinct organisation with the legal authority and duty of upholding journalistic ethics.

The commission believed that the nation need a governing body that would be accessible to maintain press access to the general public as well as be an impartial authority to mediate and render judgment on any issue that required attention in India.

Ten years later, on November 16, 1966, the Press Commission established the PCI. Every year on November 16th, we Indians observe National Journalism Day to commemorate and recognise the historical occasion of the founding of the esteemed council.

Meaning of National Journalism Day: The PCI is crucial to India because it was designed from the first to defend the free press, which is the fourth pillar of a democracy. Therefore, it continually works to ensure that India's freedom of speech and expression develops and that the integrity of journalism is not compromised. Therefore, National Journalism Day is very significant in any democracy because without good journalists, a nation will definitely suffer.

What is journalism's legal standing?: The Indian government has established a number of rules and regulations for journalists that define their areas of study and writing as well as the content that press organisations are permitted to disseminate. Journalists can interview senior authorities, leglislators, celebrities, and other people of interest. They also enjoy some rights that the general public does not. The government offers extra safety to journalists who cover sensitive topics.

Ethics in journalism include moral standards and ethical behaviour that can be applied to the many difficulties that journalists encounter. The "canons of journalism" or the professional "code of ethics" refer to this. Associations for professional journalism as well as broadcast and internet news firms adhere to this. The journalist should adhere to  the principles of genuineness, integrity, neutrality, legitimacy and public accountability.

The journalist should adhere to the values of sincerity, integrity, objectivity, legality, and public accountability. This will help in transformation of information into news disseminated to the public.