Introduction: Media law has been changing, and it is posing problems to media owners and policy makers alike. In India we have privately owned media and public ownership of media in large number. In India article 19 1 C protects freedom of speech and in America 1st Amendment protects freedom of speech as well. Still in India a private dominated country laws restrict freedom. Janatha party it is said is freer press oriented and Indira Gandhi during her second term in 1980s did not touch freedom of press. Journalists suffer due to lack of good salaries and private media pays highly qualified journalists lesser than peons in government. The BJP government and Janatha party due to its capitalist orientation have not implemented Bachawat wage board recommendations and Palekar wage board also. It is hear say or heard that PM Modi and FM Nirmala Sitharaman are not getting paid properly or very less. Such conditions exist and India boasts freedom of press to a great extent. Despite laws prostitution exists in India online pornography exists and many other social evils exist due to capitalist orientation. In America pornography is big business prostitution is legal and income gap between rich, and poor is huge In India also during BJP rule poverty is increased among upper castes and forcible marriages are taking place in a big way. In America and western Europe bad things as nude beaches x rated channels are common and Republican party has not come openly against gay lesbian marriages.
In India media law exists as copy rights Act Official secrets Act Press and books Registration Act among others. The press freedom is relatively more during current regime and DMK rule in the state but press freedom has been there during all governments. Despite of this media face problems from outsiders on newsprint and basic services as electricity among others.
Press freedom and media freedom are in need in democracies to voice against rich and powerful sections of the society. Social injustices are corrected only if media and press raise voice against atrocities on going in society.
Media ethics also is important and ethics concerning media regulate independent media vehicles. Ethics is code of conduct for media, and it is also important today. Ethical guidelines decide freedom of press and editor publisher relationship among other things. Media censorship and other things are also covered under media ethics issues.
Online Journalism has come about, and technology has made great in roads into journalism and media communication Online media laws are also important and crucial in coming days. Social media communication has come about and impact of face book orkut and other social media devices are more.
Media law faces challenges as new people and new generations come about in new society. Old issues censorship obscene content and things of that still occupy dominant place in media in countries like India and the US. Freedom is more there now but journalists are not getting paid properly and are not in comfortable position to serve the society well. As a result, many challenges occur, and media law may have to take all in its stride and do a good job in serving society and people in many ways
The Broadcast media of Radio and TV face challenges in media law forms and broadcast content is not censored on the whole in India. But it doesn’t mean all are allowed in broadcast media. America allows all under Ist Amendment and it is not there in India. Finally, media law will save media managers and media owners from all problems regarding content economics and profits in all possible ways in India and other countries.
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