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During British period, there was an early demand for free press made by Raja Rammohan Ray and British Journalists in India like James Silk Buckingham. As a result, newspapers were rooted in the British territories by the administration, not allowing any criticism or inconvenient or embarassing news irrespective of the professional quality of the newspaper.
Gradually these news papers became the tools of freedom movement and played an active role in India's cultural rennaissance and reformation in the country. Indian newspapers grew in both quality and quantity since the information and news needs of the people also grew due to socio-cultural controversies of that period. Raja Rammohan Roy ceased publishing his paper later in protest against the Government's Press Regulations.
The Bombay Samachar, a Gujarati Newspaper, appeared in 1812. By 1885, The Times of India. The pioneer, The Madras Mail, The Statemen and the Amrit Bazar Patrika came into existence. During 2nd World War, Indian press played key role in reporting the struggle for freedom.
Free India constitution provided the citizens right to freedom of speech and expression, which included the freedom of the press. However, unlike Pandit Jawarharlal Nehru, Mrs. Indira Gandhi was always at unease with the press. Even during emergency in 1975 when pre-censorship was imposed, underground presses were active. Today print media have grown enormously both in terms of dailies and periodicals and their circulation which is known as the periodical or magazine explosion.
The need for systematic changes in the format or design of the newspapers was not felt for a long time. In the 1970s hot metal printing gave way to offset technology and the color printing became cheap. The national dailies sectionalized their editorial offering, adding-gloss and glamour with the purpose of drawing advertisement from the white goods and services sector. Looks and readability wise, the quality of newspapers and magazines have improved. Newspapers and magazines are indeed breaking far more stories on corruption than ever before. This forces the print media system to become increasingly accountable. Publishers have understood the fact that truth can be reported only if message and medium are market driven.
The number of daily newspapers in 1994 increased to 4043 from 3740 in 1993 thereby registering an increase of about 8.1 %. Between 1985 and 1994, the number of dailies increased by 124.36%. During 1994, newspapers were published in as many as 99 languages/dialects including few foreign languages. Hindi newspapers constitute the largest group in the country.
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