Janhavi Tandon
Everyone knows that Gandhi ji was a freedom fighter but not all know that he was also a journalist who firmly believed in public welfare and education through journalism.
He introduced several newspapers,namely, Young India, Indian Opinion and Harijan. In his autobiography, he affirmed that the sole aim of journalism should be service. He wanted to propagate a common nationalism feeling amongst all, peace and nonviolence through the newspapers. Following this ideology he did not publish any advertisements in his newspaper and wrote about abolishing untouchability, women-centric issues, and rural development.
For him, public interest was the priority and in Young India, he wrote, “I hold that it is wrong to conduct newspapers by the aid of …immortal advertisements, I do believe that if advertisements should be taken at all there should be a rigid censorship instituted by newspaper proprietors and editors themselves and that only healthy advertisements should be taken.” In an article published by him in the Indian Opinion, it was stated, “Advertisements are inserted by people who are impatient to get rich, in order that they may gain over their rivals. They are also much in fashion these days that any and every kind of advertisement is published and paid for. This is one of the sorriest features of modern civilization, and for our part we wish to be rid of it. ”
Thus, M. K Gandhi was one of the most ethical journalists in India who believed in promoting public welfare through his newspapers rather than promoting advertisements.
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