Newspapers are held in high esteem as one of the four pillars that support Democracy. Therefore, it is natural for people in democratic countries to worry when this pillar is attacked and weakened. If the pillar collapses, Democracy will collapse.

How can Democracy stand on three legs? I am reminded of that symbolic giant wooden ‘Broken Chair’ work of art seen at a park in Geneva that stands on only three legs. Yes, it symbolises the campaign against land mines. Now time has come for an artist to create a similar artwork to campaign against an attack on America’s iconic newspaper — The Washington Post.

The owner of The Washington Post Jeff Bezos has e-mailed the paper’s staffers a change in the newspaper’s policy in its ‘Opinion Section’ that would align more closely with the political right. In other words, it would toe the line of the US President Donald Trump’s policies.

The crux of this advisory reads: “We are going to be writing every day in support and defence of two pillars: Personal liberties and free markets. We will cover other topics too, of course, but viewpoints opposing those pillars will be left to be published by others.”

He further writes like a pedagogue about freedom in economic realm and extolling freedom as ethical as it drives creativity, invention and prosperity. The result was the incumbent editor of the ‘Opinion Page’ David Shipley quits.

When this news broke, it was like a cloudburst upon those who thought journalism was sacrosanct, immutable and invincible as a defender of Democracy. The question that would beg for an answer is: Is American Democracy in danger? Jeff Bezos has already answered this question saying that others would be publishing the viewpoints opposed to those he has decided to uphold and support — personal liberties and free market. If so how can there be any danger to democracy. I guess we are going to witness a new kind of war on American soil — newspaper war with two opposing viewpoints.

The reaction to Jeff Bezos’ decision, however, has only reinforced the truth about the power and relevance of a newspaper despite the digital world of media where some are available for a few pieces of silver.

Newspapers play their roles in different countries in different ways. Which is why, I always held that the idea of a Free Press is a myth. In India, the first newspaper Bengal Gazette, in english was published in 1780 by J.A. Hicky. The government was the British colonial government. Some more newspapers followed but all of them were newspapers by the British, of the British and for the British.

Now in America, with an unpredictable, provocative President Donald Trump, the country could be headed for a media war between The Washington Post — owned by Jeff Bezos the American and for the Americans — and other newspapers including the digital media. The objective of Jeff Bezos could be to protect and promote the American interests and thus help Donald Trump to achieve his goal of MAGA — Make America Great Again.

Reacting to Jeff Bezos’ decision to re-order the policy of his newspaper The Washington Post, Ravi Joshi, Convenor of Mysore Open Forum (MOF) and a former RAW Officer, has said there are two issues that are arguable here. First is that the owner laying down the Editorial line. According to him, this is violation of Freedom of Press. This is what I called a myth. Every man’s freedom ends where other man’s nose begins. What is the Official Secrets Act? Press Freedom too is restricted and restrained. It is not absolute.

Our Constitution does not even mention the word Press when it speaks of Freedom of Speech and Expression. Reason given is that Press cannot have more freedom than a citizen.

It is not a commodity, Ravi Joshi says. No. It is an article of commodity for trade and also incidentally (not primarily), of service. Owner who publishes it must profit from it. Newspaper is a purveyor of news, views and entertainment to its readers according to its owner’s genius or stupidity.

If Press is the Fourth Pillar then why it is not under State control like other three pillars — Legislature, Executive and Judiciary? Even to consider Press as a Fourth Pillar of Democracy is wrong. Press exists even under monarchy, dictatorship and communism. Where is Democracy here?

Even in a Democracy, the Press may work for dismantling Democracy. Therefore, it is a misnomer to call Press as the Fourth Pillar of Democracy. According to me, the Fourth Pillar of Democracy is the Election Commission which is a Constitutional authority like Legislature, Executive and Judiciary. As Napoleon said, Press would play the role of a grumbler, a giver of advice or as a tutor of nations. Therefore, calling the Press as a Fourth Estate and a pillar of Democracy is nothing but an act of appeasement to seek its support to defend Democracy whenever it is in danger.

The second issue that Jeff Bezos has raised is that his newspaper would defend personal liberties and free markets. Here, Ravi Joshi has made a strong case knocking down its rationale.

He avers that invariably market fundamentalism takes precedence over personal liberties. The idea of a free market is a complete myth because it is controlled by oligarchs and the cartels. As a result, the middle and the poor class will be   trampled upon.

In such a situation, The Washington Post of Jeff Bezos has to defend “free market but it will not be ‘free’ to report the atrocities of the ‘free market’,” says Ravi Joshi. But sir, it will be reported by others, according to Jeff Bezos.

The owner can and must lay down the editorial policy, but it must be ethical. Star of Mysore has laid down its ethical editorial policy in 1978 when it started publication and still stands by it. Journalism  par excellence.

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