‘How Free is the Press’ is an interesting essay written by Dorothy L. Sayers. In this essay, the writer deals with the freedom of the press. She also describes the control under which the press has to work.
According to the writer, the freedom of the press is essential for the development of democracy. It is also an essential factor for the growth of a nation. She says that the press should be free from the censorship by the government. The press should work freely, but its freedom is restricted during war. In this sense the British Press is singularly free. It is free to attack the policy of the government. It discusses the political character of the ministers.
Such a freedom may have defects no doubt. The freedom of public opinion is not restricted during peace in Britain, but the press may misuse its freedom. The editorial policy of a popular newspaper is controlled by two factors. It takes care of the interest of the advertisers from whom it gets money. It does not support a public policy which is against the interests of its advertisers. So, it is clear that a cheap daily newspaper cannot express public opinion freely. It is less free than an expensive weekly or monthly.
The second source of revenue of a newspaper is the wealth of the owner. So, its policy is determined by the personal and political ambition of its owner.
Thus, the writer means to say that the press in India is not as free as the British Press. She points out that the press often misuses its freedom and cheats the general readers.