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WBCHSE Journalism study materials
WBCHSE Journalism study resources

WBCHSE Journalism practice questions

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Question 1Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication

In the classical communication model developed by Shannon and Weaver, which element converts a message into a form suitable for transmission through a channel?

  1. The receiver
  2. The noise source
  3. The feedback loop
  4. The encoder or transmitter Correct answer.

Explanation

Shannon and Weaver described communication as a linear process in which a source produces a message, a transmitter or encoder converts it into signals suited to the channel, and a receiver decodes it at the destination. Noise is a separate element that interferes with the signal. Feedback was not part of their original linear model.

Question 2Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication

Which of the following best describes the concept of 'gatekeeping' in journalism?

  1. The legal protection given to journalists who refuse to reveal sources
  2. The routine of checking facts before a story is filed
  3. The practice of publishing every press release received by a newsroom
  4. The process by which editors decide which information reaches the audience Correct answer.

Explanation

Gatekeeping refers to the filtering decisions made by editors and other news professionals who select, shape and reject information before it is passed on to the audience. The term was popularised by Kurt Lewin and later applied to newsrooms. It concerns selection and control of information flow, not legal privilege or routine verification.

Question 3Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication

A district reporter writes a story on a local school and submits it to a sub-editor. Which function does the sub-editor primarily perform at this stage?

  1. Reporting the story from the field
  2. Editing, headline writing and page layout Correct answer.
  3. Distributing the printed newspaper
  4. Gathering advertisements for the page

Explanation

The sub-editor works on copy after reporting is complete, checking accuracy and style, writing headlines and captions, and fitting the story into the page design. Field reporting, advertising sales and distribution belong to other roles in the newspaper. The sub-editor is therefore a post-reporting editorial function.

Question 4Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication

Which article of the Indian Constitution guarantees freedom of speech and expression, the foundation of press freedom in India?

  1. Article 14
  2. Article 32
  3. Article 21
  4. Article 19(1)(a) Correct answer.

Explanation

Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution guarantees to all citizens the right to freedom of speech and expression, which the courts have read to include press freedom. The right is subject to reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2). The other articles listed deal with different rights and remedies.

Question 5Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication

Which of the following is an example of a mass communication medium rather than interpersonal communication?

  1. A face-to-face parent-teacher meeting
  2. A radio news bulletin broadcast to thousands of listeners Correct answer.
  3. A letter sent to one relative
  4. A telephone conversation between two friends

Explanation

Mass communication involves a message transmitted through a technological medium to a large, dispersed and usually anonymous audience, as with a radio bulletin. Interpersonal communication is direct and personal between identifiable individuals. The other options all involve direct exchange between specific people.

Question 6Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication

In the news value framework, which term describes the criterion that an event happening close to the audience is more likely to be reported?

  1. Prominence
  2. Novelty
  3. Proximity Correct answer.
  4. Continuity

Explanation

Proximity is the news value that makes events geographically or culturally close to the audience more newsworthy. Prominence concerns the involvement of well-known people, while novelty refers to oddity or unexpectedness. Continuity refers to ongoing stories that remain in the news.

Question 7Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication

Which of the following statements correctly describes the difference between a broadsheet and a tabloid newspaper?

  1. A tabloid is printed on larger sheets than a broadsheet
  2. A broadsheet is always published online while a tabloid is printed
  3. A tabloid is a paper published only on Sundays
  4. A broadsheet is printed on larger pages and typically carries longer, more detailed reports Correct answer.

Explanation

Broadsheets are traditionally printed on larger sheets and are associated with more extended, analytical reporting, whereas tabloids use smaller pages and a more compact, often more sensational style. Both formats can appear in print or online. Format and editorial style are the key distinctions.

Question 8Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication

A television programme that mixes information with entertainment, such as a lively talk show discussing a social issue, is best described by which term?

  1. Editorial
  2. Documentary
  3. Propaganda
  4. Infotainment Correct answer.

Explanation

Infotainment denotes programming that blends informational content with entertainment values to attract and hold a wider audience. Propaganda is one-sided persuasive communication for a cause, while a documentary is a factual long-form genre. An editorial expresses the opinion of the newspaper or broadcaster.

Question 9Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication

A public relations officer drafts a press release about a company's new product and sends it to several newspapers. Which function of public relations does this activity illustrate?

  1. Lobbying the legislature
  2. Internal audit
  3. Crisis management
  4. Publicity and information dissemination Correct answer.

Explanation

Sending a press release to journalists is a publicity function, intended to disseminate information about an organisation to the public through the media. Crisis management concerns responding to an adverse event, and lobbying concerns influencing legislators. Internal audit is an accounting and governance function.

Question 10Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication

Which of the following correctly describes the difference between a news report and a feature article?

  1. A feature is written only by editors, while a news report is written only by reporters
  2. A feature is shorter and more time-bound than a news report
  3. A news report is usually timely and factual, while a feature is longer and explores background or human interest Correct answer.
  4. A news report is always opinion-based, while a feature is strictly factual

Explanation

News reports prioritise timeliness and factual reporting of a recent event, often following an inverted-pyramid structure. Features are typically longer, less time-bound and explore background, personality or human interest. Both are written by journalists and both must be accurate.

Question 11Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication

In the linear model of communication, what is meant by 'noise'?

  1. The loud tone used by a news anchor
  2. Any interference that distorts or obscures the message between sender and receiver Correct answer.
  3. The editorial policy of a newspaper
  4. The feedback sent by the audience to the sender

Explanation

In communication theory noise refers to any factor that interferes with the accurate transmission of a message, whether physical, semantic or psychological. It can occur at any point between encoding and decoding. Feedback and editorial policy are separate concepts.

Question 12Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication

Which of the following is the clearest example of 'development journalism'?

  1. A series of articles explaining a rural health scheme and assessing its implementation Correct answer.
  2. A column predicting cricket match results
  3. A report on a celebrity wedding
  4. A review of a foreign film

Explanation

Development journalism focuses on reporting and analysing development programmes, policies and their impact on people, particularly in developing societies. It aims to inform and involve citizens in developmental processes. Celebrity, entertainment and sports content belong to other genres.

Question 13Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication

A journalist receives a document marked 'embargoed until 6 p.m.'. What does this mean in news practice?

  1. The information may be published immediately without conditions
  2. The document must be returned unopened
  3. The information can never be published at all
  4. The information may be used but must not be published before the stated time Correct answer.

Explanation

An embargo is an agreement under which a source provides information in advance on condition that it is not published before a specified time. It allows journalists to prepare stories while giving the source control over the release timing. It does not permanently prohibit publication.

Question 14Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication

Which of the following best explains why the inverted pyramid structure is widely used in news writing?

  1. It is used only for feature writing and not for news
  2. It requires the reporter to present events in strict chronological order
  3. It gradually reveals the most important fact at the end to build suspense
  4. It places the most important information first so readers get the key facts even if they stop early Correct answer.

Explanation

The inverted pyramid puts the most newsworthy facts in the lead and arranges the rest in descending order of importance. This suits readers who may not finish the story and allows editors to cut from the bottom without losing the core facts. It is a news-writing form, not a suspense device or a chronological narrative.

Question 15Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication

In the context of Indian media, what is the Press Council of India?

  1. A private advertising agency
  2. A trade union of newspaper owners
  3. A government department that censors newspapers before publication
  4. A statutory body that promotes press freedom and maintains journalistic standards Correct answer.

Explanation

The Press Council of India is a statutory, quasi-judicial body established by an Act of Parliament to preserve the freedom of the press and improve standards of journalism. It hears complaints and can censure newspapers, but it does not censor content before publication. It is neither an advertising body nor an owners' union.

Question 16Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication

A newspaper publishes a story revealing that a public official has misused funds. Which role of the press does this most directly illustrate?

  1. Watchdog role Correct answer.
  2. Entertainment role
  3. Advertising role
  4. Socialisation role

Explanation

The watchdog role refers to the press monitoring those in power and exposing wrongdoing on behalf of the public. Exposing misuse of public funds by an official is a classic instance of this function. Entertainment, advertising and socialisation describe different functions of the media.

Question 17Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication

Which of the following statements about the difference between 'hard news' and 'soft news' is correct?

  1. Hard news deals with serious, timely events, while soft news deals with lighter, human-interest topics Correct answer.
  2. Soft news is always more urgent than hard news
  3. Hard news is always about sports, while soft news is always about politics
  4. Hard news is written only for television, while soft news is written only for print

Explanation

Hard news concerns serious, significant and time-sensitive events such as politics, disasters or economic policy. Soft news covers lighter, less time-bound subjects with human interest. Both can appear in any medium and the distinction is about subject and urgency, not platform.

Question 18Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication

Which of the following best describes the concept of 'media convergence'?

  1. The blending of print, broadcast and online platforms through digital technology Correct answer.
  2. The restriction of journalism to a single medium
  3. The closing down of all newspapers in a region
  4. The merger of two political parties

Explanation

Media convergence refers to the integration of previously distinct media forms, such as text, audio, video and data, on digital platforms. It changes how news is produced, distributed and consumed. It does not mean the elimination of newspapers or restriction to one medium.

Question 19Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication

A reporter uses a hidden camera to record a private conversation in a person's home without consent. Which ethical principle is most directly at stake?

  1. Objectivity in reporting
  2. Deadline management
  3. Headline writing style
  4. Privacy and the right to be left alone Correct answer.

Explanation

Covert recording in a private space raises the ethical and legal issue of privacy, which protects individuals from unjustified intrusion. Journalists must weigh public interest against intrusion and follow legal limits. Objectivity, deadlines and headline style are separate concerns.

Question 20Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication

Which of the following best explains the term 'agenda-setting' in media studies?

  1. The media influence what issues the public considers important by highlighting them Correct answer.
  2. The media tell the public exactly what to think on every issue
  3. The media select the editor of a newspaper
  4. The media set the price of advertisements

Explanation

Agenda-setting theory, associated with McCombs and Shaw, holds that the media influence the salience of issues, so that topics given prominence in coverage come to be seen as important by the public. It does not claim that the media dictate what people think. Advertising pricing and editorial appointments are unrelated.

Question 21Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication

Under Indian law, which of the following is a recognised reasonable restriction on the freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(2)?

  1. Defamation Correct answer.
  2. Publication of election results after polling
  3. Reporting of court proceedings
  4. Truthful criticism of government policy

Explanation

Article 19(2) permits the State to impose reasonable restrictions on freedom of speech and expression on grounds including defamation, contempt of court, decency, public order and the security of the State. Truthful criticism of policy, election reporting and court reporting are generally protected. Defamation is expressly listed as a ground for restriction.

Question 22Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication

A researcher finds that heavy television viewers tend to perceive the world as more dangerous than light viewers. Which theoretical concept does this finding most closely relate to?

  1. Cultivation theory Correct answer.
  2. Two-step flow theory
  3. Uses and gratifications theory
  4. Agenda-setting theory

Explanation

Cultivation theory, developed by George Gerbner, proposes that prolonged exposure to television, particularly its recurring portrayals of violence, shapes viewers' perceptions of social reality. The finding about fear and heavy viewing is a classic cultivation claim. Agenda-setting concerns issue salience, uses and gratifications concerns audience needs, and two-step flow concerns opinion leaders.

Question 23Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication

Which of the following best distinguishes 'objectivity' from 'neutrality' in journalistic practice?

  1. Objectivity applies only to broadcast media, while neutrality applies only to print
  2. Objectivity means presenting only one side, while neutrality means presenting all sides
  3. Objectivity involves methodical verification and fairness, while neutrality means avoiding any stance or interpretation Correct answer.
  4. Objectivity is the same as editorial opinion, while neutrality is the same as advertising

Explanation

Objectivity is often understood as a method of verification, evidence-based reporting and fairness to competing views. Neutrality is a stance of not taking sides or offering interpretation. A report can be objective in method while still conveying evidence-based conclusions. Neither concept is tied to a single medium.

Question 24Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication

In the two-step flow model of communication, what role do opinion leaders play?

  1. They act only as passive receivers with no influence
  2. They replace the mass media entirely
  3. They directly control the editorial policy of newspapers
  4. They receive media messages and pass them on, influencing others in their social groups Correct answer.

Explanation

The two-step flow model, associated with Lazarsfeld, Berelson and Gaudet, suggests that media messages reach opinion leaders first, who then interpret and relay them to others. This intermediate step shapes how messages are received within social groups. Opinion leaders do not control editorial policy or replace the media.

Question 25Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication

Which of the following best describes the principle of 'fair comment' in journalism?

  1. Any statement made by a journalist is automatically protected
  2. Comments on private individuals are always protected
  3. Opinion on matters of public interest, based on true facts and honestly held, may be protected Correct answer.
  4. Only statements approved by the editor are protected

Explanation

The defence of fair comment protects expressions of opinion on matters of public interest where the facts relied on are true and the opinion is honestly held. It does not protect statements of fact presented as opinion or comments made maliciously. It is a limited defence, not a blanket protection for journalists.

Question 26Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication

Which model of mass communication describes audiences as largely passive receivers who are directly and uniformly influenced by media messages, like a needle injecting ideas into the mind?

  1. The hypodermic needle model Correct answer.
  2. The reception analysis model
  3. The uses and gratifications model
  4. The two-step flow model

Explanation

The hypodermic needle model, also called the magic bullet theory, treats the audience as a passive mass that absorbs media messages directly and uniformly. It emerged in the early twentieth century and was later challenged by research showing that audiences actively select and interpret content.

Question 27Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication

A college magazine publishes a short piece describing a new library policy, the number of books added this year, and the closing time on Sundays. This piece is best classified as which kind of journalistic writing?

  1. A news report Correct answer.
  2. An editorial
  3. A column of personal opinion
  4. A feature profile

Explanation

A news report presents factual information about a recent development in a direct, ordered way, answering what, when, where and how. The magazine piece simply states new policy facts without argument or human-interest storytelling, which fits news reporting.

Question 28Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication

A journalist covering a district health programme notices that several primary health centres lack cold-chain storage for vaccines. Which of the following best reflects the 'watchdog' function of the press in this situation?

  1. Printing the health department's press release about the programme without additional checking
  2. Writing a light feature about the dedication of a single nurse at one centre
  3. Publishing an investigative report that documents the gaps and asks officials to account for the failure Correct answer.
  4. Running a paid advertisement for a private hospital offering vaccination services

Explanation

The watchdog role means the press monitors those in power and holds them accountable by exposing failures and demanding answers. Documenting the missing cold-chain facilities and questioning officials directly performs that scrutiny.

Question 29Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication

A candidate for public office asks a reporter to submit the final article for approval before publication. What is the standard journalistic response to this request?

  1. Decline the pre-publication approval, since it hands editorial control to the subject Correct answer.
  2. Agree to it only if the candidate also buys advertising space
  3. Agree to it so that the candidate stays available for future interviews
  4. Send the draft for approval but publish any changes as a separate box

Explanation

Editorial independence requires that the publication, not the person covered, decides what is printed. Granting pre-publication approval gives the subject veto power over content and compromises the credibility of the report.

Question 30Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication

A district administration bars reporters from a public meeting on a new land acquisition plan and says the meeting is 'internal'. Which principle of the Press Council of India's norms on reporting public affairs does this restriction most directly conflict with?

  1. The press should avoid publishing obscene material
  2. The press should have access to information on matters of public interest held by public authorities Correct answer.
  3. The press should not accept payment for editorial coverage
  4. The press should publish corrections prominently when errors are proved

Explanation

Press Council norms stress that the press must be able to gather and report information on matters of public interest, especially decisions by public authorities. Closing a meeting on land acquisition, which affects many citizens, blocks that access and the public's right to know.

Question 31History and Development of Journalism in India and West Bengal

Which newspaper is regarded as the first Bengali-language daily newspaper, launched in 1862 from Calcutta?

  1. Amrita Bazar Patrika
  2. Som Prakash Correct answer.
  3. Sambad Prabhakar
  4. Bangadarshan

Explanation

Som Prakash, started by Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's associates in 1862, is generally treated as the first Bengali daily newspaper. Earlier Bengali papers such as Sambad Prabhakar began as weeklies and only later became dailies. This makes Som Prakash the standard answer for the first Bengali daily.

Question 32History and Development of Journalism in India and West Bengal

The Vernacular Press Act of 1878 is associated with which Viceroy of India?

  1. Lord Curzon
  2. Lord Lytton Correct answer.
  3. Lord Ripon
  4. Lord Minto

Explanation

Lord Lytton enacted the Vernacular Press Act in 1878, empowering district magistrates to demand security from Indian-language newspapers and to seize their presses. It was aimed at curbing criticism of colonial policy after the 1877 Delhi Durbar period. Ripon later repealed it in 1882.

Question 33History and Development of Journalism in India and West Bengal

Which Act first required publishers of newsbooks in British India to submit every printed copy to the government and to declare the location of their press?

  1. Official Secrets Act, 1923
  2. Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867 Correct answer.
  3. Newspapers (Incitement to Offences) Act, 1908
  4. Indian Press Act, 1910

Explanation

The Press and Registration of Books Act of 1867 created the system of declaring printing presses and submitting copies of publications to government authorities. It introduced the office of the Registrar of Newspapers and the practice of maintaining records of every publication. Later Acts dealt with sedition or security rather than registration.

Question 34History and Development of Journalism in India and West Bengal

Who founded The Hindu in Madras in 1878 along with a group of associates?

  1. G. Subramania Iyer Correct answer.
  2. Dadabhai Naoroji
  3. Surendranath Banerjee
  4. Bipin Chandra Pal

Explanation

G. Subramania Iyer founded The Hindu in 1878 with associates including M. Veeraraghavachariar and others, and the paper became a leading voice of nationalist opinion in South India. He later also started the Tamil daily Swadesamitran. The other names are associated with Bengal and Bombay nationalist journalism.

Question 35History and Development of Journalism in India and West Bengal

The Bengali journal Bangadarshan, launched in 1872, was founded and edited by which literary figure?

  1. Bankim Chandra Chatterjee Correct answer.
  2. Rabindranath Tagore
  3. Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay
  4. Michael Madhusudan Dutt

Explanation

Bankim Chandra Chatterjee founded Bangadarshan in 1872, and it serialised several of his novels including part of Anandamath. The journal became a landmark in Bengali literary journalism and helped shape nationalist cultural writing. It was a literary monthly rather than a news daily.

Question 36History and Development of Journalism in India and West Bengal

Which newspaper did Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak use to face sedition trials in the 1890s and 1900s?

  1. The Bengalee
  2. The Tribune
  3. Kesari Correct answer.
  4. Swadesamitran

Explanation

Tilak ran Kesari, the Marathi newspaper, and its English counterpart Mahratta, using them to criticise colonial policy. His writings in Kesari led to sedition prosecutions and imprisonment in 1897 and again in 1908. Kesari remains the standard example of militant nationalist journalism.

Question 37History and Development of Journalism in India and West Bengal

Which newspaper was founded in Bombay in 1838 as a bi-weekly and later became a leading English daily of western India?

  1. The Bombay Chronicle
  2. The Statesman
  3. The Times of India Correct answer.
  4. The Pioneer

Explanation

The Times of India traces its origins to 1838 in Bombay, when it began as a bi-weekly before becoming a daily. It grew into the major English-language newspaper of western India. The Bombay Chronicle was founded much later, in 1913.

Question 38History and Development of Journalism in India and West Bengal

Which organisation, established in 1939, is the recognised body of newspaper publishers in India that administers the Press Council's advertising-related certification?

  1. Indian Newspaper Society Correct answer.
  2. Editors Guild of India
  3. Press Council of India
  4. Press Information Bureau

Explanation

The Indian Newspaper Society, founded in 1939, is the association of newspaper publishers in India and handles accreditation for government advertising. It is distinct from the Press Council of India, which is a statutory regulator. The Press Information Bureau is a government information agency.

Question 39History and Development of Journalism in India and West Bengal

A researcher wants to trace the origin of the phrase 'Fourth Estate' as applied to the press. Which historical source is most appropriately cited?

  1. The Report of the Press Commission of 1954
  2. Macaulay's Minute on Education of 1835
  3. Edmund Burke's reference to the press gallery in the late eighteenth century Correct answer.
  4. The Indian Press Act of 1910

Explanation

The term 'Fourth Estate' is conventionally traced to Edmund Burke's late eighteenth-century reference to the reporters' gallery in the British Parliament as a distinct power beside the three estates. The idea travelled into Indian journalism discourse as a way of describing the press as a check on government. The other sources concern education policy, censorship, and Indian press regulation, not the term's origin.

Question 40History and Development of Journalism in India and West Bengal

Amrita Bazar Patrika shifted from Bengali to English in 1878. What was the immediate political reason for this change?

  1. To qualify for government advertising revenue
  2. To escape the restrictions of the Vernacular Press Act Correct answer.
  3. To merge with The Bengalee
  4. To comply with the Press and Registration of Books Act

Explanation

Amrita Bazar Patrika converted from Bengali to English in 1878 specifically to avoid being classified as a vernacular paper under the Vernacular Press Act, which imposed special controls on Indian-language publications. By publishing in English it escaped those restrictions while retaining its nationalist stance. The shift was a strategic legal move rather than a commercial or merger decision.

Question 41History and Development of Journalism in India and West Bengal

The Indian Press Act of 1910 differed from the Vernacular Press Act of 1878 mainly because it applied to which category of publication?

  1. Only books and pamphlets
  2. Only Bengali-language newspapers
  3. All newspapers printed in India, including English-language papers Correct answer.
  4. Only papers published in Bombay Presidency

Explanation

The Indian Press Act of 1910 extended security-deposit and forfeiture provisions to all newspapers printed in India, ending the earlier distinction that had shielded English-language papers under the 1878 Act. This widened the reach of colonial censorship considerably. The 1878 Act had been limited to vernacular publications.

Question 42History and Development of Journalism in India and West Bengal

Which Press Commission of independent India first recommended the creation of a statutory Press Council to safeguard press freedom and maintain standards?

  1. Kher Commission, 1966
  2. First Press Commission, 1954 Correct answer.
  3. Second Press Commission, 1982
  4. Sarkaria Commission, 1983

Explanation

The First Press Commission, appointed in 1952 and reporting in 1954 under Justice Rajadhyaksha, recommended a statutory Press Council to protect press freedom and adjudicate ethical complaints. That recommendation eventually led to the Press Council Act of 1965 and the Council's formation in 1966. The Second Press Commission reviewed its working decades later.

Question 43History and Development of Journalism in India and West Bengal

A newspaper editor publishes a report alleging corruption by a state minister and is asked to appear before a body that can censure but not punish. Which institution's jurisdiction does this describe?

  1. News Broadcasters and Digital Standards Authority
  2. Press Information Bureau
  3. Registrar of Newspapers for India
  4. Press Council of India Correct answer.

Explanation

The Press Council of India can inquire into complaints against newspapers and agencies and issue censure, but it has no power to impose criminal punishment. It functions as a quasi-judicial body safeguarding press freedom and ethics. The other bodies handle government publicity, registration, or broadcast and digital media respectively.

Question 44History and Development of Journalism in India and West Bengal

The Registrar of Newspapers for India (RNI) functions primarily under which statute?

  1. Indian Press Act, 1910
  2. Press Council Act, 1978
  3. Cinematograph Act, 1952
  4. Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867 Correct answer.

Explanation

The RNI operates under the Press and Registration of Books Act of 1867, verifying titles, ownership and circulation of registered publications. It issues certificates of registration and compiles circulation data. The Press Council Act governs a different body, and the 1910 Act is a defunct colonial law.

Question 45History and Development of Journalism in India and West Bengal

Which development in the 1970s and 1980s most directly changed the economics of Indian newspapers by making them reliant on advertising revenue rather than cover price?

  1. The founding of the Press Council of India
  2. The launch of All India Radio's news bulletins
  3. The introduction of the Vernacular Press Act
  4. The growth of mass-circulation Hindi and regional newspapers after the end of the licence-permit newsprint regime Correct answer.

Explanation

The easing of newsprint controls and the expansion of mass-circulation Hindi and regional papers in the 1970s and 1980s shifted newspaper economics toward advertising-led models. Larger circulations attracted national advertisers, reducing dependence on cover price. This transformation is central to the story of India's regional press boom.

Question 46History and Development of Journalism in India and West Bengal

Which newspaper, founded in Calcutta in 1875, became known for its association with the British establishment in India and later moved its base to New Delhi?

  1. The Bengalee
  2. The Hindu
  3. The Statesman Correct answer.
  4. Amrita Bazar Patrika

Explanation

The Statesman was founded in Calcutta in 1875 and became a prominent English daily with a strong editorial reputation, later shifting its principal base to New Delhi. It was associated with British commercial and establishment interests in its early decades. The Bengalee and Amrita Bazar Patrika were nationalist Bengali-owned papers.

Question 47History and Development of Journalism in India and West Bengal

Hicky's Bengal Gazette, often called India's first newspaper, was published from which city?

  1. Calcutta Correct answer.
  2. Serampore
  3. Bombay
  4. Madras

Explanation

James Augustus Hicky published Hicky's Bengal Gazette from Calcutta in 1780, making it the first newspaper printed in India. It was a weekly that criticised the East India Company administration and was soon suppressed. Serampore later became a missionary printing centre, but not the home of Hicky's paper.

Question 48History and Development of Journalism in India and West Bengal

Which early Indian-language newspaper, started in 1822, is often described as the first Hindi newspaper?

  1. Kesari
  2. Bombay Samachar
  3. Sambad Kaumudi
  4. Udant Martand Correct answer.

Explanation

Udant Martand, launched by Pandit Jugal Kishore Shukla from Calcutta in 1822, is widely regarded as the first Hindi-language newspaper. It appeared as a weekly and faced early financial difficulties. Sambad Kaumudi was a Bengali paper, while Kesari was Marathi.

Question 49History and Development of Journalism in India and West Bengal

Raja Rammohan Roy's Sambad Kaumudi is significant in Indian press history chiefly because it

  1. served as the official gazette of the East India Company
  2. championed social reform causes such as the abolition of sati through public debate Correct answer.
  3. was the first English-language daily in India
  4. introduced telegraphic news reporting to India

Explanation

Sambad Kaumudi, launched in 1821, was used by Rammohan Roy to argue for social reform, most notably against sati and for press freedom. It exemplifies the reformist strand of early Bengali journalism. It was a Bengali weekly, not an English daily or an official gazette.

Question 50History and Development of Journalism in India and West Bengal

The Bengal Gazette case is often cited in Indian media law because it illustrates which principle?

  1. Newspapers required a licence from the Crown before 1780
  2. The press enjoyed full constitutional protection from the outset
  3. Advertising was the sole source of revenue for early papers
  4. Early colonial authorities were willing to suppress a paper that criticised them Correct answer.

Explanation

Hicky's Bengal Gazette was suppressed after it criticised the East India Company and its officials, showing that colonial authorities would act against critical papers even before formal press laws existed. The episode is used to illustrate the origins of press-state conflict in India. Constitutional protection only arrived with the Constitution in 1950.