CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -Swati Chaturvedi, author of the book ‘I am a Troll: Inside the Secret World of the BJP’s Digital Army’, beat shortlisted journalists from Italy, Turkey and Morocco for her work in exposing the “IT cell” within the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for keeping an army of angry trolls.

Detailed explanation-2: -Reporters Without Borders (RSF) held its annual Press Freedom Awards in London for the first time ever on 8 November 2018. The three international awards for Courage, Impact, and Independence went to Swati Chaturvedi from India, Matthew Caruana Galizia from Malta, and Inday Espina-Varona from the Philippines.

Detailed explanation-3: -The UNESCO’s/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize is awarded for outstanding contribution in the defense and promotion of freedom of press anywhere in the world by any person, organization, or institution.

Detailed explanation-4: -Freedom of press or media refers to the rights given by the Constitution of India under the freedom and expression of speech in Article 19(1)(a). It encourages independent journalism and promotes democracy by letting the people voice their opinions for or against the government’s actions.

Detailed explanation-5: -Journalists in India do not have any specific free speech provision. Their free speech is same as any other citizen and remains subject to reasonable restrictions. Moreover, in the absence of any ‘shield law’, there is no protection of source confidentiality.