The early beginnings of the Society can be traced back to October 11, 1927, when a Society bearing the name, The India, Burma & Ceylon Newspapers’ London Committee came into being, the name of which was changed to Indian & Eastern Newspaper Society (IENS) on October 4, 1935. This was an organization based in London representing and acting solely under the authority of newspapers, magazines, reviews and other journals published in India, Burma, Ceylon and other countries of Asia.

The need, however, was felt for the establishment of a co-ordinating body in this country, comprising the proprietors of newspapers, which could deal directly and more expeditiously with the various day-to-day problems arising out of newspaper production. Thus The Indian & Eastern Newspaper Society came into being. It was inaugurated at a meeting of the representatives of the following founding publications on February 27, 1939, at the Statesman House, New Delhi, with Mr. Arthur Moore, Editor of the Statesman in the Chair, with the primary object was of serving as a Central Body for promoting the common interests of newspapers in India, Burma and Ceylon.

The objective of the Society which may be enlarged at any time as hereinafter provided are:-

• To act as a central organization of the Press of India, Burma and Ceylon.
• To promote and safegaurd such business interests of members as ae affected or are likely to be affected by the action of Legislatures, Governments, the Law Courts, municipal and local bodies and associations or organizations commercial or formed for any other purpose and to take such steps as may seem desirable to that end.
• To collect information upon all topics having a practical interst for members and to communicate the same to them.
• To promote co-operation in all matters affecting the common interests of members.
• To hold periodical conferences of its members to discuss and determine action on matters of common interest.
• To make rules to govern the conduct of its members, to provide penalties for the infringement thereof, and to provide means of determining whether there has been such infringement.
• To maintain a permanent secretariat in India to watch over the interests of members and to permit of a constant interchange of information and views.
• To do or concur in doing all such other things as may be considered conducive or incidental to the attainment of the aforesaid objects or to the interests of newspapers in general or of the Society or any of its members inparticular.