Media freedom

Press associations working for freedom of rights avoid speaking when journalists are attacked but they really heat things up when journalism is attacked. Normally, these bodies should regulate the press be viewed with doubt.

Apparently the government can never quite feel comfortable with a free media. But what of a press that just couldn’t be bothered with incommode like the truth and fact checking?

At the same time, the sensationalist electronic media feels that the invasion of private lives of free citizens is their professional right. A BBC journalist once said, the one who is equipped with camera, he is deputy of God on the earth.

The media is being alarmed by the news of the information ministry to put together a code of ethics. Information Minister Dr. Firdaus Ashiq Awan clarified that nothing the upcoming draft is going to be restrictive towards the media.

She, however, said that antennae have been raised, as they should have. Although no one can openly explains faults with seemingly generic points like higher standards of authentications for news items.

Both print and electronic media, at the present scenario in the country, are in a bit of an anything goes mode, where standards and protocols are put away in style sheets and memos, not enforced in the studio or news room.

Even countries with the freest of media have standards and they abide by them. A few handful organizations are cautious when it comes to the government interference in the affairs of private media but they still do not believe in limiting the code of ethics to a self imposed system.

The limits should be there but it should be decided upon in consultation with the stakeholders in order to make part of the positive framework of the state.

The government itself or private citizens should justiciable of the complaints about the conduct of the media. We should be equally cautious of media that refuses to be accountable.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=13931

Posted by Faisal Farooq on Feb 27 2012. Filed under National, Opinion, Pakistan, Society. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.