It’s best time for media to define its ways…

By attacking an office of a private TV channel, the Taliban have given a shut-up call to media which is being criticized wide and large in the present scenario.

However, it raises many fears when Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) openly claimed the responsibility of the attack. Although the nature of the attack was not much devastating as most other terrorist attacks had in the past, the fact that a TV channel was targeted is extremely disturbing.

The country has already been declared the most dangerous place in the world for media professionals but most of the threats have been borne by those who work in the far flung areas of troubled regions.

But the Taliban, with the latest attack, have declared that they were at war with the media and will not spare any place they managed to attack.

The media can react in two ways in the present situation. Either, it can become stronger and report even more fearlessly against brutalities of the militants or it can succumb to a justifiable fear and tone down its coverage against the Taliban.

Without any doubt, the latter approach will be preferable by many. Although, there had been quietness in militant attacks in major cities, the short period of idyll has come to an end this week.

The minor attack on a TV station reminded that militants are poised to attack anywhere in the country where they want. By targeting a major TV channel, they signaled that they will not bear negative coverage against them at any cost.

It is time for media houses to pick a side when the country is at war with an enemy that shows little concerns for life. This attack would change the mindset of a section of media that have shown willingness to downplay the Taliban atrocities.

Media owners will have to come forward to allay the fears of journalists. When all journalists become legitimate targets of the Taliban, it is necessary for the media houses to give their employees training of conflict reporting.

Moreover, the government should provide life insurances to all journalists and assurances to those families whose members were caught in a militant attack.

The role of media professionals in reporting critically on the terrorism and militancy is too important for them to be left exposed.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=27238

Posted by Faisal Farooq on Jun 27 2012. Filed under 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.