Laws to streamline working of electronic media urged
KARACHI, May 03 2006: Former Senator Javed Jabbar here on April 03 called for framing laws to further streamline the working of electronic media. “Positive use of electronic media can be useful while those having negative approach can use this effective medium detracting society, causing damage to the interests of people and the country,” he said while speaking as chief guest at a seminar on “electronic media,- its problems and impact.”
The seminar was organized by the Department of Mass Communication, University of Karachi, in connection with its Golden Jubilee celebrations. The speakers included media managers, senior journalists and teachers of mass communications. The speakers were of the view that electronic communication channels, including televisions, radio and internet, had played a revolutionary role in the last 70 years, as far as social, political and economic changes and development across the globe was concerned.
They asserted that electronic media in private sector could not thrive in this fast changing world without financial and intellectual efficacy. Mr Jabbar deliberated on the inception of private TV channels and their workings in the country, and noted that now diverse issues were being taken into consideration by media. He remarked that a majority of the channels were presenting analytical programmes on current affairs involving a limited number of experts and intellectuals, without giving sufficient time span to the subject or issue, which largely caused confusion among the viewers.
The general manger of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, Syed Yousaf Aziz, said defects in any field could not be eliminated through laws and regulation, but changes in attitudes and rectification of behaviour of media organizations and practitioners can take place only when there was a realization. He said after necessary mediation process and meetings with all stakeholders, now the government was nearer to effect changes in existing electronic media laws. The amendments in Pemra regulation would be acceptable to all the stakeholders, he hoped.
Earlier, in his inaugural remarks, KU vice-chancellor, Dr Pirzada Qasim, said due to rapid advancement in technologies of mass communications, the awareness level of people had grown enormously, which, among other things, also led one to bring changes in attitudes and become viable in this developing world. He said it was heartening to note that students today were benefiting themselves with technological advancements for increasing their knowledge and to become a well-skilled and educated manpower.
The students are looking up to electronic media for a support in their attempts to understand social, economic and political dynamics, he added. Later, a number of media practitioners and teachers spoke on different topics related to electronic media. The speakers included Dr M Shamsuddin, Dr Tahir Masood, Tahir A Khan, Dr Aslam Farrukhi, Sajjad Mir, Ghazi Salahuddin, Rafia Taj, Prof Nisar A Zuberi, Inam Bari, Mazhar Abbas, Sabih Mohsin and others.
A speaker said there was an impression that electronic media had freed people of reading books and other printed matters, but it had played an important role in the promotion of literature.
Source: Dawn
Date:5/4/2006
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