Permission for objective reporting in tribal areas demanded
LAHORE (May 09 2008): The Nation newspaper Editor-in-Chief Arif Nizami has said governments have always tried to establish their hegemony over media industry by using the pressures like banning the ads, supply of news print paper, engaging agencies like FIA to harass journalists.
He expressed these views while addressing a seminar on press freedom day here at Hameed Nizami Conference Room of the Institute of Communication Studies of University of the Punjab here on Thursday.
He also said that rulers develop their own definition of national interest and then try to diffuse it by hook and crook. He said friendly relations between governments and journalists were impossible, impartiality would suffer. He criticised the negative role of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) and demanded permission for objective reporting in the tribal areas.
Acting Punjab University Vice Chancellor Dr Azhar Ikram said good governance and social welfare demanded a free press. He added that in today’s scenario objective economic reporting could change the economic scene of the country.
Columnist Nazeer Naji said freedom of media is a myth. Mobile phone companies are offering attractive packages to consumers but in real sense they are cruelly looting them and no body challenges them because they pay huge amounts to media for their Ad-Campaigns.
“In capitalist society no one enjoys freedom, where as media is a part and parcel rather agent of this economic system” said Sajjad Mir a renowned journalist while addressing the seminar. He stressed that freedom is associated with responsibility and media is rightly advocating the core feelings of a common Pakistani and is condemning the government’s action of 3rd November against Media and Judiciary.
While addressing the conference Ex-Provincial Minister and Anchor Person Mubashar Luqman stressed that free media and responsible journalism are two different concepts. Media is no where absolutely free in the world. Comparatively media is freer in Pakistan.
Institute of Communication Studies Director Dr Mughees Uddin Sheikh said access to sources of information should be considered the right of every individual. “Five thousand innocent people lost their lives in Myanmar only because they did not get information from the satellite observing the territory,” he said.
“There is a group in Karachi that not only tortures but also kills journalists but no one exposes them. Journalists in the modern world get insurance cover by their organisation where as no such coverage is offered in our industry. Multinational companies are sheltered by the media only because they pay them huge amount in the form of ads.”
Source: Business Recorder
Date:5/9/2008
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