Reporting of sensitive issues in E-media
ISLAMABAD – Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on November 22, said the media enjoyed full liberty in the country and at the same time, it was duty bound to be cautious while reporting sensitive issues.
“The electronic channels need to be cautious and vigilant while reporting the sensitive issues as any misreporting could cause irreparable damage,” said Rashid while addressing the inauguration of the Pakistan Bureau of Al-Jazeera TV Channel here.
He said that the next five years would be highly sensitive and major developments could take place in the region in the days to come.
He said as a political worker, he sees the emerging situation as most crucial for the region.
He said the government has given all liberty to the media and following this policy seven television channels have been set up in the private sector while 34 more channels would be established soon. He said taking lead in reporting any event is not important but accuracy of facts is. “We must cross check before releasing our final report,” he said.
The minister said as major source to confirm news reports, he himself remains available all the time to the press and media persons and they can contact him for verification of any news at any hour.
He announced that soon licenses for Direct to Home (DTH) TV would be awarded for the launch of service for the first time in the country. He said that under this technology, around 100 to 300 channels would be available to the TV viewers through single cable.
In his welcome address, Director General Al-Jazeera Wadah Khanfar highlighted the future plans of the TV channel with the major aim to report truthfully and correctly. He said that the channel had been strictly following the standing principles of the journalism. A large number of politicians, political workers, notables and journalists attended the function that was held at the lawns of the newly inaugurated bureau of the channel.
Source: The News
Date:11/23/2004
” 
” 
” 
” 
