‘Fake’ journalists responsible for unethical journalism: PCP
* PCP chairman says council developing code of conduct for media
* Mechanism being evolved to oust corrupt elements from community
By Manzoor Qadir
ISLAMABAD: Press Council of Pakistan (PCP) Chairman Raja Shafqat Khan Abbasi, while talking to Daily Times exclusively, said that infiltration of media by ‘fake’ journalists was resulting in ‘unethical practices’ and earning bad repute for bonafide journalists and media owners.
PCP in consultation with press clubs and journalists’ unions across the country was planning to evolve a mechanism to oust ‘fake’ journalists from the community, Abbasi said, adding that such people were not only earning a bad name for the community but also damaging respect and dignity of the profession.
“If the parliamentarians, lawyers and the people of other professions could go through degree verification process, then journalist community should also evolve a system to check fake degrees and identify ‘fake’ journalists, as it would help us achieve a high standard in the profession,” Abbasi said.
“The council has been established after long discussions with stakeholders in accordance with the PCP Ordinance promulgated in 2002. It is an important forum to redress the grievances of the people as well as the media,” he said.
While talking about functions of the PCP, Abbasi said it was an autonomous and self-regulatory body to implement a code of conduct for the media. He said it was now fully functional and all set to approve draft regulations for a code of conduct for the press to ensure freedom of media and rights of common man. Ethical Code of Practice, which is a part of the PCP ordinance, is comparable with the ethical codes practiced in many countries of the world and it is the need of the hour that media and general people were sensitised to ethical practices, he said.
According to draft regulations, to be approved by the council shortly, the PCP chairman could take a suo motu notice of any matter that fell within the ambit of section 8 of the PCP ordinance, and he may refer the matter to the council for taking further action.
However, Abbasi emphasised, the council would actually serve as a moral pressure to ensure ethical conduct in the media.
“Media community is well-educated and a cultured segment of our society. The community believes that self-accountability is the best accountability and self-regulation is the best regulation,” he elaborated.
The chairman said that a code of conduct would provide guidelines for media to uphold standards of morality, fairness, accuracy, respect of privacy, and would avoid slanderous, libelous, biased and unconfirmed reports. “The content that encourages or incites discrimination or hatred on grounds of race, religion, gender and disability, or that which disgrace Pakistan or tends to undermine its sovereignty or integrity, should be avoided,” he added.
Abbasi, who is also an advocate of the Supreme Court and the youngest elected member of the Pakistan Bar Council, was of the view that freedom of expression and public awareness were vital tools for smooth functioning of democracy.
“Luckily, freedom of expression is a part of our constitution, while India permits it through the apex court’s interpretation,” he said.
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