Journalists demand broad-based ownership of newspapers
KARACHI- President, Karachi Press Club, Sabihuddin Ghausi has strongly recommended need for a broad based ownership of newspapers to eliminate element of corruption in print media.
Addressing the workshop “The Role of Media in Combating Corruption.” The senior journalist underscored need for a law making “Professional Editor” mandatory for all newspapers and eliminating the concept of “Proprietor-cum-Editor” in the country.
He also referred to efforts made by Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) since long to ensure that public as well as teaching and journalist communities representing intelligentsia may have share in the newspaper industry ensuring an independent approach.
Maintaining that “Free Media” cannot be expected in the country where feudalism continues to exist and the entire newspaper industry remains under the rein of few selected and elite families, Ghausi sought more role of working journalists and civil society in the newspaper industry.
He also strongly recommended more newspapers in different regional and provincial languages of the country for freedom of press in actual sense and elimination of corruption from the society.
Earlier, Hamid Haroon of Herald Group of Publications said All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) is willing to accept the sixth as well as seventh wage board award provided it covers only the journalists and not the non-journalist workers.
He registered his concern that of 996 newspapers registered with Press Information Department only four major publications are expected to implement the award.
The newspapers were said to be those having large circulation and certain influence on masses.
The very stance was challenged by the working journalists, who reminded that while hefty income is generated through advertisements and unrealistically high cost of newspapers, majority of the publishers continue to refuse provide a decent return to their staffers.
Ghazi Salahuddin, Sajjad Mir, Mohammad Najib, General Lodhi, Kamal Azfar, Arshad Zubairi, Ayyaz Amir were among the other speakers. Majid Nizami of Nation and Nawa-e-Waqt was the chief guest.
Akram Saigol, Editor, Defence Journal, announced Rs 25,000 award for investigative pieces by local journalists which may further be pursued by National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
NAB Chief announced to add another Ps 25,000 to encourage professional probe on part of journalists.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:7/7/2002
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