Speakers urge journalists to hone skills
KARACHI – Former information minister Javed Jabbar said on September 16, that media ethics were needed to be the most important aspect in journalism which must represent the most sublime form of ethics, particularly in the context of Pakistan.
Speaking at a seminar on “Media Ethics Rights and Responsibilities” to mark the 10th death anniversary of Nisar Usmani who was a distinguished journalist besides president of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), he said the importance of print media would remain there and it was bound to grow. The ability to read gives it permanent importance as the print media has got its own value, he remarked.
He said the United States and Japan could be cited as an example where print media had immense importance despite the fact that these countries had the largest electronic media. He said the separation of powers between the publisher and editor was like the separation of power between legislature and the judiciary.
He said Nisar Usmani was a rare combination of humility and courage and would always remain a role model.
Daily Times’ editor Najam Sethi said that Nisar Usmani was a great fighter and it was very difficult to think about him without emotion.
He said journalists have been talking about rights but they pay little attention to ethics, adding that one day some biographer would write the story of Nisar Usmani who upheld the banner of press freedom at a time when it was lacking. He said he was used to talking about press freedom but it was very rare that journalists to talk of responsibilities. “Irresponsible is a very mild word. We are accused of many terrible things,” he said, adding every profession must know the dividing line between freedom and responsibility. He said when the Press undermines the freedom of others, it undermines the welfare of society.
He said it was quite common journalists to accuse people in their stories without bothering to take the version of the accused.
“This is a real dilemma. You cannot level charges against anyone unless you do your homework,” he remarked. He said the situation in Karachi was a bit different and journalists here took the profession more seriously than in Lahore. He said the journalist community did nothing about evolving a code of ethics and they have failed to create self accountability.
He said the problem today was not lack of freedom, it was a lack of responsibility.
Prof. Zakaria Sajid said stalwarts in the freedom movement like Maulana Mohammad Ali Johar and Hasrat Mohani suffered immensely for writing the truth and the journalist community should try to uphold their ideas.
He said freedom, integrity, responsibility, security of society and truth were the basic tenets of journalism and the community should stick to these principles. He was of the view that the role of print media, on a global plane, had diminished and urged the government, proprietors of newspapers, journalists and readers to collectively determine ethics.
He said the greatest issue today was human rights which also include gender issues. News about problems like “karo kari” and discrimination against women were a reflection of increasing consciousness in our society.
President Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists Ahfaz-ur-Rehman said Nisar Usmani was a towering personality and was a source of inspiration for every journalist of Pakistan. He said readers constantly scrutinized journalists and they owe responsibility towards the society. He went on to say that to become professional, journalists should adhere to objectivity failing which there would be a negative impact on society. He said the writings of journalists were like a mirror to society and lamented that gone were the days when journalism was a mission. He said now it had been transformed into an industry.
He said recently 22 proprietors on newspapers had been given licenses for TV channels but it was strange that nobody from outside the newspaper industry has been given a license. He regretted that interference from management and the marketing departments of newspapers was increasing and leading newspapers that were earning fabulous amounts from advertisements were not ready to give a salary raise to journalists. He said government interference was also increasing and both newspaper owners and the government were trying to blackmail each other.
He said, as many as 17 ordinances have been enacted so far by the military government of President Pervez Musharraf although law should be made by legislature.
President Karachi Union of Journalists Mazhar Abbas said journalists in Pakistan have perhaps failed to adhere to “responsible journalism” which should be a part of the struggle of press freedom.
The seminar, which was organized by Karachi Union of Journalists, was followed by a lively question-answer session.
Source: Daily Times
Date:9/17/2004
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