Author: pmcr
Unlicensed religious channels on, licensed Geo off: Javed Jabbar
Media Commission report launched…Says electronic media faces vacuum; speakers say those celebrating damage to Jang Group can also face the same; journalists being deprived of their livelihood; citizens enjoy media rights; more professionalism, strengthened institutional framework required LAHORE: The launching of a report prepared by the Media Commission appointed by the Supreme Court on reforms […]
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An extensive list of proposals by the media commission
KARACHI: The launch of the media commission’s report at a local hotel here on Tuesday assumed considerable significance particularly due to the current debate over the stand-off between a media group and the intelligence services and an intense competition among various media groups to outdo each other in the ratings war. The report was introduced […]
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State-run TV urged to set example for private TV channels
Islamabad: Participants including MNA and Chairperson of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting Marvi Memon have urged the state-run Pakistan Television to take the lead and set example before private TV channels regarding “what to show and what not to show.” They were speaking the launch of the printed version of “Report […]
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Experts discuss pros and cons of media’s role in society
LAHORE: The participants of a ‘Roundtable Consultations on Supreme Court Media Commission Report’ critically reviewed nine major issues of mass media in Pakistani society in frame of SC terms of references (ToRs), with their written endorsement, rejection or modifications during careful review of the recommendations given in the report to deal with the issues. The […]
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Responsible journalism: Media needs an ombudsman to regulate controversial content says Jabbar
By: Manzoor Ali PESHAWAR: A former federal minister has suggested that an ombudsman should be appointed for the media to regulate the coverage of objectionable content. Former federal minister for information and member of the commission, Javed Jabbar was the lead speaker at a roundtable conference at which NGOs and the academia reviewed recommendations of […]
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Code of Ethics – Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE)
The Code of Ethics of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE): 1. The Press shall avoid biased reporting or publication of unverified material, and avoid the expression of comments and conjecture as established fact. Generalization based on the behavior of an individual or small number of individuals will be termed unethical. 2. The Press […]
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State media were heavily lop-sided in favor of the Government
For example, except for brief and notable exceptions in 1970, 1988-89, 1993 (during a Caretaker Government tenure) 1996-1997 (once again during a Caretaker Government tenure) when these three State media entities maintained a reasonable balance to provide coverage to all major political viewpoints in the country, the news bulletins of PBC and PTV and the […]
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Ethical do’s and don’ts for media discussed
Karachi: A daylong workshop on media ethics was organised by the Department of Mass Communication and Media Studies, Greenwich University. An official of the institution said on Monday that its objective was to highlight the ethical practices required for both news and entertainment and to discuss ‘unethical practices’ in today’s media industry of the country. […]
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Participants of moot review recommendations of Media Commission
Experts of civil society, owners of private TV channels, representatives of associations of electronic and print media and advertisers, teachers and students of Mass-communication Department University of Karachi and others have reviewed the recommendations of Media Commission appointed by Supreme Court of Pakistan. This review was held at a roundtable event jointly organised by Citizens’ […]
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Misuse of powers to control advertising and secret funds
One proprietor of a major media house stated that Government misused its powers on control of advertising and of secret funds to conduct character assassination of individuals such as himself and of his media group because of the independent policies of his group and candid criticism of Governmental corruption, miss-governance and nepotism. He said that […]
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Hostility against independent journalism and editorial policy
They ascribe the reason for such hostility against them by the Government to their independent journalism and editorial policy in both print media and broadcast media. They stated that their media was often deprived of their fair share of Government-controlled advertising due to their refusal to toe the line of the Government-of-the-day including particularly the […]
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Media houses have been systematically discriminated
Senior representatives of major media houses conveyed to the Commission in person that, notwithstanding a written policy and procedure aiming for merit-based allocation of Government advertising and notwithstanding claims made in speeches and statements made by public office holders of the Government of the day at the Federal and the Provincial level, they have been […]
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Comments are not identified by name in the Notes of Meetings
In most of such cases, the names and organizations were made part of either Part-One or Part-Two of this Report However, as in the case of some information and views conveyed in confidence to the Commission, on the request of the persons concerned, their comments are not identified by name in the Notes of Meetings […]
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Observations and recommendations made by representatives
The Commission noted with respect and appreciation the deep interest taken by all the groups and forums from civil society, directly and indirectly concerned with media issues. Their names and their views are part of the Notes of Meetings. The Commission is of the opinion that both the Government entities concerned with the information and […]
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Interaction with stakeholders, business, media and government entities
In addition to interacting with the stakeholders with commercial business relations with the media sector and Government entities, the Commission also as recorded in Part-One of its Report, met with several representatives of groups, organizations and institutions from civil society with an interest in media issues as also with representatives of working journalists, audience-measurement agencies […]
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Notable number of media professionals possess integrity and competence
The Commission would like to stress that, neither in the instances cited in Part-One of the Report dealing with TOR No. F nor in the above instances is there an intention to disregard the fact that there is a notable number of publishers, media owners, editors, working journalists in print and broadcast media and other […]
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Prevention of independent scrutiny of print and electronic media
Cross-media ownership prevents independent scrutiny by print media of the content, standards and policies of the electronic media owned by the same group. And vice versa while this is not a conventional “corrupt practice”, cross-media ownership deprives citizens from access to independent evaluation of the content of various media.
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Vital and essential role of state-owned electronic media
Thus, to recap: One view about TOR No. C is that, “Yes”, that the government and its instrumentalities have a valid right and role to be major players in electronic media and that this presence is entirely consistent with the fundamental right under Article 19 which it does not contradict in any way. From this […]
Read MoreA response to this particular Term of Reference No. C
A response to this particular. TOR No. C is already partly covered by the Observations and Recommendations for TOR No. A. Further, other aspects of TOR No. C e.g. with regard to whether the Government or its instrumentalities should be major players in the media through State television and radio broadcasters will also be partly […]
Read MoreTOR No. E
Minister or a Minister for visits such acceptance of complimentary support also erodes the capacity for independent journalism. Acceptance of secret payments from institutions other than the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting in the public sector e.g. other Ministries and Departments, civil and military intelligence agencies or the private corporate sector. 4. Prevention of independent […]
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