“Ethical Codes for Media: Yes or No?”
A free, independent and responsible media is a direct reflection of societal traits and thus can act not only as a reality check but as a mentor and redeemer. With its initiative to move towards a Free, Independent and Responsible Media (FIRM), Individualland-Pakistan (IL-Pakistan) with the support of the Friedrich-Naumann-Stifting fur die Freiheit (FNF) held a Focus Group Discussion on the topic, “Ethical Code for Media: Yes or No?” at a local hotel today.
The moderator Mr. Shaukat Ali Ashraf from IL-Pakistan started the discussion with the thought that every profession must have a set of rules to follow to ensure the safety of themselves and others and so that one might not hurt other person unwillingly. These “code of ethics” are also to ensure that no one takes advantage of his/her position or profession in bad and unethical way
The participants while discussing presented the view point that there is no single, ruling definition of media ethics. Instead, the concept of media ethics exists in many forms acting as a blueprint from which media personnel can base their practices and their decisions. Ethics are not absolute rules. They are constantly evolving values. But, a media worker may be held professionally responsible for their actions if they are in conflict with their professions code of ethics. So although there is a need to develop a code of ethics for media but the code must keep the vibrant, hostile and politically stigmatized nature of a journalists work.
Participants further highlighted that reporters and media are expected to provide accurate and correct news and content through reliable sources. Incorrect content can create problems and misunderstandings. The participants lightly shared that today’s journalism can be related to the following saying “When a dog bites a man it is no news, but when a man bites a dog, it is news.”
Nowadays we frequently encounter media campaigns against civilian elected government on TV channels. There are so many pieces of [dis]information which are carefully designed to mould attitudes and public opinion against democracy. Media has become a very effective and powerful weapon through which undemocratic forces manipulate social attitude and behavior.
I presented my point of view on the topic and said: the media not to glorify banned militant organizations and should evolve consensus on war on tarror and try to support political process . It is also a fact that media is bent on promoting sensationalism, so it should create tolerance and avoid sensationalism. Breaking news can not be produced every hour. Also, the media channels must not make people fight with each other in their talk shows.
I also observed and suggested that a free media greatly help in strengthening democracy and democratic system by promoting participation of citizens in planning and decision making process of state, defending rule of law and encouraging human development and security. It is fact that there is lack of proper rules and regulations in the Pakistani media, so there fore we have witnessed personal biases and falsities in reportage of different incidents- this vacuum could be filled by a consensus new code of conduct[ethical codes], formed by all stakeholders.
Participants agreed that a media without a “code of ethics” will harm people, make media lose its credibility gradually and the role of watch-god will get weakened eventually. They stressed the needs for media to minimize harm at all levels to society, be accountable to public and a monitoring authority actively watches over the rights of media personal also.
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PFUJ ultimatum to the Media Owners
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has warned that if the salary and other lawful financial dues were not paid by the media owners before the Eid, the PFUJ would be constrained to issue call for besieging the houses of the Media Owners and this protects will be continued till the payment of the outstanding dues.
Expressing concern over callousness of the media owners, the PFUJ pointed out that the salaries of media related employees were not paid in the TV Channels – ARY, Royal, News-One, Vibz, Din, Waqt, Channel-5, Wash, Dharti, Rohi, Punjab, Din, Waqt, Star Asia, City-42, DMD Digital, FM-103, Daily Din, Pakistan, Jinnah, Khabrain, The Post, Mukadama, Ausaf, Jinnah, Daily Aaj Kal, Daily Times, Daily Leader, Daily Khabrain, Daily Din, Daily Pakistan, Daily Leader, Daily Kainat, Daily Baluchistan Times, Daily Tamir-e-Sindh, Daily Nousjj, Karachi, Daily Such, Karachi, Daily Nawai Sindh, Daily Dafah Karachi, Daily Larkana Times, Daily Dawate Amal, Daily Muslim Peshawar, Daily Taraqi Quetta, Daily Sadai Potohar, Daily Janbaz, Daily Sadia Pakistan Bahawlpur, without any rhyme or reason.
“Most of the electronic media and newspapers owners are so cruel that they have not paid salaries to their workers for 4 to 6 months together, not to speak of advance salary payment on the eve of Eid, the PFUJ added.
The PFUJ said once again true face of media owners had been exposed. Though they claim to be the champions of rule of law, independence of judiciary, protectors of human rights, fundamental rights, civil liberties, rights of people, etc, however, they were adamant to make payment of lawful dues and salaries to their workers. If media workers ask for due salaries they are threatened of being removed from service.
Quoting miserable conditions at the Khabrain, Royal, Star Asia, Punjab T.V. the PFUJ contended that their workers had not been paid salaries for the months of Jan. 2010 till todate.
The PFUJ pointed out that in Rohi TV, Sama TV, ARY, News-one Royal T.V. Business Plus T.V. Punjab T.V. City-42, Star Asia TV, Daily Aaj Kal, Daily “Times, Daily Post, Daily Jinnah, Daily “Business Today”, Daily “Ausaf”, sacked more than 510 employees during the last 120 days against all norms of justice, law and equity on the pretext of “financial crunch.”
The massive lay-off of media persons from the electronic media in the past eight months is also deplorable as over 680 media persons have been removed from their jobs without assigning any reason and justification under the garb of artificial “recession.”
All those media owners, who have not being paying wages and other fringe benefits to their workers for months together and who had ordered massive dismissal of media persons, claim themselves to be the protectors of the rights of people. But there is none in the country to bring them to justice,” the PFUJ regretted.
The PFUJ warned if such one-sided and cruel actions of media owners continued unchecked, media workers would be left with no option, but to resort to direct action, including besieging their houses and the PFUJ would expose them before the people here and abroad in all forums.
Shamsul Islam Naz
Secretary General
PAKISTAN FEDERAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS
12-Nazimuddin Road, F-6/1
Islamabad, Pakistan
Phone Office +92(0)51 2870220-1
Facsimile +92(0)51 2870223
Cellular +92(0)300 8665523
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A thought provoking discussion indeed. Media needs to develop a ‘code of ethics’ to develop into a bigger force than it is today. Plus this would also ensure the public that this is not a horse without a reign.
The initiative of Individualland for a free and impartial media is timely and much needed. Pakistan seems to the hub of the news and this news need to be reported in a responsible and neutral manner.