Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD:
With the advent of social media and abundance of TV channels and newspapers it is not possible to suppress freedom of expression. Overall private media is performing well but still there is need for improvement.
These views were expressed by CEO Roze TV and Editor in Chief of Pakistan Group of Newspapers Sardar Khan Niazi while addressing 4th National Media Conference organized by Individualland, he said that it is the responsibility of the media houses to provide such platforms to journalists. He said that Roze TV is operating within the parameters of its code of ethics, “We are strictly following Code of Ethics which has been formed considering our traditional and religious fabrics” he added. While talking on the topic regarding influence of corporate sector on media and public interest he said that best possible way forward is to balance both and main objective of media houses should be to work in the public interest by highlighting social issues.
Other speakers also expressed their views; Mati Ullah Jan said that due to the influence of military leadership civilian government is compelled to use public money in advertisements to make its image better in the masses. He also said that in private media usually owners and marketing teams are controlling editorial control and this practice should be discouraged.
“Our media is feeling insecure which is due to the general insecurity that exists within our society” said Mr. Masood Malik, MD APP while addressing the audience on the 2nd day of the 4th National Media Conference. Mr. Muhammad Aftab Alam, Legal Expert added that “since Pakistan is a signatory of UN Plan of action on the safety of journalists, it has the responsibility of fulfilling its commitments.” Iqbal Khattak, senior journalist while in a conversation on ending impunity against violence against the journalists added that “it is not only the responsibility of the government to ensure the safety of journalists in the line of duty, the media houses are equally responsible to make certain the safety measures”.
Fazil Jamili, President Karachi Press Club while speaking at the concluding session of the 2nd day of the two-day 4th National Media Conference said; “In order to facilitate the working journalist personnel press clubs have been established all over Pakistan but unfortunately they are not operating effectively due to various reasons. There is a need to ensure that press clubs are functioning effectively and facilitating their members in all respects.” Syed Asif Salah ud-din , CEO of Adgroup spoke in detail about the dynamics of media economy and stated “Advertising gets a lots of criticism but if there were no advertisements journalists would not get paid. Murtaza Solangi while speaking on the occasion said “Media economy is a sandwich between state economy and seth economy. In order for media to be free, it is important to get rid of media feudals.”
Mohsin Shah Nawaz Ranjha, Parliamentary Secretary Ministry of Information and Broadcasting while speaking at the concluding session stated that, “One can simply not ignore the role of media today. The issues raised by senior and experienced representatives of media at this platform identifies a clear gap that is present among the consumers of media also the gaps among media owners and working journalists. It is for the best interest of all that such gaps are reduced.
