Category: Media safety

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Media curbs proposed in backdrop of APS attack

Media curbs proposed in backdrop of APS attack

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly’s standing committee on information has proposed a set of restrictions on mainstream media as well as social media in the wake of the Peshawar school tragedy.

The recommendations were submitted in a report titled “Proposals to strengthen media’s role in combating terrorism”. It is perhaps the first time that any NA panel has proposed measures aimed at regulating social media.

Citing several sections and provisions of existing laws including the Anti-Terrorism Act, the committee recommended that individual journalists be slapped with a penalty in case of any violation. It also called for an “amicable settlement of issues” between the government and media stakeholders —with the panel acting as a bridge.

Recently, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, ruled out the possibility of journalists, politicians and common citizens being tried in military courts. The minister also said that military courts cannot pursue a case without prior approval of the federal government.

But a legal expert pointed out that the recommendations of the parliamentary panel could be problematic for journalists. He said currently there is no constitutional or legal guarantee if a journalist is booked under anti-terrorism laws and then his case would not be referred to military courts. “All assurances by state functionaries are verbal,” he said. According to him, the law discourages discriminatory conduct but this report proposed a “discriminatory recommendation” for penalising a working journalist in case of violation.

The standing committee on information, broadcasting and national heritage held two meetings on 24 December and 30 December 2014, respectively, on an emergency review of media laws, ethical and professional issues with reference to terrorism.

The panel proposed that the government ensure the passage of pending legislation on cyber crime to counter the terrorists’ narrative on social media to avoid Arab spring like situation. The report also referred to websites from where terrorists are disseminating their messages and ensure new membership for their terror network, saying that verification of users is necessary to find the real culprits behind fake Facebook accounts and Google IDs.

The report suggested refresher courses for media persons. It also recommended that services of doctors and psychologists should also be acquired to haul the nation out of depression, stress and trauma.
The committee recommended that a consultative body between government and all representative media meet more often during the so called war time period to discuss issues which required clarity on the counterterrorism narrative.

The committee proposed strict adherence to existing media laws, as well as a refresher course of the same for all media organization staff and politicians. The committee proposed the need for an overall mindset change and capacity building at media houses for implementing laws crucial for ending terrorism.

Citing international best practices, the report also incorporated BBC Editorial Guidelines as potential guidelines and suggested a similar process for Pakistani media. “If the oldest democracy of the world can impose certain restrictions then why not we?” asked MNA Marvi Memon. The report suggested that media should also be assigned to counter Indian narratives regarding border violation.

Mechanism for Social media

The report says social media is fast becoming mainstream because it carries mainstream media content, generates its own content, and has a decisive edge over mainstream media in terms of outreach and speed. Social media has little transparency, identity clarity and controls.

This new media causes durable information flows that define long-term public perceptions of right and wrong, good and bad. There are no rules for opinion, expression. There is no check on fake sites. Anyone can say anything (true or false) and get away with the impact on the populace or individuals.

Express Tribune

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PPF Training Workshop For Journalists

PPF Training Workshop For Journalists

KARACHI, January 10, 2015: The Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) in collaboration with Free Press Unlimited is holding a 3-day residential training workshop, from 14th till 16th January, for journalists, in Islamabad.

The workshop titled as “Safety and Security Training workshop for Journalists”, will bring together more than 25 journalists from more than 10 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhuwa and Punjab provinces, including Hangu, Peshawar, Kohat, Jamrud, D.I Khan, Swat, Abbotabad, Mardan, Mansehra, Multan, Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

First day of the training workshop is designed to provide journalists with first hand training about coverage of incidents related civil disturbance. Second day provides with first aid and trauma/mental health training whereas, third day focuses on sexual harassment and digital security.

Prior to this training workshop, PPF and FPU have conducted 5 successful residential and non-residential Safety and Security Training workshops for Journalists in 5 districts of Sindh province.

Pakistan Press Foundation

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CPNE, APNS say CCP action ‘arbitrary, unreasonable’

CPNE, APNS say CCP action ‘arbitrary, unreasonable’

THE President of the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), Mujeebur Rehman Shami, and the President of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), Hameed Haroon have deplored the coercive actions initiated by the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP), against the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA). They have strongly questioned whether these actions constitute “reasonable” measures. They have urged the CCP to immediately reverse the “arbitrary” actions against a body that is “a legitimate functioning part of a free and fair press” under Article 19 of the Constitution of Pakistan.

“It is not the CCP investigating competitive practices that we take virulent objection to. What we object to are the arbitrary and unreasonable actions that accompanied their covert investigation against the apex broadcasters’ body, unfortunately on the very evening that the 21st constitutional amendment was being voted upon in parliament. Surely this is no mere coincidence.

“By all means the press is open to a CCP investigation of all unfair trade practices, if any. We uphold this facet of the CCP’s function. But the meaningless and self-serving press release by the CCP after its action mentions two frivolous charges – the first, that a centralised clearance system has been operating for the financial recovery of media dues against defaulting advertisers, including government – a system that exists in over one hundred countries of the world, and indeed has existed in Pakistan well before 1947. The second charge is equally absurd, where the PBA is accused of fixing rates of commissions to advertising agencies at 15 per cent (although obviously not the quantum of advertising commissions themselves) – a standard practice that is carried out in almost all the countries of the world, and is far older than the creation of Pakistan. Does the CCP really mean to imply, that all regulatory agencies in the world who have accepted these practices as not being inconsistent with competitiveness, are totally negligent in the performance of their duties?

“Clearly the CCP has got it deeply wrong, and particularly when they accompany this with the draconian actions of arriving virtually unannounced to impound the entire legal record of the PBA. The bona fide of this cat-and-mouse action are highly questionable. The CCP could have asked for the required information which the apex body of the broadcasters would have provided willingly. And never has the PBA ever refused to provide the information, which has never been asked for.”

The CCP press release states that section 4 of the Competition Act “prohibits decisions by an association of undertakings that may prevent, restrict, or reduce competition in the relevant market.” We ask: “Has the CCP ever considered the rate centralising and rate fixing taking place by the Press Information Department in the Federal Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage in this context? Surely there appears to be a major legal asymmetry here.

“Clearly the need of the hour is for immediate steps to be taken by the CCP if they are not to completely lose credibility in the eyes of the nation. Firstly, all seized documents must be returned without any further delay so as to allow the PBA to perform its day-to-day functions with respect to the press.

Secondly, a future procedure to deal with cooperating media bodies that exist to further the provisions of Article 19 of the Constitution, should replace the existing cat-and-mouse game. Such an evolved procedure should not only be deemed reasonable by all democracy-loving people, but also significantly appear to be reasonable to the nation.

“Let the investigation of the CCP continue without prejudice. We welcome it. But let them learn to work within the parameters of what is reasonable in law and what is sustainable in natural justice. Otherwise, we in the media, when confronted by unreasonable decisions in being lumped together with errant poultry-feed manufacturers, auto dealers and cement manufacturers, might begin to believe that something other than the course of justice is being served by such unreasonable and arbitrary actions.”

Daily Dawn

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Media in the crosshairs

Media in the crosshairs

Media in the crosshairsThe media remained the target of attack through 2014, caught in the crosshairs of guns wielded by militants, political and criminal elements and even professional rivals throughout 2014. The country was declared the world’s most dangerous place for journalists by the International Federation of Journalists, ahead of war-torn Syria. Fourteen journalists were killed during the year in what appeared to be targeted attacks – in some cases for exposing wrongdoing, in others for motives that remain mysterious.

The year began on a bad note, with a television channel reporter shot dead on January 1 in Larkana, allegedly for showing a pharmacy selling a drug that had a ‘not for resale’ label on it. The life of journalists it seems comes cheap. There were other incidents too, such as the attack on the office of the Online International News Network in Quetta in August. Three persons, including two journalists, were killed. There were no arrests and, as the PFUJ noted in his report released at the start of the year, this impunity contributed to making the year that has just passed possibly the worst on record for media professionals in the country.

The lack of accountability was visible also in the failure to identify those who had staged attacks on prominent journalists or issued threats. Geo news journalist Hamid Mir narrowly escaped death in May 2014 when he was attacked by gunmen in Karachi. Raza Rumi had to flee the country after his car was shot at in Lahore in March the same year. We still do not know who was responsible for these assaults or the threats issued to journalists. The trend seems dangerously to be on the rise.

It was not only individuals who were caught in the delicate line fire. The Jang/Geo media house was taken off the air for 15 days following charges of blasphemy made during a morning show, with the incident leading to a mass campaign in which newspapers belonging to the group were attacked and all Geo channels erased from cable networks long beyond the Pemra dictated period of a 15-day suspension. There were strong suspicions of rivalries and politics at play in the unpleasant series of events.

Other channels came under attack too, with the PTV headquarters in Islamabad broken into by PTI and PAT activists on September 1 during their sit-in in the capital. For 40 minutes, the national network vanished from the airwaves. No one has been punished for what happened; and no one has been punished for the attacks made on media professionals by political activists including those from the PTI – a party which has repeatedly lashed out at Geo, accusing it of being an enemy agent with activists beating up its reporters covering their rallies.

While the year has been a bleak one for the media, it has also been a time when the need is arisen for it to reflect on its own actions. The issue of hate speech broadcast over channels has been raised again and again. This is a matter that has to be addressed. Media responsibility is just as important as is the need by the state to protect it. We also lost key figures who have shaped the media in Pakistan during the last year, with Majeed Nazami, one of the country’s best known editors whose contributions go beyond the realm of journalism, passing away in July 2014.

The hold of the media over the minds of people continues to grow. It has shown resilience in the face of violence, and its evolution continues at a time when it is clear it must play a critical role in shaping the future of our country.

The News

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Charlie Hebdo killings condemned by International Media Organizations

Charlie Hebdo killings condemned by International Media Organizations

The International Press Institute (IPI) joined observers around the world in condemning the brutal attack on the Paris offices of satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo in which 12 people were killed.

“IPI is appalled by today’s outrageous attack,” IPI Interim Executive Director Barbara Trionfi said. “Our thoughts are with the loved ones of those killed or injured. We urge journalists in Paris today to take the utmost precautions and we wish all speed to French authorities in bringing these killers to justice.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joined its French affiliates – SNJ, SNJ-CGT and CFDT – in condemning the shooting that took place at the offices of the French satiric magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris, in which at least five journalists were killed.

The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned attack on French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris. French media reported that hooded gunmen stormed the magazine’s offices, killing at least 12 people and critically wounding at least five. Journalists and police officers were believed to be among the casualties. The gunmen fled.

According to CPJ, “This is a brazen assault on free expression in the heart of Europe,” said CPJ Deputy Director Robert Mahoney. “The scale of the violence is appalling. Journalists must now stand together to send the message those murderous attempts to silence us will not stand.”

Reporters without Borders (RSF) also condemned the brutal attack, “Attacking a newsroom with lethal weapons is the kind of violence we see in Iraq, Somalia and Pakistan,” said Christophe Deloire, Reporters without Borders Secretary General, speaking at the scene of the attack.

“Could we have expected such horror in France? It was a nightmare that became reality. This terrorist attack is a black day in the history of France.”

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Media and Nation Building

Media and Nation Building

There is something very seriously wrong with our television media. Our private channels barring an odd one or two, appear to be oblivious of editorial sagacity in context of what to air and what not to say. This statement has nothing to do with freedom of journalism for I am a very ardent supporter of this notion. My comment is pinpointing the lack of wisdom in understanding the extent of damage that words, images and opinion can do in terms of national image and the prevailing security environment.

Talk shows are popular with viewers and fetch ratings, but our hosts lack the ability to satisfactorily conclude threads through tough follow up questions. This leaves the subject in limbo, providing the guests with an easy way out from issues. This state of limbo (read frustration) is exacerbated, when hosts fail to sum up the thread comprehensively.

Our news broadcasts have their failings. The news anchor gets a beeper from a reporter and then begins a series of questions that is to say the least, lacking finesse. It appears as if the news studio has a time slot that needs to be filled at all costs, even it involves repetitive and what is often irrelevant questioning. The newscasters often mispronounce words and the tickers running at the bottom of the screen are not checked for errors, which shows lack of research and background information related to both scripting and broadcasting news content.

Another trend that has erupted during the past few years is shows that feature reconstructions of crimes and violence. The effects of such shows (which continue with no letting up because they must be fetching good ratings) on young minds is a point that can best be commented upon by psychologists. My verdict on such programs is that they are liable to generate more negative than positive effects on the national psyche.

Some experts say that a nation’s mood is reflected through media trends – even in the entertainment category. Perhaps that is the reason why a vast majority of serialized plays on our television channels are tear jerkers, full of social intrigues and even morbid. There is however a counter expert view, one that has my support. This is that when nations are faced with serious problems directly effecting national morale, then it is critically necessary to raise that morale through carefully designed software (a media term for content) to infuse courage, renew energy and create the ability to laugh at adversity.

Perhaps it is time that media channel owners begin administering this medicine to the people of Pakistan. I must however laud the contribution of radio, particularly the FM Radio industry, whose upbeat sound and rhythm does what television should be doing.

We have in the last couple of years witnessed the rise of social media platforms as very potent force multipliers and perception makers. The reasons for this is simple – these platforms are readily accessible on mobile phones and used extensively by the dynamic social age group between fourteen to forty years. Proliferation of information on this network is unbelievably rapid as is the response. It is therefore being used extensively to create pressure groups and for lobbying purposes. The flip side of this form of media is its misuse, dictating the need for incorporating ethical use of social media platforms in school curriculums.

The bottom line of this week’s piece is that media in Pakistan needs to learn from how this important ‘pillar of state’ is functioning in successful states, to further national interest and lay the foundations of an ethical society. Media owners need to understand that the powerful tool in their hands is not only about generating revenue, but has a more critical and important function to perform, which is nation-building. For the stronger we are as a nation, the harder it will be to destroy or damage us.

The Nation

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Media’s role in war against terrorism

Media’s role in war against terrorism

In wars, the first casualty is always said to be the truth. And the consequence of this has always been found to be horrendous for the people who get caught in the cross-fire. The Middle East is still paying a heavy price in life and property for the 2002 ‘discovery’ of the non-existent weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Also, this ‘discovery’ seems to have forced the US into a never-ending war in a theatre dangerously too close to the nuclear-armed Israel, Washington’s permanent post in the Middle East. But one cannot blame the US administration alone for being the perpetrators of the casualty. The US media is equally to be blamed for accepting the falsehood without questioning its veracity.

War is too serious a matter to be left to generals, so said George Clemenceau, a journalist-cum-physician who had also served as the prime minister of France (1906-09). So, it would be totally wrong and professionally incorrect on the part of Pakistani media to stop questioning the moves the authorities would be making on the advice of generals and the decisions they would be taking concerning the war against terrorism, which after a very long wait and having cost us the lives of over 50,000 Pakistanis including about 10,000 troops, and hundreds of school-going children plus an estimated Rs80 billion, is being owned by the authorities as our own after having remained, in their estimation, somebody else’s for almost 12 long years. During this long-drawn state of denial, a good number of media professionals had been shouting from every rooftop, at the risk of being declared traitors and unpatriotic, that it is our war now, no matter how, why and when it was started. But to no avail.

Governments — both democratic and non-democratic, of countries both developed and developing — readily blame the media for their own failures. And after having persuaded themselves into believing this self-deceiving fiction, they usually tend to apply thoughtless controls on the media, closing off their own view of what is really happening under their very noses causing them naturally to take wrong decisions, which more often than not lead to disastrous consequences taking the country in the direction totally opposite to the one desired. It is in this worrisome perspective that Pakistani media professionals are examining the moves that the government is seemingly making to render the media more ‘responsible’ while performing its professional duties during the ongoing war on terror, which it has owned up only recently in lock-stock with the army.

No doubt, a part of the national media also suffers from the same mindset malady that has afflicted a good proportion of our society. Like in all other branches, official and non-official, civil and military, the media also has its own quota of madcaps who sympathise and empathise with the distorted ideology that is driving the terrorists to kill in cold blood. And as we all know, this mindset has not germinated in a vacuum. It is one of the sad legacies of the first Afghan war (1979-1988) that was actually waged by the American CIA in close cooperation with our own secret agencies. Even Osama bin Laden was known to have been a classical consequence of the CIA-manufactured jihad.

In times of war, propaganda based on falsehood causes more harm than good to the national interest. What is needed at such times is to be truthful as far as it is permitted by the situation on the ground. Of course, the government has the right to withhold information that falls in the domain of war strategy and tactics or such information the disclosure of which would enable the enemy to pre-empt our battle plans. The factual state of the war needs sharing with the media, leaving it to media professionals to use the information as they deem fit. With the war progressing in the right direction and the counter-narrative gaining ground at the same time, the extremist mindset that has afflicted not an insignificant part of our society as also a set of influential media professionals, would gradually fade away reducing gradually the market for pro-manufactured jihad related stories.

Express Tribune

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