Despite American pressure, Raymond Davis is in Pakistani prison and under trial. This is all due to the Pakistani media and people; otherwise he would have gone back to the US.
Mass media being an instructor, informer, reformer, guide and a trend-setter is more accountable. Therefore it should follow ethics strictly. The purpose of ethics is to describe moral sentiment as well as to establish norms for good and fair behaviour. Boundaries of ethics are drawn in different dimension in various societies. In Pakistan, the ethical dimensions are somehow similar to those of other countries having different demographic, religious and social backgrounds. Media ethics are formulated so that the media of a country can play a positive role for the betterment of society.
Business interest of media to generate profit never let it observe public service message time. News channels sensationalise the events to make them commercial which is against media ethics. The TV anchors are losing their credibility as they are found biased and they manipulate the issue most of the time, serving their owners or other specific stakeholders for petty gains. This practice is against the norms of journalism.
RAJA WAHEED ASHRAF
Islamabad
