Mian Ethsam Waheed, while conducting a two-day workshop for journalists on Wednesday, said that the media’s responsibility was to present a complete and unbiased picture to the public. He said that the constitution of Pakistan ensured media freedom which has a responsibility towards journalists. Individual Land-Pakistan (IL-Pakistan) with the support of the Friedrich Naumann Stifting fur die Freiheit (FNF) is working to promote the concept of a Free, Independent and Responsible Media (FIRM) in Pakistan. For the purpose, IL-Pakistan is engaging with the media, so that citizen groups and media can learn from each other. Waheed said the media in Pakistan had gone through a ‘remarkable change’ during the last decade.
The print and electronic media in the country had become ‘vivacious’, with the bringing on of numerous TV and radio channels and newspapers. The media has ‘rightly’ been called the fourth estate pillar, as it ensured ‘lucidity’ in the business of the state and raised awareness, he said. The media has a responsibility to strengthen the ‘nascent democracy’, he said. The workshop was based on “Handbook on and for FIRM” developed by IL-Pakistan with the partnership of FNF. This handbook is developed after consultations with various journalists across the country, from last year’s workshops and is intended to serve as guidebook for media. The workshop was the final one of the series held across the country, where journalists were nominated for this concluding session. Mian Ethsam Waheed, Zulfiqar Haider and Yahya Ahmad were moderators for the workshop on behalf of IL-Pakistan.
Media appeared on the wizard of society as a sole competitor. With the opening of a chapter of media freedom in Pakistan it was restrained by a dictator but after the restoration of democracy and freedom of speech the media mammoth got a quantum speed. It was a better move but unfortunately Pakistan media failed to set priorities to reshape the society that was split in many school of thoughts. Lack of media ethics and code and conduct also played a vital role in betrayal of
media.
After setting its hegemony a specific section of media assumed the leading role which ultimately took the shape of king maker. Devoid of ethics and boundaries media mongers with incorporated interests added fuel into already religion, cast, creed and faith based divided society. It played a critical role in inciting violence against certain schools of thoughts by promoting extremism and dogmatism. The
backdoor meetings of some media pundits with extremist elements very much substantiate the mindset of media mongers in spreading violence. Whatever the objectivity of media was, it proved fatal for the already suffering society of Pakistan.
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