In theory, journalism and media are bound by many ethics and laws but in practice, they do not uphold them. Unfortunately, professionalism and objectivity are the traits that are missing in the modern media circles. They frame any issue as per their liking rather than presenting an objective picture to the audience.
How media works and to know how sources organise media strategies to achieve their ends, Edward S Herman and Noam Chomsky (media critics) expounded the ‘propaganda model’ in 1988. This model was about media behaviour and performance. Herman & Chomsky identify five filters: ownership, advertising, sourcing, flak and anti-communist ideology. These filters interact with and reinforce one another.
Dominant media works for profit and they are funded largely by advertisers, and they also work for profit. Media are also dependent on government, therefore government and advertisers and non-media business firms are in such position that they can easily pressurise media organisations with threats of stoppage of advertising or TV licenses, libel suits and other direct or indirect modes of attack. As a result, media policies are framed according to a set agenda and often for the purpose of pre-planned propaganda. And the audiences become the part of this propaganda willingly or unwillingly.
MARIAM KHAN
Lahore