Media must unite to protect itself
Despite severe criticism from all stakeholders over the formation of a one window media regulation operation the PMRA has been given the green signal by cabinet. All major representative bodies like the CPNE, APNS, PCP and PFUJ have opposed the creation of such a body terming it a move against freedom of press. In almost all democratic setups electronic media with its 24/7 news cycle and breaking news culture in particular requires some form of external regulation but the same does not apply to print media that has earned the right to self-regulate by following a code of ethics.
A defining feature of the PTI is their profound intolerance towards any sort of criticism, especially by journalists. While in the opposition the party had boycotted certain media houses for what they perceived as ‘negative coverage’, now in the government there have already been multiple outbursts by various ministers at press conferences towards journalists asking tough questions. As it is the media industry is facing financial difficulties due to a drastic fall in advertisement revenue. While the economic slowdown has resulted in the commercial portion of the pie to shrink a significant hit has come in the form of government advertisement being drastically cut as well. Certain publications however are exempt from this sort of financial strangulation as long as they keep following an extreme form of self-censorship. Restrictions on distribution and broadcasting emerging from institutions that have no business doing so are also another form of this forced self-censorship. In such a backdrop the intentions behind PMRA are questionable to say the least.
Freedom of the press in Pakistan has been hard-won through years of struggle during which journalists have lost their lives. All those sacrifices will have been in vain lest all media outlets show a united front against this move to undermine the fourth pillar of democracy.
