- Media persons report but they can’t beautify
The media currently faces a number of serious challenges. These include a financial crunch caused by the shrinking advert revenues from the government as well as commercial sources. This has forced some of the TV channels to close down and others to downsize. A number of channels teeter on the brink. President Arif Alvi has eulogised the media’s struggle to safeguard democracy but insists that it must stop relying on government for advertisements. There is a perception that the present government is using the stoppage of adverts as a weapon to force the independent media to agree to cover up its shortcomings. Commercial advertisers too began cutting their expenses on media campaigns soon after the new government came into power on account of the prevailing uncertainties about the tax and economic policy. There is a need on the part of the government to review its advert policy and take measures to end uncertainty that remains a major disincentive for potential investors.
The media is currently facing several other tribulations also. It is under pressure as those who matter have quietly but effectively managed to encourage it to practice self-censorship. This does not bode well for democracy. Individual journalists who fail to sign off on, have allegedly faced harassment at times through extremist networks. Anchor persons not in the good books of the high and mighty have been laid off or made to resign and respectable columnists told by the managements that their opinion pieces could not be published.
Media houses have been targeted for reporting matters against the wishes of the high and mighty. Distribution of selected newspapers has been disrupted for months in targeted cities and towns across the country. TV channels considered refractory have not been allowed to be aired in some localities.
What the information minister fails to understand is that it is the task of the media to report things as they are, warts and all, rather than beautify them. The media thus helps the government to make improvements to create the feel-good factor which Fawad Ch says is required to boost the economy.
