Tuesday June 06, 2006

Editorial:

Ban on film

The Pakistan government has finally gone ahead and banned the Da Vinci Code, a multi-million dollar Hollywood blockbuster starring one of America 's better actors Tom Hanks. The prohibition comes after protests by members of the Christian community (who were supported by the MMA) who said that the film contains material that is blasphemous. Indeed, the argument being taken -- and a logical one -- is that the government was quick to react when the blasphemous cartoons were published in European newspapers and now that the sentiments of members of a minority community are hurt, it should respond in the same manner.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=9545

Zafar Samdani

A versatile journalist, who gave up a secure job in PTV in 1974 to pursue his life's ambition to be a columnist, Zafar Samdani passed away at Lahore last Sunday having fallen prey to throat cancer. Although sport writing was his forte, he wielded his pen skilfully on varied subjects:

http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/june-2006/6/editorials.php

News:

Tetra Pak launches Green Media Awards

Tetra Pak announced the launching of "Green Media Awards" here on Monday. The announcement was made at a press conference coinciding with the "World Environment Day" being marked on Monday.
http://www.thepost.com.pk/CorpNews.aspx?dtlid=42996&catid=8

Shashi applies for Indo-Pak film

Bollywood film director Shashi Ranjhan has applied to the Pakistan government for an Indo-Pak film. But the government still hasn't given the director a positive response. In the expected joint venture, Indian actors Sanjay Dutt and Mahima Chaudhry will perform the leading roles.

http://www.thepost.com.pk/ShowbizNews.aspx?dtlid=43003&catid=9

Pakistani film festival in India

Pakistani film festival will be organised in India on July 15. Several Pakistani films will be screened in India during the festival. Pakistani film stars including Shan, Reema, Ajab Gul, Meera and Moamar Rana will also participate in the festival.

http://www.thepost.com.pk/ShowbizNews.aspx?dtlid=43006&catid=9

Samdani laid to rest

Noted journalist Syed Zafar Samdani who died on Sunday was laid to rest at the Faisal Town graveyard here on Monday. Funeral prayers for him were attended by a large number of friends, relatives and senior members belonging to the media community, including Shafqat Tanvir Mirza, I.A.Rehman, Mujeebur Rahman Shami, Arif Nizami, Khalid Butt, Sohail Zafar and others.

http://www.dawn.com/2006/06/06/nat34.htm

The Post staffer honoured

Nazar Ali Sohail, editor (production) of daily The Post Islamabad Monday received Green Journalist Award from the environment ministry in recognition of his contribution for the cause of environment in Pakistan .
http://www.thepost.com.pk/IsbNews.aspx?dtlid=43072&catid=17

Feature;

Consumption and the New Electronic Media

The online news media acts as a complement rather than as a substitute. Most significant is the fact that two-thirds of the US adult population have not shifted to online news consumption and appear unlikely to do so….

http://www.thepost.com.pk/ach_vis.aspx

bFuture Trends:
Not Yet or Never?
There is some data that might suggest that a large-scale migration from traditional media to the online medium for news readership/viewer-ship is merely a matter of time. These data warrant discussion.

http://www.thepost.com.pk/ach_vis.aspx

Khaled Ahmed's TV Review

Traditional thought focused on social transformation and therefore envisaged a totalitarian and coercive state like the quondam Soviet Union . Out of the “salafiyya” tradition came the coercive model popularised by Qutb under inspiration from Maududi whose “jahiliyya” was radicalised to allow Takfir wal Hijra's massacre of innocent Muslims.  If you want to spread Islam, it should be all right. But if you want social transformation in accordance with the doctrines you embrace, then you need coercion.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\06\06\story_6-6-2006_pg3_3

Letters to Editor:

Freedom of expression

Over a period of a few years the print media has because of its concerted efforts achieved a degree of freedom. Today's private television channels are reaping the harvest of this long struggle waged by the newspaper industry.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=9541

Entertainment

The Punjab Governor, Lt. General (R) Khalid Maqbool, while addressing a psychologists' conference in Lahore has urged more entertainment in the form of music and drama for the relaxation of society, which ‘suffers from psychological pressures'. Islam also urges people to adopt a balanced and relaxed approach in life.

http://www.thepost.com.pk/LetNews.aspx?dtlid=43028&catid=4

Advertisement:

“Rawalpindi Arts Council opens admission for one year diploma in television Production”, Daily Jang, Page-B-1  

More:

“Rs 834 million for Information Ministry”, The Nation, page-9

“Senate takes notice of cameraman's killing”, The Nation, Page- 9

“Murree Union of Journalist election held”, Nawa-e-Waqat, Page-5

News sources :

The News: http://jang.com.pk/thenews/

The Nation: http://www.nation.com.pk/

Daily Times: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/

The Dawn: http://www.dawn.com

Spider: www.spider.tm

BBC South Asia : http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/

Herald: http://dawn.com/herald/

Aurora : www.aurora@dawn.com

The Economist: www.economist.com

IFEX: www.ifex.org

Jang: http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/

Nawa-i-waqt: http://www.nawaiwaqt.com.pk

Khabrain: http://www.khabrain.com

Daily Development News: http://asp.isb.sdnpk.org/

The Post: http://www.thepost.com.pk/

Business Recorder: http://www.brecorder.com

Asia Media: www.asiamedia.ucla.edu

Compiled by, Sajid Gondal Media Monitor, Internews Pakistan .

DISCLAIMER: The contents, including news and headlines, in this newsletter are reproduced from their respective publications ad verbatim as a public service to media observers. Internews does not author the contents and these, therefore, do not necessarily reflect organizational policy.  

Updated at 11:00 PST (06:00 GMT)