Friday October 06, 2006

A daily review of media coverage of media and communications issues

VIOLATION AGAINST MEDIA

Media in Pakistan continue to witness harassment

The incessant incidents of violence against media persons and media organisations continue to haunt journalists' community as 15 such incidents were reported in the country last month including murder of a news agency reporter. Monthly ‘Media Freedom Report' issued by Intermedia Monday said in September this year, 15 incidents of violation against media were recorded throughout Pakistan taking the total number of attacks on press in 2006 to 88. In September one journalist was killed, four were tortured, three journalists were illegally detained by police or intelligence agencies while two journalists received death threats, the report, which is a monthly feature, said.

http://www.thepost.com.pk/IsbNews.aspx?dtlid=62511&catid=17

Jounalists await IGP report

The country's journalist community would eagerly awaits today (Friday) what the IG of Islamabad Police Iftikhar Ahmed Chaudhry would have to submit before the Chief Justice of Pakistan in false implication of The News crime correspondent. The Chife Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had fixed Fridat (October 6) as the date for submission of an inquiry report into the implication of a journalist in triple murder case on alleged personal vendetta by a police inspector of Islamabad……. The News, Page-9

Daily-wedge workers hard hit by closure of City cinemas

Hundreds of daily wedges workers of the cinemas' are suffering for lack of work, after the closer of the cinemas by the provincial Muttahida Mujlis Amal (MMA) government in Peshawar city, the capital of the NWFP. "Provincial government has closed down the cinemas to stop the vulgarity in the city, but on the other hand the government did not provide financial support to us" Fayazulhaq, Said and Niaz Mohammad said adding that they will protest against the government's decision.

http://www.worldservicesint.com/newfp/News.aspx?ncat=cn&nid=11

REGIONAL PRESS

EU sharply criticises Iran over press freedom

The European Union, which has played a central role in efforts to resolve Iran's nuclear crisis, sharply criticised Tehran on Thursday for closing down newspapers and harassing journalists. A statement from the Finnish EU presidency expressed “grave concern” about a deterioration in press freedom in Iran and highlighted the closure of four newspapers, including the leading reformist daily, the Shargh, on Sept 11.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\10\06\
story_6-10-2006_pg4_22

BANGLADESH : Death threat to Rajshahi journo

Rajshahi --- An unknown miscreant threatened Rashed Ripon, a Rajshahi journalist, to kill him by ramming him under a truck. After the threat, different organisations, including Metropolitan Press Club, and Rajshahi Union of Journalists, yesterday expressed concerns at the poor security conditions of local journalists. Ripon, staff reporter of Sonali Sangbad , most circulated newspaper in Rajshahi, lodged complaint with Rajpara Police Station saying that someone calling on his cell threatened him with death.

http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=54556

INDIA : 'Media, films biased against Kashmiris'

New Delhi --- Seeking clemency for her husband, Parliament attack convict on death-row Mohammed Afzal Guru, Tabassum Afzal hit out at the media and Bollywood for their "bias" against Kashmiris. In the 19-page mercy petition she submitted to President Kalam on Tuesday, Tabassum talks of the "hatred-filled atmosphere" that a Kashmiri is surrounded with and says that films portray all Kashmiris as "terrorists".

http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=54551

FM LISTENING:

Ramazan and ‘the gift of giving'

Its Ramazan, we all know that, and it's great to see how radio personnel and organisers have really acknowledged this, more than I expected. They've taken into account how our routines are disrupted to quite an extent during this month, and have accommodated a lot for us. I'm sure all radio listeners must have noticed how all show timings have been changed to suit our ‘needs during Ramazan'. And it's obvious that making such tremendous changes weren't easy for them and I'd just like to thank the channels for making their timings and schedules more convenient for us and accommodating us, as listeners.

http://www.thepost.com.pk/IsbNews.aspx?dtlid=62498&catid=17

OPINION

PRESS UNDER SIEGE: The right to seek information

Sadaf Arshad

Ignorance is bliss. This saying may still be applicable but not to the majority of people in this age of information. In fact, lack of information is not only creating an intellectual gap, but also not fulfilling the natural thirst to know. Freedom of information, or in other words, access to information, is the fundamental right of every human being. But as far as its awareness is concerned, it particularly refers to a long and endless struggle by the United Nations.

http://www.thepost.com.pk/OpinionNews.aspx?dtlid=62525
&catid=11

COMPILED by: Sajid Gondal, Media Monitor, Internews Pakistan (www.internews.org.pk)

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