Tuesday October 10, 2006

A daily review of media coverage of media and communications issues

GOVERNMANT & MEDIA

Pemra to issue provisional licences to qualified candidates

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) on Monday decided to issue provisional broadcast licenses to all qualified applicants in order to avoid unnecessary procedural delays to safeguard them from financial and time loss. While considering the procedural and ground impediments to broadcast media prospects in their smooth functioning the Pemra in its meeting at its headquarters decided to ensure enhanced facilitation to existing and prospective entrants to this arena. The Pemra also decided to soon hold an open bidding for the slots of FM radio broadcast station licenses that were cancelled because of their failure to establish and operate within stipulated time period.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=3569

PEMRA to grant licences to private broadcast media

Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) decided on Monday to issue provisional broadcasting licences to all the eligible applicants for an immediate way out of delay. The PEMRA meeting at its Headquarters reviewed the different measures regarding the implementation of the rules concerning electronic media and expressed its satisfaction over the progress made.

http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/oct-2006/10/nationalnews3.php

“Re-Broadcast station of Parachanar developed technical fault, PTV high management didn't take notice from last three months. Tribal people deprived from watching PTV transmission”, Daily Aaj, Page-2

“ PEMRA decided to issue temporary licenses to private broadcast”, Nawa-e-Waqat, Page-3

“PEMRA to issue temporary license against all competent applications; License issued for first Asian Food Channel”, Daily Khabrain, Page-3

“License issued for first Asian Food Channel”, Daily Aaj, Back Page

ATTACKS ON MEDIA

“Aggressive persons attacked on the office of Media NGO ‘Press for Peace' Muzaffarabad, injured office staff and ruined office furniture”, Daily Khabrain, Page-10

“Station Director, Radio Pakistan Kohat, Laiq Zada deprived from cash and valuables”, Daily Aaj, back Page

JOURNALISTS CONCERNS

Journalists Union of Balochistan formed

Balochistan Union of Correspondents has been renamed as Journalists Union of Balochistan. Decision to change the name of the Union was taken at a meeting of Provincial council held under the Chairmanship of its President Watan Yar Khilji. The meeting decided to reorganize and launch membership campaign for the Union. The meeting elected Watan Yar Khilji as its provincial cabinet, Jalil Reki as Senior Vice President and Ali Ahmad Baloch as General Secretary. Cabinet would announce three office bearer by Oct 20. Jalil Reki presented annual report at the meeting about organizational performance and problems. While committee comprising Watan Yar Khilji and Ali Ahmad Baloch apprised the meeting outcome of their visit to Islamabad and their meeting with Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists.

http://www.worldservicesint.com/newfp/News.aspx?ncat=qn&nid=3

“Journalistic activities started in new building of Bajoor Press Club”, Daily Aaj, Page-2

MEDIA SEMINAR

Journalists demand safety, freedom of expression

Expressing concern over the problems faced by journalists, representatives of different journalist associations Monday urged upon the government to adopt measures to solve those problems. The demand was made during a conference jointly organised by the Independent Journalists Association (IJA), Afghanistan Journalists Defence Committee (AJDC), Centre for International Journalism (CIJ), International Journalism Federation (IJF) and Open Media Fund for Afghanistan (OMFA).

http://www.worldservicesint.com/newfp/News.aspx?ncat=an&nid=3

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.