Friday November 10, 2006

A daily review of media coverage of media and communications issues

Malicious campaign to hush up journalist's murder

While mystery continues shrouding the cold-blood murder of a senior journalist, Ismail Malik, certain “quarters” are maliciously at work to create the impression before the investigation is complete that the journalist was of a bad moral character. The objective appears to be to hush up the matter and silence the journalists' community. The journalist was murdered on the night between November 1 and 2, and his mutilated body was found in a green area of sector F-6/1, near the Super Market. The news of his murder sent a shock wave through Islamabad and realising that journalists would protest the killing of Ismail Malik, who one can say with full authority was a gentleman, certain quarters, without delay, began slinging mud on his character.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\11\10\story_10-11-2006_pg7_29

Slandering slain journalist instead of finding killers

With its empathic denial by the Islamabad Police Senior Superintendent, a report appeared in a section of the press Thursday claiming that senior journalist Malik Muhammad Ismail was killed by a scavenger, currently in police custody, for molesting him, seems to be an attempt to bring the press into disrepute. A look at the report that quoted unnamed policemen suggests Islamabad police picked up Shafiq, a scavenger, for interrogation as the body of the journalist had been recovered from the premises used by the accused.

http://www.thepost.com.pk/IsbNews.aspx?dtlid=67649&catid=17

Sindh TV transmission suspended

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) is understood to have suspended the transmission of a Sindh-based TV channel for unknown reasons. The orders were received by cable operators of Karachi who claimed that they had been ordered to take the channel off air. Sindh TV has been airing documentaries and programmes with a special focus on the chaos in Balochistan and issues related to rural Sindh.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\11\10\story_10-11-2006_pg12_3

Ban on Indian channels

I WRITE this in response to a letter from a fellow Californian, Javed Altaf, who claimed that his “ancestors brought civilisation to India” (Nov 8). I suggest that Mr Altaf drive a little north to the University of California at Berkeley or a little south to Stanford University where he will have access to libraries that will bring his knowledge up to scratch!

http://www.dawn.com/2006/11/10/letted.htm#3

A total 57 FM Radio stations on air in Pakistan: PEMRA

Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory has granted a total 87 licenses to private companies for establishment of FM Radio Stations through out Pakistan. Out of 87 licenses, 57 companies have aired their FM radio stations. PEMRA sources say that the licensees are bound to air the FM channel with in a year after grant of license. According t o PEMRA sources PEMRA has cancelled the license of those companies that could not air their channels with in a year after grant of licenses…. Daily Khabrain, Back page

Journalists, columnists to get awards

Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad has issued directives for instituting Governor's Award to best journalists, photographers and columnists to be given every year. Talking to a delegation of photo journalists association, the governor asked the Provincial Secretaries, Information and Finance to prepare a programme in this regard.. The Nation, Page-9

Editors of first Christian Urdu weekly named

The editorial and advisory boards of Agahi—a Christian weekly—have been named. The appointments were made with the approval of His Grace, the Archbishop of Karachi, Most Rev. Evarist Pinto. Agahi is going to be the first Christian Urdu weekly in Pakistan, and is the brainchild of Rev. Father Arthur Charles. Fr. Charles is a Professor of Dogmatic Theology, Director of Catechetical Centre, Charge d' Affaires of the Rotti Press. Fr. Charles has been appointed as the Editor-in-Chief of Agahi. He has also served as the editor of The Christian Voice—an English language weekly of the Archdiocese of Karachi—and NCIT News.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\11\10\story_10-11-2006_pg7_27

Journalist Housing Foundation approved Colony at Loi Bheer

A special session of Journalist Housing Foundation held Thursday at Lahore with Tamoor Azmat, Secretary Information, Government of Punjab in chair. Representatives of Rawalpindi/Islamabad Press Club Executive Body also attended the meeting. The meeting gave the final approval of a journalist colony at Loi Bheer Rawalpindi for the members of Rawalpindi/ Islamabad Press Club… Daily Express, back Page  

FM LISTENING | Power 99 FM powered

Changes are good. True. But sometimes changes can bewilder us. Something like that happened with Power 99 FM. For several days Power 99 FM has altered its usual course too well, letting no RJ ramble the way they usually do. In other words, there is only plain music and no RJ to accompany. The change was quite noticeable, but I was forced to write about it especially when many of my frequent readers and the pro-FM biggy big fans were missing their favourite FM folks. Notable among them are Raja Haider, the astrologist, and Faisal Javed Rana, the cricket commentator of ‘Cricket Talk'.
http://www.thepost.com.pk/IsbNews.aspx?dtlid=67647&catid=17

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.