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RESOURCE CENTER - MEDIA MONITOR |
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Sunday November 11, 2007
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A daily review of media coverage of media and communications issues. |
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Attack on Media
Intimidation |
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Sheikh Rashid threatens Klasra Minister says he did not issue threats but only gave advice
Federal Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Saturday lost his cool and threatened and shouted at senior correspondent of 'The News', Rauf Klasra, when both of them met to record a programme at Geo TV studios in Islamabad. The minister made wild accusations against the correspondent in the presence of the entire Geo technical and editorial staff. Reporting the incident to The News management, Rauf Klasra said he believed the real reason behind Sheikh Rashid's loss of temper and hurling threats to me was the financial scams of the Railways Ministry which he had reported in The News two weeks back. "I had filed a financial scam against him proving how his ministry had tried to strike a Rs 1.6bn deal with a Chinese company but after smelling something foul in the deal, the Chinese government had scrapped it," Klasra said. According to Klasra he was invited by anchorperson Asma Chaudhry of GEO for a talk show on the current situation. Sheikh Rashid Ahmed was also present. "During our discussions on different issues, Sheikh Rashid levelled some charges against me. First he accused me of presenting my wishes as news and said as such I was serving someone else?s interests. "Then he clearly indicated that I had some hidden agenda to pursue. I clarified the role of media and why we journalists have no ambitions to become politicians or ministers. But he went on accusing me of siding with some opposition parties leaders in return for some favours. He even claimed he had some startling information about what I had been secretly doing in the offices of Nawaz Sharif in London during my stay there." "I clarified the situation and told him that journalists had to visit offices of the politicians to gather news, irrespective of the fact whether we like someone or not. Both Nawaz and Shahbaz were often unhappy with my stories published in The News. |
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_default.asp |
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Press Club stormed to nab PPP leaders |
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Scuffle with journalists
Police arrested the NWFP Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leadership from outside the Peshawar Press Club (PPC) after a brief scuffle with journalists on Saturday. The journalists pushed the police outside the press club after a scuffle. They told the police that no body could be arrested inside the club as the people have a right to express their views.
The Post,
Daily Times
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City Nazim lashes out at media |
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City Nazim, Syed Mustafa Kamal, on Saturday, lashed out at the print and electronic media and said there was no need to watch foreign TV channels and that local channels were destabilising the nation. He expressed his resentment saying that these local channels never show the positive development works being done in the city. Instead, he said, they are creating chaos, and claimed that there are some forces which are making an attempt to destabilise the situation. He made these strongly-worded observations about the electronic and print media while launching the ballot scheme of the Hawkesbay Scheme 42 of the Lyari Development Authority (LDA) here at the Civic Centre Karachi on Saturday. He asked the people, sitting under a huge tent at the cermony, if they could tell that an emergency or martial law had been imposed in the country. The Nazim said that since last few days he had stopped viewing the channels just for the reason that they did not show any development, and just chaos and confusion. He told the audience that he needed their help and that they should own the developments taking place in the city. He also said that whenever you see a city page in the newspaper it put forward a war-like situation. A TV channel reporter, after the LDA launching ceremony, commented to the Nazim that his views about the TV channels were very harsh. The Nazim replied that what he had said had no kind of hidden angle to it.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_news.asp?id=4 |
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Arrest
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The journalists of Larkana, Ratodero, Kamber-Shahdadkot, Dadu, Mehar, Nasir Abad, Shikarpur, Jacobabd and other areas have expressed concern over the arrests of their collegues Saturday. The police entered the press clubs of these cities to monitor the activities of political workers and journalists there. Several journalists were detained in Kamber Shahdadkot and Ratodero towns, said the sources. The journalists organizations continued protesting curbs on the media and arrests of the journalists. They expressed their concern over the manhandling and arrests of reporters by law-enforcement agencies.
The journalists have demanded the authorities to provide protection to the journalists and take action against the officials involved. |
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/Arc_NatNews.aspx?dtlid=128031&catid=2&date=11/11/2007&fcatid=14 |
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Media in Courts
Geo moves high court against restrictions |
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The Geo television news channel said on Saturday it had lodged a petition in the Sindh High Court against the blackout and media curbs introduced after the imposition of emergency rule. “We have challenged the ban on the telecast of independent TV channels by the government and also the fresh laws aimed at reining in the media,” the president of Geo Television said. He said the ban slapped by the government on Geo News and other private channels a week ago was against “fundamental rights.” Many international news channels such as CNN and BBC World have also been taken off air. Under emergency rule, the media are barred from publishing or broadcasting material that defames Gen Musharraf, the armed forces or the government. The order says there is a maximum punishment of three years in prison or a fine of 10 million rupees for anyone who breaches the code.
The News,
Dawn,
Daily Times |
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Media Protest
Media blackout invites criticism |
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The media blackout following the imposition of emergency has drawn severe criticism from all over the country. The general public, civil society, human right activists have lambasted the government for depriving them of the live transmissions by private TV channels. A numbers of people starved of news and up-to-date information have started relying on the print media, international radio broadcast, the Internet and satellite receivers to keep themselves abreast of the actual situation in the country.
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/Arc_ShortNews.aspx?shortid=4825&catid=2&date=11/11/2007&fcatid=14 |
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Journalists’ protest against media curbs continues |
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The journalists protest triggered by curbs on the media entered the second day when they staged a demonstration in front of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) office here on Saturday. Waving black flags, wearing black arm bands and chanting slogans “Go Musharraf go”, “No to curbs on media”, “No to Pemra Ordinance”, “We want freedom” and “Lift ban on private news channels” the mediapersons demanded an end to what they called the draconian laws imposed since the proclamation of emergency last week. Members of the civil society, lawyers and students also joined the demonstration to express solidarity with the media condemning the assault on press freedom and judiciary. As many as 70 to 80 demonstrators had gathered in front of Aaj TV office in Blue Area. A protest camp was organised by Rawalpindi-Islamabad Union of Journalists, as they observed a black day to condemn the anti-media ordinances.
Dawn,(The Post-A4) |
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NCJP condemns detentions, curbs on media |
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The National Commission for Justice and Peace has strongly condemned the imposition of emergency and suspension of fundamental human rights in Pakistan, says a press release issued here Saturday. NCJP Director Nisar Barkat said Pakistan was facing various crises but the judicial, political, economic and security crises were adding to the hardship of people. "In these crucial circumstances, the imposition of emergency is tantamount to adding fuel to the fire and the use of police against lawyers, journalists and political activists must be checked. The detention of judged of Supreme Court, High Courts and human rights activists or their house arrests are condemnable," he added. The police are raiding the offices and houses of lawyers forcing them flee homes, Barkat added.
The News,
The Post |
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Media Coordination Committee formed |
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A Media Coordination Committee (MCC) was formed on Saturday. Shamim-ur-Rahman President Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) was designated as the Convenor of MCC. The committee was formed at a meeting of journalists held at the Karachi Press Club (KPC) which was attended by members of affiliated bodies of the journalists association. The ten member committee included, Sabihuddin Ghousi, President Karachi Press Club, Secretary KPC Imtiaz Khan Faran, Javed Saba President Association of TV Journalists, Javed Choudhry Secretary KUJ, Faisal Aziz Khan Secretary ATJ, Tariq Abul Hasan, Moosa Kaleem, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman and Naqeeb-ur-Rahman President and Secretary Pakistan Association of Press Photographers (PAPP) respectively. The committee will act in accordance with the decision of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) with regard to the present media movement against two ordinances on media curbing freedom of expression and speech. A unit’s meeting of newspapers will be held simultaneously in the offices on November 12. On Nov 13 protest meetings will be held at the KPC while protest camps and hunger strikes will be held on November 14. A big protest rally and demonstrations will be held throughout the country on November 20. |
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_news.asp?id=4 |
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Journalists demand press freedom |
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The KUJ Dawn Unit has urged the government to lift the curbs on the media and revoke the Provisional Constitution Order immediately. In a requisitioned meeting, journalists concluded that the government had no right to curtail the freedom of expression of the fourth pillar of the state. They called for an immediate withdrawal of the PEMRA (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007 as well as the Press, Newspapers, News Agencies, and Books Registration (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007. It was also decided that the Dawn’s editorial staffers would continue wearing black armbands as a mark of protest until their demands were met.
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http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/11/local13.htm |
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Journalists protest media curbs |
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Over 500 journalists from Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Saturday condemned the chaining of media by the government and vowed to get back their right to responsible and objective journalism. Wearing black armbands, they observed Saturday as black day and staged a sit-in in front of the offices of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and a private TV channel. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Benazir Bhutto, lawyers, students and civil society representatives also joined them to press the government to take back the ordinance promulgated to gag the press. Bhutto expressed her solidarity with the media and assured her and her party’s full support to the journalists to strengthen their struggle. Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists President Huma Ali, Secretary General Mazhar Abbas and Rawalpindi-Islamabad Press Club President Mushtaq Minhas delivered speeches on the occasion. |
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\11\11\story_11-11-2007_pg7_13 |
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Journalists, students & PMA stage joint protest at Press Club cordoned off by cops |
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Saturday sighted the Lahore Press Club (LPC) swarmed with journalists, students of LUMS and FAST and the office bearers of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) in a protest against the imposition of emergency in the country. A heavy contingent of police however remained on guard, encircling the entire building, forcing protestors to remain within the premises. Reportedly, the journalist community had finalised its arrangements in this regard following a call by the Punjab Union of Journalists (PUJ) and the Lahore Press Club. Halfway through the protest, they were joined by other organisations including the students' federation and Dr Yasmeen Rashid, who came to express PMA's solidarity with the media people and graced the PUJ and LPC office bearers with wreaths.
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/Arc_ShortNews.aspx?shortid=4822&catid=3&date=11/11/2007&fcatid=14 |
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Journalists observe Black Day |
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Journalists boycott govt functions
Journalists observed Black Day agianst PEMRA and Press and Publication Ordinances and set up a token hunger strike camp inside Lahore Press Club here on Saturday.
A good number of journalists including President Punjab Union of Journalists Arif Hameed Bhatti, President Lahore Press Club, Mohsin Goraya, Secretary General LPC Syed Shoaib-ud-Din and other senior journalists of the community visited the camp.
They staged sit-in at the camp from 2:00 to 4:00 pm and the other journalists showered roze petals on the protesters.
News-3,
Nation |
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Letter to editor “Curbs on Media” |
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Qazi Ehsanul Haq, “Two identical Presidential ordinances have been promulgated by General Musharraf imposing some new restrictions on the print and electronic media. The provisions of the just promulgated presidential ordinances to amend the Press, Newspapers, News Agencies and Books Registration Ordinance 2002 and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Ordinance 2002 need to be examined quite closely and carefully. In the first instance, the presidential ordinance seems to have been promulgated without taking the newspapers representative bodies i.e. All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) and the Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors (CPNE) into confidence. Restrictions on publication of certain material including the photographs in any format pertaining to the suicide bombers, terrorists, bodies of victims of terrorist activities as well as statements and pronouncements of militants and extremist elements promoting terrorism, sectarianism, ethnicism or racialism for the maintenance of law and order and enabling the law enforcing agencies to proceed with their investigations smoothly are quite understandable. These would be largely endorsed by the readers of the newspapers and most viewers of the channels who abhor publication of such negative material in any manner, I am quite sure about it. However, empowering the District Coordination Officers (DCOs) or the Deputy Commissioners (DCs),as the case may be, to suspend the declaration of a publication for 30 days in case of violations in any manner should have been resorted only after holding due consultations with the APNS and CPNE.”
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http://nation.com.pk/daily/nov-2007/11/letters7.php |
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Letter to President |
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A letter to Gen Pervaiz Musharraf by Employees of Pakistan Satellite Television Channels and Pakistan Broadcasting Association “we want to earn an honest living, support our families with dignity and contribute to prosperity of Pakistan, please let us contribute to do so. All of us are praying for your support and compensation.”
(News-2)
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Restricted, unfair and obscure Karachi tunes into various modes of information |
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For a week now, Karachi has been deprived of news on television, and left with no option on air, but one. Karachiites have quickly come to terms with this change, and turned to other avenues to educate and inform themselves.
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http://jang.com.pk/thenews/nov2007-weekly/nos-11-11-2007/kol.htm |
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No stopping News by Usman Ghafoor |
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“Those who must feed on daily news and analysis still have variety of reliable souces at theior disposal.
(News-Encore-4)
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Life without News Channels |
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Jang group website asks visitors to share their views about life after ban on channels.
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http://blog.jang.com.pk/ |
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Column by Younas Qiasi |
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Daily Aaj columnist Younas Qiasi comments, “After national settlement, there is also urgen need for reconciliation with media.
(Aaj-Column)
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BB visited Geo offices in Islamabad |
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PPP leader Benazir Bhutto visited the Jang and Geo TV network offices in blue area.
(Jang-1)
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Nation Photo |
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(Nation-2)
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The News Cartoon |
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Geo advertisement |
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(News-11)
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Dawn Photo |
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Journalists protest against curbs imposed by the government on media in Islamabad on Saturday. — Photo by Tanveer Shahzad
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Media Miscellaneous
Government expels three British reporters |
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The government on Saturday ordered the expulsion of three journalists from a British newspaper for using “foul and abusive” language about Pakistan and its leadership. “Three foreign journalists have been given 72 hours to leave,” the minister of state for information, Tariq Azim Khan, said. “They were using foul and abusive language against Pakistan and Pakistan’s leadership.” The step was taken in response to an editorial published in the Daily Telegraph on Friday, an official said. The Daily Telegraph’s editorial headquarters in London refused to comment on the report.
(Nation-1) ,
The Post,
Dawn |
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Justice Javed Iqbal new chairman press council |
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President Gen Pervaiz Musharraf has appointed Justice ® Javed Iqbal new chairman Pakistan Press Council for three years.
(Jang-1)
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Govt insists news channels were misleading nation |
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Sindh adviser justifies ban on TV channels
Adviser to the Chief Minster on Information and Archives Maj (r) Hamid Hussain Abdi has alleged the banned news channel were misleading the nation, and insisted that the action against them is justified. Addressing a press conference in his office on Saturday, he said that after negotiations with the government some of the TV channels were allowed to resume their transmissions, adding that “aggressive TV news channels will not be allowed to resume their transmission unless they agree to follow the code of conduct.” He said that there was no change in the attitude of these defiant channels even after the imposition of the ban. In reply to a question as to why foreign news channels like CNN were taken off the air, the adviser said they too were telecasting the footage of channels like Geo and ARY OneWorld. He maintained that in the civilised world, TV channels refrained from telecasting images of bodies and limbs, but certain Pakistani news channels were not adhering to the norms.
Dawn,
Daily Times |
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BB tries to steal journalists’ show |
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Former PM Benazir Bhutoo used all her diplomatic tactics to use the journalists plate form to make her own political gains. The outcries of freedom of media were engulfed by excited PPP workers slogans.
(Nation-13)
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Letter to Editor, “Media and women” |
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Nauwarah Zafar, “This is with reference to Ameen A. Tinwala’s article Media and women (Oct 21, 2007). It is a fact that the media influences us in many ways, most of which are the wrong ones. The problem is that we are an impressionable lot and immediately get influenced by others. Nowadays what we see on television does not reflect our culture. It is dreadful that Pakistani media is copying Indian media. If the scenario does n’t change, things may reach the point of no return.
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http://www.dawn.com/weekly/dmag/dmag23.htm |
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Media to take democracy ahead’ |
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‘Early solution to TV channels’ issue likely’
Information and Broadcasting Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani has said responsible media will help the state meet the challenges posed by terrorism and extremism. “More responsible and credible media will also help the government take the democratic process ahead. The media will also lead the nation towards the destiny of a truly democrat, welfare state in line with the vision of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal,” he said while addressing the audience after laying the foundation stone of the APP Media City here at the site of the project adjacent to the National University of Modern Languages (NUML) in Sector H-9. Flanked by Information Ministry Additional Secretary Fazlur Rehman Malik, APP Managing Director Rai Riaz Hussain, directors Javed Akhtar, Naeem Chaudhry and other senior officials, the minister also unveiled the plaque of the project, which is another landmark achievement of the government for development of the media in the country. Addressing participants, Durrani said phenomenal advancement and development in all sectors would become a source of inspiration for the entire Muslim world. |
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http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\11\11\story_11-11-2007_pg7_49 |
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Durrani hopeful about early solution to TV channels’ issue |
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Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Muhammad Ali Durrani on Saturday expressed the hope that the issue pertaining to some private television channels would be amicably resolved very soon. Talking to PTV in a telephonic interview, the minister said the government was in touch with all the stakeholders, including owners of TV channels and representatives of journalists, to evolve an acceptable-to-all code of conduct for channels. He said the print media was working as usual and no check has been imposed on it in the post-emergency conditions. Efforts are being made to convince the representatives of television channels and journalists to abide by the existing code of conduct while reporting on certain incidents, he said. Durrani said earlier a consensus code of conduct was evolved jointly by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) and the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) but unfortunately it was not being observed by some private channels. Consequently, an ordinance was promulgated to ensure the implementation of this code, he said, adding that the restrictions on some private channels was a temporary phenomenon. Once the organisers commit to implementing the code in letter and spirit there will be no curb on them, he said.
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_news.asp?id=6 |
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Media students from Saarc nations in love with Lahore |
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The world wars fought by the warring nations of Europe resulted in approximately 90 million civilian and military casualties; death was ruling the roost in every part of Europe and it was thought the war would create mammoth problems for the younger generation. The tables were turned when the Europeans found out that respect for another's opinion and democracy could steer their continent towards progress. The world wars that brought death and destruction proved to be a blessing in disguise and it is now aptly referred to as the war to end all wars. In 1957, just twelve years after the cease fire in 1945, six nations founded the European Economic Community (EEC) through Rome Treaty and since then there had been no looking back. It is astonishing that the nations, once dying to quench their thirst with each other's blood, adopted Ode of Joy (based on the final movement of Beethoven's nine symphonies) as their national anthem. The motto 'unity in diversity' guided the member nations and now EU stands as a voice apart in world affairs. This spirit of conflict resolution became the guiding force behind the programme of supporting eighteen journalists from South Asian countries to attend a course at the South Asian Media School in Lahore. The course is being attended by journalists from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. |
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http://www.thepost.com.pk/Arc_ShortNews.aspx?shortid=4823&catid=3&date=11/11/2007&fcatid=14 |
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Freedom to reporting is vital: US journalist |
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Journalists urged to cover issues during poll campaign
Freedom to report is vital for democracy, and journalists should tell the truth, says Arnold Skip Isaacs, a leading US journalist, writer and trainer, in his lecture on 'Role of Media in Democracy' delivered at Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST).
"You don't create democracy in one election; it's a process that takes place over the several elections. Democracy doesn't mean freedom but the rule of people," he added.
"Elections are the central part of democracy," he further pointed out. Arnold was of the view that media needed to give useful and correct information to the people and the public liked to see free press and didn't like to demand information.
The Post,
Nation |
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Movies
KaraFilm festival in limbo |
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The seventh KaraFilm festival, which was postponed in the wake of the October 18 suicide attacks in Karachi, has been put off till further notice. Since 2001, the film festival has been taking place at the end of every year. The event has attracted a large number of movie buffs from the city and brought to the city a host of international and domestic celebrities inlcuding actors, directors and producers. Talking to The News, Festival director, Hassan Zaidi said that owing to the situation in the country in general, the festival has further been postponed. All preparations for the festival were complete and they still are, but because of the prevailing political uncertainties, they plan to not go ahead with it anytime soon. “As far as I can see, KaraFilm festival is not going to take place this year. But consultations and meetings with all the organisers are yet to be finalised after which this decision might be altered,” he explained. |
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http://www.thenews.com.pk/arc_news.asp?id=4 |
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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) |
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