Monday November 20, 2006

A daily review of media coverage of media and communications issues

The voice of ‘Meri Awaz Suno'

WITH the passage of time a lot of advancement is taking place in Pakistani broadcast industry. With the emergence of private TV and radio channels in the country a sudden change has been felt in transmissions. Almost every channel opens with debates that cover all issues, politics or social. Moreover these channels have become the voice of people and have given them a platform through which they can convey their problems and messages to concerned authorities. Where these private channels both radio and TV are playing massive roles in highlighting different issues there they are also providing full advantage to women to raise their voices against cruelty and hardships they have to endure while living in male dominant society.

http://www.thepost.com.pk/IsbNews.aspx?dtlid=69219&catid=17

Call for media code of ethic for next polls

The print and electronic media need to develop a code of ethics for covering the next general elections. The demand was made at a Citizen-Media Dialogue on Civic Journalism in Pakistan on Sunday. The Center for Civic Education Pakistan (CCE) arranged the dialogue. Journalists and participants from different spheres of life participated in the dialogue. Zafarullah Khan, executive director of (CCE), moderated the dialogue. The participants were of the view that the media can play a vital in promoting citizens' participation in democratic electoral process.

http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/nov-2006/20/nationalnews1.php

Findings into Hayat's murder yet to be released

Despite the lapse of five months, the inquiry tribunal, which has already completed its findings about the mysterious assassination of tribalk journalist Hayat Ullah Khan, has yet to make its findings public. The investigation of the killing of Hayatullah Khan, associated with The Nation as corresponded of Mirali North Waziristan Agency, was led by the High Court Justice Mohammed Raza Khan…… The Nation, Page-5

Journalists colony ground breaking today 

Chief Minister of Punjab , Chaudhry Parvez Elahi would hold the ground breaking ceremony of the journalist housing scheme at Lohi Bher today (Monday) at 12:30 (noon), says a press release. In this regard a ground breaking ceremony would be held at Lohi Bher which would be attended by ministers, journalists and people from other walks of life. The development work of the housing schemes would be launched immediately after the ground breaking ceremony.

http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/nov-2006/20/nationalnews6.php

Groundbreaking of Journalists colony today

Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Prevez Elahi will formally lay the foundation stone of Lohi Bher Journalist Colony for media men of Rawalpindi and Islamabad . The time of groundbreaking ceremony has been changed from 2:30 pm to 12:30 pm, it is learnt ….. The News, Page-3

BLAIR-MUSHARRAF PRESS BRIEFING

Reporters' questions were ‘dictated'

Reporters who did not get a chance to ask questions during British Prime Minister Tony Blair and President General Pervez Mushrraf's joint briefing on Sunday complained that the questions asked during the conference were ‘dictated to reporters picked by the Inter-Services Public Relations Chief”. The Press Information Department invited the media for the briefing at Governor's house, and told then to be there before 9:45 am, but the briefing stated at 12:30 pm. Some reporters said that ISPR Director General Maj Gen Shaukat Sultan and his staff “picked three reporters from the Pakistani side and fed them the questions to be asked at the briefing”. No other question was allowed during the press conference, and reporters called this “an attack on the press freedom”. Reporters representing Pakistan Television, The News, and ARY one World asked three questions, and there name were called out by ISPR chief… Daily Times, Page-A-3

SC to hear petitions against vulgarity in PTV

The Supreme Court is likely to hear two identical petitions against vulgarity in the Pakistan Television (PTV) programmes, today (Monday). The attorney general has been issued a notice, seeking his legal opinion about the criteria followed by the PTV management to okay programmes, particularly dramas, which are viewed by millions of people. The petition was filed by a Supreme Court advocate Fazal Illahi Siddiqui who said that the state-owned media was producing vulgar programmes that trampled the Islamic values and cultural norms.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\11\20\story_20-11-2006_pg11_6

Karachi Archdiocese to launch Urdu weekly

After successfully running an English weekly for eight decades, the Archdiocese of Karachi, which consists of a large population of Christians, is set to unveil an Urdu weekly, by the name of “Agahi”, the debut issue of which is planned for the Feast Day of Christ the King on November 26, 2006. The weekly will consists of a minimum of 8 pages plus 2 to 4 pages of announcements and advertisements. Realising the importance of an Urdu weekly, Father Arthur Charles, a professor of Dogmatic Theology, the director of the Catechetical Centre and the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Karachi, took the initiative eight months back. “Majority of Christians in the city communicate in Urdu so we wanted to bring out a newsletter through which all the members of the community would benefit,” he said.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=32504

Media campaign for mother and child healthcare

A new media campaign has been launched in Pakistan to improve coverage and public knowledge about home and hospital-based healthcare for mothers and newborns. The campaign includes a series of training workshops to build the capacity of Pakistani media to cover mother and newborn healthcare (MNH) issues for improving public education.
http://www.thepost.com.pk/CityNews.aspx?dtlid=69254&catid=3

PEMRA Issued 3 Years Progress Report

PEMRA to issue 36 Satellite TV Channels licenses till 2010

Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) issued report on its 3 years progress (2004-2006). The report revealed that the country received 5 billion rupees investment during last 3 years while the country expected more 3 billion rupees investment during 2006-7, the report estimated …. Daily Express, Back Page

5000 complaints against cable operators in 3 years

Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) received five thousands complaints against the cable operators from all over Pakistan durinig last three years. Reacting on public complaints PEMRA issued notices to some three thousand operators and arrested to seven hundred and twenty five offenders… Daily Khabrain, Back Page

Police show no progress in journalist's murder case

Despite the lapse of 10 days Capital Territory Police remain unable to show any progress in the investigation of murder of a senior journalist Ismail Khan. Police arrested 16 suspects and later freed all of them…. Daily Express, Back Page

CHANNEL WATCH

‘Witness' and ‘Listening Post' at Al-Jazeera English

Al-Jazeera English, the new international news channel from the Qatar-based television network, has begun its broadcasting last week across the satellite. The opening broadcast, which was expected to be available in 80 million households around the world, aimed to be the channel of reference for Middle East events, Al Jazeera has broadcast centres at Doha , Kuala Lumpur , London and Washington . Al-Jazeera, which celebrated its 10th anniversary on November 1, has revolutionised news media in the Arab world, and has also provoked controversy.

http://www.thepost.com.pk/IsbNews.aspx?dtlid=69218&catid=17

LETTERS TO EDITOR

Ban on Sindh TV

SINCE the inception of Pakistan our nation on the whole has been facing a terrible crisis in every field, including the electronic and press media. On the other hand, the government of the day is always found engaged in the so-called tall claims of promoting tolerance and equality in society. The recent ban on Sindh TV is a deplorable act of the government and is condemned all around Pakistan . So far no reason has been given to the nation about what made the government take this step to stop the freedom of speech, which is the basic right of every citizen of Pakistan .

http://www.dawn.com/2006/11/20/letted.htm#7

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.