Tuesday October 31, 2006

A daily review of media coverage of media and communications issues

Journalists barred from visiting site

The Bajaur political administration stopped journalists from visiting the area where at least 80 people were killed in an airstrike on a madrassa in Chingai village near Khar on Monday. Haroon Rashid of the BBC Urdu Service and Mehmood Jan Babar of AVT Khyber TV were told by security officials at the Nawagai check post to return to Peshawar. Rashid told Daily Times that the tribal police were searching all vehicles coming to Bajaur and checking every passenger. “Oh, you are journalists. Sorry, we have orders not to allow any journalist to reach the site,” Rashid quoted security men as saying.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\10\31\story_31-10-2006_pg1_2

Media men stopped from entering Bajaur

The government banned the entry of media men into Bajaur agency on Monday and a senior staff member of The News, too, wasn't allowed to proceed to Chingai village to report on the missile attack on a Madrassa. The ban was contrary to the government claims that no restrictions had been placed on reporters wanting to cover the happenings in Fata. A similar unannounced ban had been imposed after the US missile strike on Damadola village in Bajaur not far from the attack on the madrassa in Chingai Monday.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=3952

Journalists not allowed to cover royal couple's engagements

Local journalists screened by the British High Commission to cover the visit of British royal couple's engagements were not allowed to cover the meetings of the visiting dignitary with the Pakistani leadership Monday. The officials at the British High Commission told the media persons that the authorities conveyed them at the last moment that official engagements falling Monday would be covered by the regular beat reporters of various newspapers and agencies, but a senior reporter covering the prime minister secretariat told this correspondent that most of the beat reporters were not invited.

http://www.thepost.com.pk/IsbNews.aspx?dtlid=66000&catid=17

Pak media leaks Prince Charles' itinerary

British officials are upset over the leakage of 'secret' details of the programme of Prince Charles to Pakistani media by the 'overexcited' Pakistani government bosses despite attempts by the Clarence House -- the official residence of the Prince of Wales -- to keep it under wraps to protect the prince from any likely terrorist activity.  Even, British media is said to have got details of Prince Charles tour plan from Pakistani media as they were not given the required details by British officials as a part of strategy to keep these things 'secret' for understandable reason.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=30020

German diplomat fetes journalists

German First Secretary and Press Officer Patrick Heinz on Monday evening invited journalists at his residence for a get-tpgather to introduce himself to Pakistani media and in return get to know more about them. Patrick has replaced former First Secretary Andreas von Brandt who has been posted out to Rome, Italy……. The Nation, Page-2

FM LISTENING: Family portrayal in dramas

The story lines of our dramas and films usually depict the social issues of our society. However, for the past few years some of the drama producers like their Indian soaps counterparts have started concentrating more on the typical 'saas bahu' (mother and daughter-in-law) relations. But the fact is that though this is an issue indeed, it is not the only issue at hand. There are numerous social problems; we are practically drowning in them. It seems still that dramas on television aside, the FM channels too are only focusing on these.

http://www.thepost.com.pk/IsbNews.aspx?dtlid=66011&catid=17

Minhas Art Gallery opens at GCU

The inaugural ceremony of Minhas Art Gallery and a solo painting exhibition was held in the new building block of the Government College University (GCU) on Monday. Azra Minhas, the wife of the late artist Aslam Minhas, and GCU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid Aftab performed the inaugural ceremony. The exhibition included Aslam Minhas's 20 paintings. Azra Minhas, KM Siddiqi, Dr Ajaz Anwar and Mian Ijaz ul Hassan paid rich tribute to Aslam's artistic skill. Azra Minhas said that portrait and landscape painting was Aslam's favorite topic and he was proficient in converting his ideas into portraits.

http://www.thepost.com.pk/CityNews.aspx?dtlid=66056&catid=3

MEDIA IN URDU PRESS

“PEMRA took action against Cable operators on violation of code of conduct. Action is taken on public complaints.”   Nawa-e-Waqat (Page-4/ Daily Express (Page-8)

“Senior Art Editor Aziz-ur-Rehman passes away in Lahore on Monday.” Nawa-e-Waqat (Page-12)

“Electronic Media is projecting vulgarity”. Nawa-e-Waqat (Letter to Editor, Editorial Page)

“Efforts are being made to set up provincial information department for Northern Areas, says Information and Broadcast advisor for Northern Areas”. Daily Khabrain (Page-3)

“Known journalist Rahimullah Khan Yousafzai was barred to visit Bajur. Political authorities sent back The News team from Dargi”.   Daily Aaj Peshawar (Page-1)

“National Commission for Peace & Justice is organizing seminar at Chakwal with the collaboration of Chakwal Press Club today, 06.” Daily Express (Page-4)

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.