Media Ethics in Pakistan

In this era of information, where everything is just a click away, life seems incomplete without news updates. To check updates about one’s city before stepping out of the home, has now become a routine for every citizen, at least in Pakistan.

Media in Pakistan has seen a revolutionary boom in no time. During the last ten years, the number of people reached by mass media has risen and its media’s role in their life has dramatically increased. Countless of channels have emerged in last few years. From news to entertainment, from dramas to fashion and from cooking to religion, you’ve dedicated channels for everything, even for health.

Media, indeed, has a major role in shaping public opinion and perception. It is understood that media can shape the public opinion the way it is intended.

Mostly media has played an important role in educating the masses about their basic rights but like any other profession, there are some set rules, guidelines, and ethics set for media, which every journalist is supposed to follow.

Ethics is all about how to deal with your life, how you behave in your life. Your ethics is a reflection of your personality, your upbringing, your background – both professional and family.

When talking about media ethics, it is about how to shape and present the news, what should be the language, how to maintain the balance, how to respect the privacy of others, how to keep the content original and many other things.

But, unfortunately, in Pakistan – some so-called and self-proclaimed journalists – who, instead of being role models, are attempting to destroy the face of media. Gone are the days when they were only involved in manipulating news or serving hidden agendas, these days the media is involved in inciting violence against rivals or other groups. They’ve become the judge and a state within the state.

There are many examples of how individuals have manipulated news, created fake stories, disrespected the privacy of people, and also inciting for violence. An avid follower of Pakistani media is already aware of such elements.

In the past, we’ve seen how a show hosted by Meher Bokhari resulted in the murder of Salman Taseer, the governor of Punjab province who was shot by his own security guard, or a show by Amir Liaquat which resulted in the murder of two people of Ahmadi community.

Similarly, Meher Bokhari and Mubashar Lucman were caught on camera for doing a planted show. Later on, all of them were hired by different channels that show that media houses are least bothered about credibility and what they eye is just rating.

What all the media houses and journalists need to understand is that people are watching/following news channels for information and updates, so it should be about accuracy and facts. Those who love to ridicule others or fake stories, they should switch to entertainment channel to cater to “their type of audience” while also fulfilling their innate desires.

The present precarious situation of media is an eye opener for everyone, including the media fraternity and it is high time for media managers in Pakistan to clean the industry from black sheeps, before it is too late.