ISLAMABAD - Information Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan said on Thursday that media needs trained professionals and media organisations should concentrate on training of their staff.
She was speaking at a seminar titled “Media Ethics in Disaster Reporting” organised by Department of Media and Communication Studies, International Islamic University Islamabad. Dr. Firdaus Ashiq Awan was the chief guest and IIUI President Professor Dr Mumtaz Ahmed presided over the event.  Press Council of Pakistan’s Chairman Raja Shafqat was among the keynote speakers.
Information Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan said media is in need of trained professionals and media organisations should concentrate on training of their staff.
‘There are some “unguided missiles” in private TV channels which are dangerous for national interests. The media institutions should also focus on training of students for disaster reporting’.
She informed that the government has been working on building a media university with the help of China.
She said media in Pakistan is budding and at this early stage it is natural for it to err. She said the government is not in favor of restriction on media in any way.
She said media has every right to criticize any institution but it should not go to the extent of damaging institutions. She said some journalists have vested interests that clash with the national interests.
Rector Professor Fateh Muhammad said freedom of expression is a good thing but there has to be some limits. Prof. Malik said that media should be able to differentiate between national interest and interest of the government. Governments come and go but the nation stays and it have to stay, he said. He said reporting should not be conducted in such a way that harms national institution.