The emergence of multiple television channels in a short period of time, without an independent regulatory body to enforce a code of ethics has become a problem. There seems to be neither any system nor effort to scrutinise anchors or journalists with adequate pay package to resist temptations for becoming instruments of abuse and blackmail. Media has failed to understand that it must function in a responsible manner, never to be seen distorting facts and disseminate false propaganda, which is against public interest. Unfortunately, the balance between corporate profits and public service has not been maintained. Resorting to sensationalism by design and becoming instruments in the hands of vested interests, big business and political parties, or allowing personal biases to override professional integrity were bound to back fire. Can the media justify exposing identity of victims of rape and their family just to hike ratings?
Democracy is a system of governance with sole objective to serve collective welfare of majority and enforce rule of law. It becomes an abuse of democracy, if like a dictatorship, the system is used for benefit of few, which is what has been happening in this country. For a regime that could not allocate Rs 400 billion to provide electricity out of over Rs 6 trillion additional national debt, which is equal to the total debt in past 60 years, it antagonises the viewer to be presented with an indoctrinated interview of a man notorious for taking over land belonging to the poor and giving away villas, limousines to members of civil or uniformed bureaucracy and few black sheep in the media and instead scandalise the only institution ie Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Iftikhar. The media should never be seen as an instrument of spreading disinformation, subverting truth and maligning institutions which have credibility in the eyes of public. Francis Bacon wrote in 1625 that “Nothing doth more hurt in a state than that cunning men pass for wise”. It is time for print and electronic media to reform itself.
Malik Tariq Ali,
Lahore, June 15.