ISLAMABAD - Chairman Pakistan Electronic Media Regularity Authority Absar Alam yesterday said that Authority is trying to take media owners and media persons on board in implementing law and Code of Conduct and so far response of all stakeholders in this connection is very positive and encouraging.
In a statement, he said all stakeholders believe that media can only protect its credibility if it adheres to professional ethics and law of the land. To achieve all these objectives, the onus lies on the collective wisdom of these Councils which have credible and learned names as Members of all the CoCs. The chairman said that role and importance of Council of Complaints is increasing day by day due to impetus of private electronic media and similarly the decisions of the councils have stupendous impact on defining the future course of media.
The first joint meeting of all PEMRA Councils of Complaints (CoCs) was held with the Chairman PEMRA on Monday at the PEMRA Headquarters. The chairpersons and members of PEMRA Council of Complaints Karachi, Multan, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta and Islamabad were gathered to share their experiences, suggestions and impediments in discharging their obligations and to find out way forward to improve the media and PEMRA relationship and how effectively to implement Code of Conduct so as to address the rising number of public complaints against news and entertainment TV channels. All senior PEMRA management was also present in the meeting.
During the open debate, the Council Members drew attention of the house towards non-implementation of Code of Ethics and salary issues of working journalists. They urged PEMRA for strict control on religious, sectarian content which may likely to fan or incite disharmony or that may cause unrest in the society. Participants denounced glorification of crimes and gory scenes on media and demanded PEMRA to put control on re-enactment and crime shows which are indirectly promoting the crimes in the society. They also noted that PEMRA has started to assert its role as a regulator which is a healthy sign. They also extended their complete support for PEMRA management to pursue this vision and to help all the stakeholders in ensuring the exercise of professional TV journalism.
Council Members urged that all TV channels should air Public Service Messages as per provisions of PEMRA laws which is 10 per cent of their daily broadcast to raise public awareness about social issues e.g. crimes against women and children, religious disharmony, prudent use of natural resources, education, and health etc.