Font size: 
Initially, print media mavens in Pakistan stretched their legs to venture into electronic media, where they became real success stories. The Pakistani people welcomed the move with enthusiasm, as this new phenomenon gave them a breath of fresh air.
The openness of the media under Musharaff was a polar opposite to the controlling policies of the former president, Gen. Zia al-Haq. The public and media experienced full freedom of speech; they could counter and criticize the government as is done in the United States and other Western countries. This policy on the part of the military government was really appreciated in a state like Pakistan, where in the 1980s journalists were often harassed, abducted and tortured.
Unfortunately, soon after they were given the right to publish and transmit freely, these media empires were taken over by commercial interests or by anti-government factions who started a trend of government bashing. The media indulged in criticism for the sake of criticism and began to spread despondency among the masses.
Considering media the fastest money-making industry, a number of industrial giants jumped into this business as well. Instead of setting up new cement or glass factories they preferred opening up a new TV channel or a newspaper to add to their business conglomerates. This trend brought money into the media industry, but took away the real spirit of this profession, which is based on creativity and dedication to truthfulness and precision. Corporate world mindsets simply don't fit with the criteria of professional journalism.
Another phenomenon also emerged in Pakistani media companies -- the exploitation of women within the hierarchical company structure. One young woman who was in dire need of a job joined a media network in the capital as a reporter. She was physically assaulted by her chief and threatened with dismissal if she refused to obey him. Her situation is not unique. It is ironic that media mavens in Pakistan are crying out for freedom of speech, yet have not learned to respect the basic human rights of their employees.
Gory stories of journalists being held, detained and abducted in Pakistan are proudly reported on international forums like Reporters sans Frontiers, but unfortunately people tend to turn a blind eye toward the harassment of media personnel the world over. Pakistan has an uneven record in this regard, but it is not alone. It is publicly acknowledged that some news networks do their utmost to paint a bleak picture of emerging events, and of moves by the government, as a means of marketing their content.
The media has contributed positively to society in some situations. One such case was when a major earthquake jolted the region on Oct. 8, 2005. Journalists travelled to the most far-flung areas of the country and reported about the conditions of the victims, as well as their need for medical help and food.
A critical balance must be struck between protecting the rights of the media and maintaining the integrity of the profession. Pakistani citizens want to hear and see truthful reports, not news that has been distorted or misshapen. They do not always want negative, anti-government reports. They want their voices to be heard, but not through media that present a single viewpoint and represent a particular class or group.
Another new phenomenon that undermines the quality of Pakistan's commercial broadcast media is the induction of anchorpersons on various channels that are not appropriately trained for the job, especially on current affairs programs. Young women with insufficient knowledge about public affairs are given such jobs on the basis of their appearance, and then allowed to comment on serious issues such as Pakistan's nuclear weapons and terrorism.
These positions require responsibility and credibility. For those who accept such roles, there is a very thin line between performing journalistic duties and being bought off by groups with vested interests.
--
(Mehwish Hassan Sara is a research fellow at the Institute of Strategic Studies in Islamabad. She is a regular contributor to research journals as well as popular media in Pakistan. She has a master's degree in international relations from the National University of Modern Languages in Islamabad. ©Copyright Mehwish Hassan Sara.)
