Stand against impunity: Editors for Safety formed to unite media against attacks

Body will focus on the alarming level of insecurity for media professionals and institutions

KARACHI: Editors and directors news of a large number of newspapers and television channels have decided to formally establish ‘Editors for Safety’, an organisation focused exclusively on issues related to violence and threats of violence against the media.

Editors for Safety will focus on the alarming level of insecurity for the media professionals and institutions in Pakistan. The body elected Zaffar Abbas, the editor of Dawn, as its first chairman, according to a press release said.

The basic philosophy of Editors for Safety will be that an attack on one journalist or media house will be considered as an attack on the entire media. Those in the organisation will assess such situations and jointly make decisions regarding media coverage of violence and threats of violence against any media house as if it was an attack against them. Beyond coverage, Editors for Safety would also assist any journalist or the media house that needs help in dealing with such issues by providing resources, sharing information and expertise, or reaching out to stakeholders involved.

The meeting decided to approach all newspapers editors and television news directors to join Editors for Safety. The meeting also decided to consult with All Pakistan Newspaper Society, Pakistan Broadcasters Association and Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors and invite them to nominate representatives to Editors for Safety.

Those who attended the meeting and formed Editors for Safety included Wamiq Zuberi (Business Recorder), Mujibur Rehman Shami (Daily Pakistan), Ali Kazi (KTN and Kawish), Fahd Hussain (Express News), Azhar Abbas (Geo News), Shahrukh Hassan (Jang Group), Abdul Khaliq (Online), Anwer Sajdi (Daily Intekhab), Aamer Ahmed Khan (Aaj TV), Tahir Najmi (Daily Express), Jabbar Khatttak (Awami Awaz), Zahid Mazhar (Dawn News), Jahanzaib Haque (Dawn.com), Naveed Hussain (The Express Tribune), Farhan Reza (ARY News), Imran Saleem Dar (AVT), Zaffar Abbas (Dawn) and Owais Aslam Ali (Pakistan Press Foundation).

Published in The Express Tribune, December 13^th, 2015.