ISLAMABAD:
The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) issued a furious rebuke to 17 television channels after they broadcast graphic images of the victims of the Bhoja Air plane crash.
The channels have been served show cause notices for airing the footage. Pemra ordered the channels to explain themselves over what it called “horrific and insane” coverage of the disaster. In a strongly worded statement, Pemra said the channels broadcast “unedited live footage of blood, gore, dead and mutilated bodies amid a private plane crash.”
The regulator said it was considering legal action against the broadcasters, calling their approach “extremely unethical and irresponsible”.
“There is no harm in taking edge over other channels in dissemination of timely and accurate news but the quest must not be to take lead in indecency or irregularity,” the statement said.
“It’s high time that the channels must realise their responsibility and define the do’s and don’ts.” A Bhoja Air Boeing 737 came down and burst into flames in fields near Islamabad last Friday as it tried to land, killing all 127 people on board -- the capital’s second major crash in less than two years.
According to the press release issued, the authority has also issued notices to other 24 entertainment TV channels on account of airing “indecent, vulgar and unethical programs, advertisements, shows, excessive foreign content and intruding into personal and family life of people”.
The channels have also been summoned to show cause under section 20 (c) & (f) of the Pemra Ordinance and Rule 15 (1) of Pemra Rules.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 26th, 2012.
COMMENTS (6)
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About time PEMRA woke up. I didn't even realise that Pakistan had a regulator for media, such is the extent of unethical reporting. The news coverage is in most cases unacceptable and inciting hatred.
Fully agree with PEMRA on this subject. Our media needs to realize that there are certain standards which they need to maintain, particularly in cases in like this. No doubt they should report news as they happen, but they should atleast consider what they show on TV. Is it ethical to show the remains of human beings in the manner in which they were aired? I saw the images that Express News was showing of the crash site, with blood and pieces of flesh littered about the wreckage. They even showed a mangled body under 2 seats which were sitting on top of a broken wall. Made me sick to my stomach. I can't even imagine how the relatives of the people on that plane must have felt when seeing those images. The media needs to follow a code of conduct during their coverage, and if they don't, then its PEMRA's job to ensure that such a code is implemented and followed.
to sell their news, our media personal cross ethical and moral boundaries every now and then and the stuff they show on television except for the blood and violence, it is no where near the ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN
Pemra is right, news channels need to remain in ethical limits.. there has to be a limit. No one is stopping the news channels from broadcasting. just remain in limits man... i my self saw dunya news camera man showing dead body while being put into ambulance....
our media is new to freedom, this is the reason we don't know the limits of freedom.
yer they have a reason to hide their sins.................good work Pak media....