In the backdrop of the ongoing media war, controversies and accusations ‘of the media, by the media and on the media’, revolving around senior journalists (myself included) and TV anchors, enforcement of existing national and global media ethics is required.
There is the Meher Bokhari and Mubashar Lucman leaked interview and then the list of 19 journalists (on which my name is also included) who have been accused of taking money and plots, but without any proof being provided for this claim.
All this needs to be cleared: the matter should be investigated and those found guilty should be shown the door. The media must take a collective decision and an independent media complaints commission should be constituted in consultation with the Chief Justice of Pakistan, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, the Pakistan Broadcasters Association, All Pakistan Newspapers Society, Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors and Pemra.
The two-member bench constituted by the Supreme Court to examine the leaked interview should expand its scope to basic media ethics since these have also been questioned in the Supreme Court’s short order in the Arsalan Iftikhar case. Till the outcome of this probe by the SC, a ceasefire is needed among anchors, journalists and TV channels. Furthermore, serious debate and introspection is required among all the stakeholders on the enforcement of a code of conduct and code of professional ethics.
Enforcement of the following code by all stakeholders can help the media regain its lost credibility and play a key role in rebuilding a democratic society in the long-run. 1) A journalist shall regard, as a grave professional offence, the acceptance of a bribe in any form (cash or gifts, tickets, plots, etc.) in consideration of either publication of an article or its suppression. 2) All associations of journalists, owners, editors and broadcasters should make it mandatory for all members to declare their assets every year. An accountability committee should be formed and those who don’t do this should be barred from contesting union elections. 3) Owners and editors must issue standard operating procedures that no one from their respective organisations will go on official tours on government or a private party’s expense. Editors or owners should not accompany the prime minister or president and instead should nominate reporters or anchors for such tours. 4) All unions must review their relationship with the government of the day particularly because of the tendency among governments to give members of press clubs plots. If we really think ourselves to be a mirror of society, we should behave and act like ordinary people. 5) News should not be suppressed or compromised based on commercial considerations. 6) Reporters should avoid expressing comment or conjecture as proven fact. 7) A journalist should always protect a confidential source of information. 8) A journalist shall ensure that any information he provides via his writings is fair, accurate and not subject to falsification or distortion. 9) A journalist should not distort or suppress the truth for commercial, institutional or other reasons. 10) The proprietor must not suppress a news report merely because of commercial considerations. 11) Journalists, editors or owners should never accept favours and bribes offered to influence their professional duties. 12) Journalists should aspire to be independent and this means that they should avoid being partisan. 13) To keep their record clean, all media bodies must invite independent audit companies for their annual audit and should then publish their financial reports for the information of the general public.
We — journalists, editors and owners — have a moral responsibility to prove that we really are society’s ‘mirror’.
Published In The Express Tribune, June 17th, 2012.
COMMENTS (10)
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I saw the contents of the conversation between Lucman & Meher with Riaz & saw nothing wrong since they needed to put their act together to cover the on going interview during the break. What else the public expected them to talk except the ongoing interview? We see too many conspiracies into everything. Both are highly regarded & honest journalists. The audiences need to grow up & become mature also instead of believing too much into conspiracies!
this is not happened first time but we have the example in the past and despite hue and cry, media person journalist unions, owners accepted government fund on annual basis, got air ticket to attend meetings and many more incentive. recently media owners accepted plot and there are many more example to be quoted.The new controversay remained under discussion for some time and then disappear becaous. malpractice, favortism, greed, merit voilation, exploitation and others ills have criplled our society and media persons are part of the same society. Any how Mr Mazhar Abbas pursuance be appreciated and this practice should continue.
These rules are several decades too old... you can't just copy and paste them without looking at their implications and the new questions that have been asked about them...
The Gaurdian, in the UK and The Hindu (basing itself on the former) have a code of conduct published on their websites. Something similar can be a good starting point
Mazhar sahab you wrote, "If we really think ourselves to be a mirror of society, we should behave and act like ordinary people" ---- well it seemed that is exactly what Mehr Bokhari + Mubashar Luqman did on that fateful interview with Malik Riaz.
Awesome.. We hope SC will take into consideration your suggestions and widens their scope of investigation. It is high we make things more Black and White rather then keep going on with all shades of Grey.
Few Black sheep have sabotaged long and hard work of hundreds and thousands of honest and brave people. Let just get rid of them and move forward in the hope of better Pakistan.
now since the cat is out of the bag look at these journalists running like headless chickens.
Nowhere have you mentioned about punishment for breaking this code of conduct, as such its just an exercise to defuse the charged atmosphere so matters can go on as before. Where accountability is taken as a joke, it is only the natural process of the public turning to those anchors whose names do not appear in this 'mess' for credible information. The good will always shine in the end and the bad will fall by the way side.
The only good that is coming out of this mess is the awareness that we need accountablility across the board for every institution.You have done the commendable job of coming forward and propsosing a first step in this direction. Can we expect other major institutions to do the same?. Moreover ,yes, you are the mirror of society, at the moment,i.e Corrupt!