Geo, Dunya establish codes of conduct
“Who will watch the watchmen?”
A question frequently asked by media persons, columnists and the general public.
Instead of waiting for an answer and debating endlessly over the issue, some media companies have decided to introduce their own codes of conduct, a means to ensure transparency and to better monitor their anchors and content.
Both Dunya News and Geo News recently released their codes of conduct. While Dunya has formally adopted their code, Geo will wait for viewer feedback till August 1 and formally adopt their code on August 14.
Geo’s extensive code of conduct is called ‘Geo Asool’. It ranges from general guidelines on the company’s goals to procedures on how the company is going to implement the code.
The first section of ‘Geo Asool’, there are four, focues on the company's goals, values, and what they call likes and dislikes. This section is detailed and clarifies their overall stance on neutrality, transperancy and biases.
The rest of the sections are:
- Best practices: an extensive guide on coverage of different topics and issues.
- TeamGeo Ethical Journalism Handbook: A guide for employees of the group, defining where they draw the line on different issues.
- Monitoring & Implementation Procedure: This section focuses on the company's internal procedures on the implementation of the guidelines.
Dunya’s code of conducted is strictly limited to its anchors.
It serves as a guide for what anchors can and cannot do and what the objectives of their shows are.
The code’s implementation will be monitored by a three member board.
The Express Tribune has its own Code of Ethics which can be viewed here.
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@Complex: Yes, and how does your this statement, " The only thing Pakistani channels/radio/newspapers/newswebsites need to control is vulgarity/nudity." relate to what Chomsky is talking about the media. You might want to go back and re-read Prof. Chomsky and try to grasp the basic premise of what he seems to be talking about.
They should first pay their outstanding taxes which is in billions of rupee
@Uza Syed: "Noam Chomsky, one of the most respected political analyst and activist, in his book Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media analysed media's role in democratic societies in shaping opinions and perception of public- in the interest of influential corporations and political parties. We have to realise Media groups are NOT non profit social service organisations. Media Groups are businesses, and at the end of the day all that matters are profits. That is why and how they exist. And therefore they will protect interests of those who bring in the most profits - and in their case these are the large corporations, political parties with big pockets and secret agencies - both local and foreign - distributing their funds. "
You still don't know what goes in Media and how it works. At the end they need a morally bankrupt society which can never stand for Morals.
We need to make a strong group of viewers representing different schools of thoughts who should be able to take the private TV channels programs and anchors at task.
The group of viewers will define the "Asools" for the private TV channels and not by the TV channels alone.
Evolution is a part of every Institution until it becomes credible. In Europe still media is going through this phase and for our newly born media it is a good thing that their evolutionary phase started earlier and hopefully it will will produce good results in future.
Topi drama
How about these for Geo's code of conduct: 1. Geo will not let profits and viewership numbers overlook its responsibility for maintaining a high standard of ethics and honesty. Any anchor who has been tainted with allegations of bigotry, hate speech, profane language, bribe, or corruption will be fully investigated before allowing them to use Geo platform again. The results of such investigations will be shared with the general public before restoring such anchors. (In case of Aamir Liaquat Hussain, the results of the previous investigations into his previous leaked video, his blasphemy of the sahaba, and his bigotry and incitement leading to murders have not been shared with the general public) 2. Geo will not use honorifics (like "Doctor") etc for any anchor who is not Medical or internationally recognized PhD doctor. Case in point it should IMMEDIATELY stop calling Dr. Aamir Liaquat Hussain as "Doctor" unless his PhD is proven to be from a genuine university after doing years of research. 3. Geo will not let the platform of its religious programs be used for politics or for denigrating any race, religion, sect country, or ethnicity, or for hate mongering in general. 4. Geo will only allow qualified religious scholars who hold demonstrable religious qualifications conduct religious programs. 5. Geo will not allow its talk shows and religious programs become mouthpieces of the right or the left, or become platforms to preach the anchor's own view of the world and Islam. Instead, anchors role will be limited to a moderator and they will always (as much as possible) have both points of view.
@Complex: "vulgarity/nudity" ---- where? Which channel and what show, I mean what you got in your fantasies can't be controlled---or?
PUBLICITY STUNT
First and foremost clause of code of conduct should apply on anchors conducting shows on different TV channels. Some anchors of Dunya channel are really biased and defend the Government even on its inept actions.
et should also establish it's code of conduct et seriously needs it..
The only thing Pakistani channels/radio/newspapers/newswebsites need to control is vulgarity/nudity. Its being promoted in every freaking drama, talk show, song, ad etc.
Who is going to enforce the code of conduct? They themselves? Right, that’ll happen.
Any chance of introducing penalty against those going against codes of conduct or else it's just a topi drama?!