National media conference: Speakers call for politicians and media to join hands

Emergence of common man as the new power centre was also highlighted at the event.

KARACHI:

The real spirit of democracy demands that the political leadership and the media should work together for public good and not bicker and belittle each other.

This was stated by the speakers at the fourth national media conference ‘Media, Elections 2013 and New Democratic Government’ organised by the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (Fuaast) in collaboration with the US Consulate.

The speakers said that the media should be objective in its criticism and must not allow itself to be turned into a commercial entity. The journalists have to keep their interests subordinate to those of the society and must devise a code of ethics for themselves and implement it.

The media industry has come a long way and emerged as a real force. While previously politicians could summon the media to their headquarters to seek explanations, the tables have turned and now the politicians have to give explanations to the media.



They lamented the fact that media houses kept mum over the killing of their journalists instead of raising their voice to protect their commercial interests. The speakers also pointed out that lack of deep research has come to characterise our media and our journalists do not go after investigative stories. As a result, burning issues such as growing militancy, the implications of youth bulge and unoccupied Afghanistan are not given due coverage and stories on dressing sense and makeup of new women parliamentarians make the headlines.

Speaking on the recently concluded elections, they said that it still remains to be seen if they would bring any meaningful change. They said, however, that the along with the usual power centres, the voter has emerged as an important stakeholder this time around and proved that democracy is indeed the best revenge. They said it is becoming increasingly difficult to hoodwink the common man now and this silent revolution has also forced the establishment to give room to the civil institution.

FUUAST vice chancellor Dr Zafar Iqbal, I.A.Rehman from Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and US Karachi consul general Corina Sanders were among the speakers.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 5^th, 2013.