News channels need to follow self-censorship, with only that news broadcast which is not damaging to national interest
ISLAMABAD: We have been trained to remain glued to our television screens, listening to the latest breaking news and their repeat telecasts. This is how the new liberated electronic media is making business and we, the public, are their clients. Sometimes, news anchors and the participants in their programmes sit and discuss particular news items, often in an argumentative mood and fight over the details, often verbally insulting one another. The audience often has to digest all this bickering for the sake of being informed. Many of these anchor persons are highly reputed and are valued for their analysis and the research they have done. However, other opinion-makers are simply clueless about the real issue and keep discussing unimportant details.
Often, destruction and torture from the world over is shown in national news bulletins. The psychological effects of these images and dialogues are so stressful and saddening that now, healthy and normal people are experiencing symptoms of mental and physical stress. Repeating stories of disaster and tragedy with all their gory details every 15 to 30 minutes on all the news channels creates panic and causes a lot of uncertainty, which causes anxiety among the people. People are now visiting their doctors more often with complaints of high blood pressure, anxiety, insomnia, tension and panic attacks. Repeatedly watching disturbing and worrying news and panicking about the uncertainties the future holds in light of the present crisis is the main reason for this stressful lifestyle.
There is a negative trend in most news channels to cover all national news and tragedies to the utmost detail so much so that they end up intruding the privacy of victims, as well as the criminals and offenders, to the very extreme. The government and media authorities should introduce and implement rules about the extent to which a news item can be publicised and how much intrusion should be allowed in the public and private lives of individuals.
Often, national tragedies and crime reports are explained in extreme detail and no thought is lent to the fact that certain aspects are harmful for the international image of our country. Since Pakistani news channels are viewed internationally, it is necessary to limit the extent to which national news and analysis are exhibited to the international audience. If we look at international news channels and their anchors, their views and discussions never degrade their particular governments, societies or individuals.
People themselves need to break the habit of excessive television viewership over the day and try to spend time with family, friends and colleagues to chat and relax. Television has taken over the habit of socialising among people. Friends don’t meet for months despite living in the same city or even the same area. Instead, they will sit in front of the television at various times of the day and worry over the news that is being broadcast on news channels. Young children watch the same programmes that their older family members are watching, which is not always healthy.
News channels need to follow a system of self-censorship, with only those news items being broadcast which are not damaging to the national interest and do not convey a negative image of the country internationally. This negative trend has to be controlled and people must broaden their interests towards positive literature and healthy hobbies rather than following news channels all the time.
Qurratulain Fatima
Published in The Express Tribune, February 7th, 2014.
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