analysis

press
freedom
of
in
Pakistan

Syed Abdul Siraj

Mass Communication, Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
E-mail: sasiraj99@yahoo.com.
Accepted 17 August, 2009

legal
and
constitutional
sixtydetrimental
years
of
history,
Pakistan
has
usually
faces
threats,
violence,
used
against
journalists.
Poor
are
factors
for
the
barricades,
one
can
now
easily
notice
broadcast
inFrontiers
Pakistan,
enabling
governments
including
the
military
say a
when
the
press
criticizes
the
for
about
nine
year,
press
was
Reporters
sans
the
year
2007.
However
the
new
freedom
ofsystem
the
press.
Pakistan
media.
INTRODUCTION
Quaid-e-Azam, the founder of Pakistan says I expect
press for complete fearless. regrettably, press in
Pakistan has been unsuccessful to appreciate the goal of
Quaid-e-Azam. Restriction to freedom of expression is
the culture of camouflage in bureaucracy (Pakistan Press
Foundation, 2006). Under the press and publication of
1988, print media particularly grew rapidly and so its
revenue. However it opened up the doors for yellow and
lifafa (Envelop) journalism. (Earning of unlawful money by
journalists). Despite all these menaces, Pakistans print
media are generally assumed among the most outspoken
in South Asia (Pakistan Press Foundation, 2006).
Waseem (2006) argues that t he increase of private
radio and television channels in the last few years has
ended domination of the state TV broadcast. Now media
have become pluralistic and many viewers in Pakistan
also watch international broadcast via a dish or cable.
Indian entertainment channels are very popular in
Pakistan. The multiple-channel broadcasting has set a
new trend in the Pakistani society by giving the users
more control over the communication process. Now there
is a shift from the centralized broadcasting to an open
competition broadcast system, enabling the audience
members to enjoy more power of selective exposure.
Waseem (2006) in this regard views the private channels
prefer to go by more newsworthiness of the events.
Private TV Channels and the cable TV have brought the
world closer to the domestic viewers, making them part of
the global village. Waseem (2006) argues that beside
threats and other restrictions, the private TV channels
and print media frequently condemn the government for
going against the spirit of the constitution, infringing
democratic values, price rises, unemployment, poverty,
worsening of the law and order situation. This changing
phenomenon has altered perception, thought and
behavior patterns of the Pakistani people towards the
constantly changing political, moral, religious and social
scenario of the country.
Religious and lower middle classes are criticizing some
of the private TV channels for western orientation in their

contents and immoral entertainment programs. In this

regard, Waseem (2006) says this concession to religious
elements tantamount to recognizing their social power
base. The newly elected democratic government of the
Pakistan people Party has promised for more democratic
and independence media regime. It would be interesting
to analyze how much tolerance the new government holds
to stand criticism of the enthusiastic private electronic media.
044
J. Media Commun. Stud.

MEDIA SOCIOLOGY OF PAKISTAN

There are approximately four million circulations of
newspapers in Pakistan. Among the Urdu press, Jang is
considered the largest newspaper followed by Nawa-eWaqt. Whereas, The News, Dawn and Business
Recorder are the English popular newspapers. Poor
literacy rates, urban orientation of the press, and the high
price of newspapers are the detrimental factors for the
low circulation. The circulation of newspapers per capita
in Pakistan is among the lowest in the world (Pakistan
Press foundation, 2006). There are about 160 million
populations in Pakistan with diverse ethnic groups and
languages. This diversity is also reflected in the
Pakistans media. Urdu newspapers have a broader
reach than the English-language papers (Official Pakistan
Government). The English papers are circulated among
the elite who are considered the opinion leaders. The
Urdu press is circulated among the masses. Urdu
newspapers usually include scandals, politics,
entertainments elements, religious items, etc. Since there
is shortage of the regional press in Pakistan, people
concerned of the rural areas are not highlighted mostly
(Pakistan Press foundation, 2006).
Major cities like Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore,
Rawalpindi and to some extent Peshawar get more news
coverage than the rest of the cities in the country. The
upper-middle class is over-represented than the middle
and lower middle class on TV. Some ethnic groups are
portrayed in a stereotype and prejudice way such as,
Pathan as Chokidar. Most often women are shown in
inferior capacity such as, male doctor with female
nurse. In commercials most often, women are portrayed
as sex objects. In the coverage of news, women portrayal
is subsequently less than men. According to Najam
(2007) the role of media in Pakistan has also been
lethargic in terms of improving the status of women.
Pakistan television (PTV) plays have a crosscutting
viewership, especially among women. However, plays

mostly revolve around formula-based story lines, which

cast women in either submissive roles or at the other
extreme as westernized glamour girls. The use of female
model in the advertisement is very common but the
model is not as sexy as shown in the Western countries.
One study has indicated that one-fourth of magazine
advertisements contain female models (Sarah, 2006).
Advertisement is the sole income of the press in
Pakistan. Big manufacturers and organizations have
considerable power to control the media content. They
can suppress public messages they do not like. Government of Pakistan is the bigger provider of advertisements (33%) to the media industry. Due to this factor,
media in Pakistan perform very little function of watch
dog journalism.
There are evidences that journalists/reporters are
making value statement about issues or about the
leadership's qualities and policies. Media give importance

to some people or group by portraying them frequently

and marginalizing others by ignoring them. Most of the
TV programs either film or dramas portray violent
behavior. Majority of news stories in print and electronic
media include violence and criminal acts. Most of the
violence media contents contain murder, fraud, drug,
terrorism etc. Reporting of various crimes has no
relationship to their relative frequency in the community.
The known people include politicians, political candidates, and ministers, leading federal and provincial
officials, alleged and actual violators of law. The unknown
who represent 5% of the coverage are strikers,
protestors, victims and rioters. The major topics of news
are Government conflicts and disagreements, Government decisions, proposals, ceremonies, protest violence,
crimes, scandals, disasters and investigations.
Media education is gaining grounds in Pakistan. There
are about 16 universities that offer media education. The
standard of existing media education in Pakistan is also
improving. 10 years before majority of the journalists in
electronic and print media were not journalism degree
holders. Now the situation is the other way round. Now
editors of the main stream media are demanding for
university media graduates. The education of journalist
has brought considerable change in the content presentation and sociology of the media in the country
(Shakeela, 2005).

STATUS OF PRESS FREEDOM IN PAKISTAN

This article mainly discusses the freedom of press in
Pakistan during the Pervez Musharraf regimes. Media
situation after the February 2008 election has greatly
been improved. Generally, Musharraf government
followed a more liberal policy towards the press with
fewer restrictions and much less manipulation. However,
situation on the ground was different. Authorities used
violent policy to silence critical voices in the media.
According to Adnan Rehmat and Matiullah (2005) no
moment has been dull in the past years for the media in
Pakistan, the gains and losses being dramatic in equal
measures. Adnan and Matiullah (2005) argue that
freedom of press in Pakistan shrunken in both print and
electronic media during Pervez Musharraf regime by
intimidating and harassing journalists. At numerous cases
press was barred from covering opposition, public events,
corruption and abuses of power by the public servants
and tribal areas where military was engaged in
operations against terrorists. There were censorships,
press advice, issuance of government's advertisement to
favorite media organizations, forcing off opposition
leader's interview on a private television channel, dozens
of reporters were beaten and arrested during the tussle
between the President's election and the Supreme Court
(Adnan and Matiullah, 2005).
Green Press Report (2006) highlights working in Pakistan

as an independent journalist is difficult and dangerous.

The deplorable press freedom condition can be noticed
from the facts that Daniel Pearl, Wall Street Journalist
was murdered, force was used against journalists who
were beaten and inurned in the protest for restoration of
Judiciary, popular private TV channels were banned
during the Emergency in November 2007 and PAMRA
used every means to cease criticism against government's policies on political issues and fight against
terrorism.
Sohail Iqbal (2007) documents comments of various
media experts on the Dec. 11 PEMRA's ordinance.
[Mazhar Abbas, Secretary General PFUJ, said it was
surprising that without mentioning names the PEMRA
issued warning to channels for violating its rules and went
to the [extend] of accusing them of inciting violence.
Sohail Iqbal says government wanted to impose
complete ban on television channels before elections or

convert majority of them into state control media. Talat

Hussain, director news, AAJ television, whose program
`Live with Talat' had been shut down on the orders of the
government, said that the government through PEMRA
is trying to create scare among the journalists so that
they resort to self-censorship. Hamid Mir, a senior
anchor and Executive Editor of GEO television, whose
program `Capital Talk' was forcibly shut down said it was
an attempt to sabotage the struggle and movement of the
press against black laws. He said the government as yet
has not been able to prove that the reporting by television
channels was damaging the interests of the State].
However, the new government of the Pakistan People
party has promised for maximum press freedom and
curtailing the strong hold of PEMRA on the private TV
channels and cable networks.
PAKISTAN
MAJOR
LAWS CURVING PRESS FREEDOM IN
In Pakistan there are laws which actually permit public
officials to decline to reveal information to the media. The
Official Secrets Act stands government officials cannot
pass information to the media without authorization.
Under the rules, no official can give information to the
journalists except the minister or secretary of any
ministry. The process as one might gather is quite
restricting. The Special Power entails that prejudicial
reports shall be punishable and the government shall
have the power to prohibit publication of newspapers or
periodicals containing prejudicial reports .The law directly
affects the fundamental right of freedom of expression
and human rights. Press and Publications Ordinance of
1997 require the printing press and newspapers to
register with the government for licensing.
However the government introduced a new press
controlling body Press and Publication Regulatory Authority' (PAPRA), which advocates for more replaced existSiraj
045

ing self-regulatory mechanisms. Pakistan Electronic

Media Regulatory Authority can stop any electronic
broadcast relating in the name of "vulgarity" Journalists
view the defamation act as replacement of the printing
and publication act. T he International Press Institute (IPI)
the PFUJ and APNEC have showed their dismay on new
defamation act. The Penal Code prescribes punishment
for offences committed within and beyond Pakistan which
endanger the national security, the public peace and the

public morale. The act also provides that spoken or

written words, visible representations do anything which
is likely to be prejudicial to the interests of the security of
Pakistan or public order or to the maintenance of friendly
relations of Pakistan with foreign states shall be
punishable. Many governments used this act as a tool to
control the media. Under the panel code procedure,
blasphemy is severely punishable, for example, on July 8
2003; a court in Peshawar convicted a journalist in a
blasphemy case and sentenced to life imprisonment with
heavy fine. He contributed a blasphemous letter in the
newspaper on 29 January 2001, which caused violent
protests. The Code of Criminal Procedure empowers the
government to stop media content having seditious or
promoting sectarianism and bad religious feeling in the
country.
Martial Law regimes in Pakistan have greatly damaged
freedom of press in Pakistan. All martial laws grimes
curtailed all sort of press freedom and human rights.
During the last eight years, a number of journalists have
been charged with allegations. Media organizations were
closed down. Journalist were physically assaulted,
intimidated, tortured, and arrested.
A survey of 100 working journalists of electronic media
of Rawalpindi and Islamabad was conducted to
investigate their perception about the prevailing media
condition and freedom of the press. Most of the questions
were relating to media sociology, press freedom, journalists' autonomy and benefits, present government and
press laws and ethics in Pakistan. Following table shows
journalists responses on press freedom (Table 1).
PAKISTAN
PROSPECTS
AND CHALLENGES TO MEDIA IN
Challenges
Mostly, government documents are labeled as confidential. Media are generally confined to big cities and
prominent people. Rural and poor people's problems are
usually ignored. Mostly, the print media rely on press
releases which are a reflective of publicity journalism.
Media owners keep journalists under their thumb by
giving them contractual appointment and low salaries
without benefits and allowances. Media owners are only
interested in profit making and therefore not in investigative journalism. A trend of cross media ownership

046

J. Media Commun. Stud.

Table 1. Journalists perception about press freedom in Pakistan.

1 Are you satisfied with the overall prevailing condition of media in
Pakistan? 22%
78%
2 Do you agree that media played an active role in election 2008? 70%
30%
3 Do you think implementations of the Wage Board Award can improve
journalists' efficiency? 75%
25%
4 Do you agree the journalists are involved in political slanting? 71%
29%
5 Do you agree that PPP coalition government can safeguard media
freedom? 15%
85%
6 Are you in favor of the existence of PEMRA? 18%
82%
7 Are you satisfied with the PEMRA new ordinance? 30%
70%

8 Do you think that press laws and ethics are roadblock to press freedom?
55%
45%
9 Do you think the present PPP government will shut down private TV
channel for criticizing the government? 56%
44%
10
Do you agree with the role of media unions in protecting journalists' rights
80%
20%
11
Are you satisfied with the cable TV operators in respecting norms of the
society? 27%
73%

is on the rise which is seriously affecting journalistic

liberty.
The state run radio and television are used as tool for
government's publicity. Government influences media
contents through official advertisements. 30 percent of
the advertisements being distributed to media are
controlled by the government through the Press
Information Department (PID). Government also controls
media content through allotment of plats in big cities to
senior journalists. Some time vocal journalists are given
appointments in government's offices/departments to
stop criticism. Since owners of media organizations are
interested only in making profit, and since development
stories are not profitable, therefore, they are found few
and far in both print and electronic media.
Low salaried to Journalist: journalists particularly of
media are paid low salary which makes them dishearten
and lethargic. Lack of proper media research also limits
media innovation. Audience low purchase power for
media offering discourages media development. Due to
lack of industrialization, there is little private commercial
for the media industry. There are also reports that
journalists are intimidated and killed while reporting on

terrorism. Journalists are also punished in the name of

sedition, disclosing official secrets, treason, and public
nuisance.
Prospects
Private TV channels are operating regionally and nationnally. Journalism education institutions are increasing.
Young universities' graduates, both male and female are
joining the media industries and replacing the non
qualified media workers. New technologies are taking
place in the media industry. The establishments of 50
private satellite TV channels have increased competition
for the state-run TV channel (PTV). A great number of
FM radios are also operating throughout the country.
People choices are now given due weightage in the
production of media contents. Cable TV channels and
videotapes give audience access to specialized programs
and material. The film industry in Pakistan is on the
decline. Viewers' turnout to cinemas is very low. Mostly
people watch Indian films. Besides, educated male and
female are not interested to show up in the film industry,
partially because of the fact that films in Pakistan are
produced with low budget and standard. The cinema
circuit in the country is too small to return the heavy
investment on production.
Conclusion
There is a mushrooming growth of print and electronic
media in Pakistan which provides all sort of social and
psychological gratification to the audience. However, this
proliferation of media is meaningless, particularly, when
there is an absence of access to information, and rules
and regulations controlling media freedom. Pakistans
print and electronic media are not pluralistic as they are
mostly restricted to the major cities and prominent
people. Mostly media contents are related to politicians,
political candidates, Ministers, leading federal and
provincial officials, alleged and actual violators. Only 5%
coverage relates to the unknown, these are strikers,
protestors, victims and rioters. Major topics in the media
include, Government conflicts, disagreements, decisions,
proposals, and ceremonies; protest, violence, crime,
scandal, disaster and investigations. The upper-middle
class is over-represented than the middle and lower
middle class. Some ethnic groups are portrayed in a
stereotypical and prejudiced manner. Most often women
are shown in inferior roles, for example, male is the
doctor and female is the nurse.

Successive governments expressed kind words for

freedom of the press but often turned their back when
things publish that irritate the ruling classes and
consequently the press is warned. The important fact that
makes Government dominant on the press self sufficiency
is the 33% of the Government advertisements, which are
always used as leverage to control media contents. This

leverage has considerably affected the watchdog

journalism phenomena in the country. The state run
broadcast TV and radio channels act as a propaganda
tool of the government and using their domination in
terrestrial and national radio frequency. Pakistans place
in the Reporters Sans Frontiers - Annual Worldwide
Press Freedom Index, is 152 out of a total of 167 for the
year 2007 is disgraceful for a country having nuclear
power and population of about 16 hundred million. Let
hope for the best from the newly Pakistan People's Party
to ensure a realistic freedom of the press in the country

INTRODUCTION Freedom of the press is very essential if the press has to play a
significant and constructive role in the life of a nation, especially in a democratic
society. Unless the press itself enjoys freedom, how can it become the defender
and protector of the rights and liberties of the citizens? A freedom press signifies
an open society where decisions are made according to democratic traditions
and not according to dictates of one person. The press can only perform its
sacred duties of the fourth estate if it is free and independent in reporting its
views and news. But like all other freedoms, freedom of the press should also not
be used as a license. It should not be misused to create a situation of the law of
the jungle. The press should observe certain self-imposed limitations on itself, so
that instead of publishing views detrimental to the interests of nation, it
strengthens the national unity, upholds the laws of the land and contributes
towards the emotional integration of the country. For example, howsoever free
the press may be, it cannot be allowed the freedom to call in question the
integrity of the judges of Courts High Courts and the Supreme Courts or to
defame them. It cannot be allowed the license to incite communal riots in the
country. No state can grant such unlimited freedom to the press by which law
and order in the country is endangered (Shahid, 1994). The primary purpose of
gathering and distributing news and opinions is to serve the general welfare by
information the people and enabling them to make judgments on the issues of
the time. Newspaper, who abuse the power of their professional role for selfish

motives or unworthy purposes are faithless to that public trust. Media should
respect the right of people involved in the news, observe the common standards
of decency and stand accountable to the public for the fairness and accuracy of
their news reports. Person publicly accused should be given the earliest
opportunity to respond. Pledges of confidentiality to news sources must be
honored at all costs, and therefore should not be
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leena-luna.co.jp P a g e | 307 given lightly. Christopher (1994) holds that unless
there is clear and pressing need to maintain confidences, sources of information
should be identified. The issue of ethics not only effects mass communication but
also everyone in public life. It seems that no institution or individual is exempted
from public concern about ethical breaches. Media ethics have long been a
subject of public discussion. Some experts are of the opinion that media can
operate within the ethical frame work. Most people disagree with this view,
however, they say that no media system can exist very long without public
confidence and that requires accurate, honest and believable communication.
According to Christopher (1997) it does not mean that media industries are
always reliable or all of them share the same values or ethical standard. A
WORLD ABOUT ETHICS The concept of ethics comes from the Greeks, who
divided the philosophical world into three parts. Aesthetics was the study of the
beautiful and how a person could analyze beauty without relying only subjective
evaluations. Epistemology was the study of knowing, debates about what
constitutes learning and what knows to the human mind. Ethics was the study of
what is good, both for the individual and for society. The Greeks were concerned
with the individual virtues of courage, justice, temperance, and wisdom, as well
as with societal virtues, such as freedom. Two thousand years later, ethics has
come to mean learning to make rational choices between what is good and bad,
what is morally justifiable action and what is not. Ethics also means
distinguishing among choices, all of which may be morally justifiable, but some
more than others. Rationality is the key word here, for the Greeks believed, and
modern philosophers affirm, that people should be able to explain their ethical
decision to others. The ability to explain ethical choices is an important one for
journalists. Aristotles Golden Mean Aristotle is through of by many scholars as
the founder of the communication discipline. A Greek biologist-and a tutor t
Alexander the Great-be believed that ethics had to do with inner character rather
than just over behaviors. Perhaps no concept in philosophy has been more widely
cited than Aristotles golden means. According to Aristotle, morality is to be
found in moderation. Aristotle views moral virtues as choices or modes of choice.
He considers each virtue as the mean, the middle path between two extremesexcess and deficiency (Tubbs, Mass, 2007). Aristotle, teaching in the fourth
century B.C., believed that happiness- which some scholars translate as
Flourishing- was the ultimate human good. By flourishing, Aristotle meant to
exercise Practical reason in the conduct of any particular activity through the
setting of high standards. Aristotle believed that practical reason was exercised
by individuals. The prenames, or person of practical wisdom, were that human
being who demonstrated ethical excellence through daily activity. Philip (1994)

has said that for Aristotle, the highest virtue was citizenship, and the highest
form of citizenship was exemplified by the statesman, a politician who exercised
so much practical wisdom in his daily activity that he elevated craft to art. Roy
(2004), a scholar, has said that journalists and other communicators are
constantly making ethical decisions beyond what is specially covered by policy or
law. Ethical issues include what kinds of topics to cover accuracy or truthfulness,
privacy for media subjects, fairness in presenting all sides of an issue. It also
includes what kind of messages to include ISSN: 2186-8492, ISSN: 2186-8484
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International, Oyama, Japan. Copyright 2013 in magazines, films, or television
and how to protect the confidentiality of sources. Laws, of course affect many of
these areas. Here we consider the ethical dimensions. Ethics implies the norms,
which a journalist must uphold and cherish in order to keep the integrity and the
sanctity of the profession intact. Journalists, like other citizens, are governed by
all the laws of the land. Shamsi (2010) says that in order to carry his message
effectively, and to maintain the credibility of his newspaper, a journalist has to
disseminate news and views in accordance with established norms and traditions
of the society. Some of the wellaccepted ethical norms are as follows. CONCEPT
OF ETHICS AND MORALITY Imagine, if there were no laws and ethics in the
World? What had happened? Can civilization and democracy, even life is possible
without codes, laws, or ethics? Certainly not. Right to know, freedom of
assembly, freedom of speech and freedom of the press are conditional. If laws
and ethics are for everyone, then, why not for journalists and media. Every
constitution of the world guarantees freedom of press and freedom of speech,
but conditionally. As a general field, ethics is the branch of philosophy that tries
to promote goodwill and good values as opposed to the mean-spirited or venal
behavior. Ethics are guidelines or moral rules about how professional
communicators should behave in situation where their activity may have
negative effects over others and laws do not dictate behavior. Some of these
guidelines are codes of ethical conduct explicitly created by professional
organizations. Some of them represent broad system of ethics prevailing in the
current society. To many commentators, media ethics really refers to journalistic
ethics, the moral conduct and behavior of journalists doing their work as news
gathers, editors, and disseminators of information for the larger society. They are
typically charged by their employers with producing reliable and believable
information. It is expected that such news and information are gathered under
scrupulously honest conditions and are checked along the way for accuracy
(Defluer and Denniss, 2004). Except for a small section of the press that thrives
on sensational coverage most of the newspapers and television channels are
giving coverage to the ills of society that reflects people desire for a better
future. According to Nawaz and Jan (2002) Member of McBride Commission
Badgon Osolink stated about code of ethics, professional ethics can not be
restricted to stating some principles and demanding that journalists respect
them. Constant effort is required to increase the number of occasions in which
free and responsible work can be carried out in the world of social
communication. According to the Johannesburg principles on National Security,

freedom of expression and access to information declaration, media

organizations must treat information not as commodity but as fundamental right
of the citizens. Hassan (2001) said that the media should exploit neither the
quality nor the substance of news or opinion for purpose of boosting readership
or audience figures in order to increase advertising revenue. The codes of ethics
may vary from country to country and society to society but all the codes have
similar articles and clauses to great extent. RESPONSIBILITIES OF JOURNALISTS
The press is no doubt an industry, a business, but with a difference. Journalists
have a social obligation; they must act with a profound sense of responsibility
towards the society. The responsibilities of a journalist are many and varied
which are discussed below.
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Social The social responsibility of journalists is of paramount importance.
Journalism is the mirror of society. He must, therefore, provide a truthful,
comprehensive, and intelligent account of the events in a context the gives
meaning. The press must serve as a forum for the exchange of comments and
criticism. Legal The publication of baseless, graceless and manipulated material
should be avoided at all costs in order to safeguard yourself and your
organization from the legal clutches. Defamation live wire on which a sensible
journalist dreads to tread. He must be well aware of the various laws relating to
the press. Professional Journalists have certain professional obligations to
shoulder and honour. His basic responsibility is to disseminate information in all
circumstances. The information provided helps the readers to make up their
minds on vital issues and thus shaping their attitudes. He is expected to have his
commitment to his profession and thus must strictly adhere to accepted
professional norms. He should know the limits within which to operate and must
keep his biases at bay. Let news not be distorted or suppressed. One of the most
important responsibilities of a professional journalist is to ensure that in hurry
and hast; accuracy in the language is not sacrificed (Shamsi, 2005).
FUNDAMENTALS OF MEDIA ETHICS A journalist must inform and comment on
matters of public interest, in a fair, accurate, unbiased and decent manner.
Verification and checking of news before publication is all the more necessary,
where its publication can create complications. Newspaper should not publish
anything, which is libelous against any individual or organization, unless they
have sufficient reason to believe that it is true and that its publication will be for
public good. Intrusion on the privacy of individuals is not permissible unless outweighed by genuine overriding public interest. Newspaper should eschew
suggestive guilt by association. They shouldnt name or identify the family of
associates of a person convicted or accused of a crime when they are totally
innocent. When any factual error is confirmed, the newspaper should published
the correction promptly, with due prominence and with an apology in a case of
serious lapse. Proper verification must be done before publishing reports
regarding communal clashes. The report should not vitiate the situation.
Sensational headings should be avoided. Headlines should conform to the
contents of news stories. They should be clear, unambiguous and authentic.
Obscene and vulgar items should be done away with as these offend the publics

good taste. In general, a newspaper should not identify a person with his caste,
religion or community. It may be derogatory to his caste, religion or community.
According to Hakemulder et. al (1998) If information is received from a source
confidentially, the confidence should be respected. It should be prerequisite for
each media professional to keep in mind some basic and common ethical values
while performing his/her duties. These are summed up as following. It is basically
information that tends to subject an individual or other entity, such as
corporation to public hatred, contempt or ridicule, involved a new factormultiplying of harm to ones reputation through widespread dissemination and
publication. It is usually found in two kinds; libel and slander. Written defamation
that tends to injure a persons reputation or good name or that diminishes the
esteem, respect or goodwill of a person. If defamatory statement is broadcast, it
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a g e Leena and Luna International, Oyama, Japan. Copyright 2013 considered
to be libel even though technically the words are not written. Some words are
always libelous like labeling a person as thief or a cheater. Words that seem
perfectly innocent in themselves in themselves can become libelous under
circumstances (Dominick , 2002). Blacks Law Dictionary defines right of privacy
as the right of a person to be free from unwarranted publicity. Lady Diana
always complained about medias interference in her privacy. Roy (2004) termed
invasion of privacy into four separate torts. a. Appropriation of one persons
name or likeness for the benefit or advantage of another. b. Intrusion upon an
Individuals physical solitude. c. Public disclosure of highly objectionable private
facts. d. Publicity which places an individual in a false light in the public eyes. It
is relatively new term that describes three traditional areas of law; trademarks,
patents and copyrights. Out of these three areas copyright has substantial
impact on mass communication. It can be slogan, design or even a distinctive
sound to identify and distinguish the goods or services of the manufacturers or
from those of others. The key characteristics are distinction and
identification. In patents, there is an exclusive control of owners, who can be
individuals or companies and can exercise to ensure that others can not market,
use or sell the work without consent of the owner. Patent usually have protection
for 17- years term, after which they pass to the public domain and can be used
marketed or sold to anyone without consent. According to Roy (2004) Copyright
laws arose as early as the 15th century in Europe with the development of
moveable type and mass printing. Its main purpose was to safeguard the
creative and literary work of the authors. There are two versions of copyright law
old copyright protection law 1909 and new copyright Act 1976. Generally,
obscenity refers to something in visual or literature treating obscene subjects,
anything you won't dare to be placed on the top of your self or to be watched
discreetly along with family. Every act which is considered bad, unfair and evil in
the society, such as adulteration, homosexuality, nakedness, theft, blaming,
drinking, beggary and all those acts which are shameful for individual under
moral implication of the society the individual is part of falls within the domain of
obscenity and vulgarity (Modoodi, 2000). Shahid (1994) said that obscenity is
regulated not only by legislation but perhaps more effectively by the written and

unwritten codes. All objectionable exposures in mass media, which are against
the social norms and values of the society and against the journalistic ethics,
such indecent material considered shameful in the society will be counted as
obscene and vulgar, should be shun by the media. Vulgarity and obscenity are
two identical terms when comes the usage of term referring to phenomenon
related to Media. CODE OF ETHICS AND MEDIA LAWS IN PAKISTAN In Pakistan
media ethics is unique as it illustrates how Islam tends to reshape the values and
ethics of society. The authoritarian regime of Field Marshal Ayub Khan
promulgated the restrictive Press and Publication Ordinance 1963. It was
replaced by a mild regulatory law, the Registration of Press and Publication
Ordinance of 1988 as a result of Federal Shariat court judgment on a petition,
which entailed examination of the already existing ordinance of 1963. Article 19
of the constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan besides guaranteeing to the
citizens freedom of the speech and expression, also guarantees freedom of the
press subject to reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interest of glory of
Islam, of the integrity,
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security and defence of Pakistan or any part thereof, friendly relations with
foreign states, public order decency or morality or in relation to contempt of
court defamation or incitement of any offence. The Newspaper Editors Council of
Pakistan was formed on May 22, 1993. Its aim and object includes safeguarding
the freedom of the press and working freely for healthy growth of journalism in
the country. The Council believes that duty of editors/journalists is to serve the
truth. It is also believed that the agencies of mass communication are carriers of
public discussions and information. The Press Council of Pakistan Ordinance 2002
was issued by the then President Pervez Musharraf, providing the establishment
of 19 members council with mandate to implement 17 points ethical code of
practice for the press. Majority of these points relate to the moral and ethical
values of journalistic profession. The council is empowered to constitute as many
inquiries commissions as may be necessary for the purpose of deciding
complaints within a stipulated time period Pakistan native independent
broadcast sector is only five years old. Until mid 2002, the countrys electronic
media was controlled heavily by the state. The military government of Pervez
Musharraf, promulgated PEMRA Ordinance 2002. Its main objective was to open
up broadcast sector for private ownership. It was promulgated for regulating the
establishment and operation of all the broadcasters and cable television stations
in Pakistan established for the purpose. The freedom of information ordinance
introduced in 2002 contains some positive features acknowledging citizens right
to know. However the 21st day time frame for the release of information and
inclusion of courts and tribunals, among those require disclosing information mar
its true spirit. Large amounts of information are also not subject to disclosure
under the ordinance, largely undermining the publics right to know. Instead of
applying to all records held by public bodies, the ordinance provides a, restrictive
list of public records subject to disclosure. There have been growing demands by
the members of the press to amend the ordinance and pass a legislation that
obliges the government to provide access to all forms of information, except

those which are specifically restricted. There have been some developments in
respecting the right to freedom opinion and expression in South Asia but the
progress is severely restricted by laws which give the state the right to protect
information and discourage open discourse on religious issues. An atmosphere of
intolerance in south Asia discourages free expression or opinion. Laws based on
security mist be reviewed in a world where information can be received through
electronic media or internet. It is essential to draw some minimum guide lines to
make the right to information effective. According to PEMRA ordinance 2002, the
Authority has mandated to: 1) improve the standards of information, education
and entertainment, 2) Enlarge the choice available to the people of Pakistan, I
the media, 3) Facilitate the devolution of responsibility and power to the
grassroots by improving the access of the people to mass media at the local and
community level, and 4) Ensure accountability transparency and good
governance by optimizing the free flow of information. The law lays down
stringent and subjective pre-condition for eligibility of a license says a
broadcaster or CTV operator issued a license under this ordinance must, among
others, guarantee the following: a) Respect the sovereignty, security and
integrity of Pakistan, b) Respect the national, cultural social and religious values
and the principles of public policy as enshrined in the constitution, and b) Ensure
that programs and advertisements do not encourage violence, terrorism racial
ethnic or religious discrimination, sectarianism extremism militancy or hatred or
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International, Oyama, Japan. Copyright 2013 commonly accepted standards of
decency. The electronic media regulatory authority ordinance is also arbitrary
and in violation of the international standard for a free flows of information and
retains the infamous system of licensing without defining eligibility in
unambiguous terms. The obligation imposed on private television channels to
telecast programs mandated by the authority appears to be a device to
commission them for official propaganda the ordinance is also silent on the
decades old and persistent public demand for freeing Pakistan broadcasting
corporation and Pakistan television corporation of official control and shows little
respect or concern for views, needs and taste of Pakistans pluralist society.
CONCLUSION As evident from the meaning, Laws and ethics try to promote good
will and always appeal the conscience of journalists to shun mean-spirited
attitude. All media men should refrain from causing damage to reputation of a
person or an institution. The issue of media ethics is too broad and no unified
field on media ethics offers rules or standards that apply to all media fields.
Ethics is simply a matter of personal integrity. Ethics simply means that people
should not tell lie, steal, cheat or commit other antisocial acts. Ethics is doing
what is right but the problem is that right is defined differently by several
people. The essential aspect in relations to the behavior of journalists is their
image of the public. There is some basic principle of journalists that media
professionals should abide by these principles in performing of their duties.