| Once upon a time an emperor had a dream at night. | | | | media highlights only some aspects of the news while |
| He asked his ministers “what does this dream | | | | some are kept hidden. And even those some aspects |
| mean?” One his ministers said “My lord your | | | | are presented out of the context. Half truth is even |
| whole family will die before your death”. The | | | | more dangerous than a lie. Sometimes the statements |
| emperor got angry and sentenced his minister to | | | | of certain political leader is given preference and |
| death. Another minister said” My lord you will have | | | | published on main pages or broadcasted repeatedly. |
| a longer life than your relatives”. The emperor was | | | | And the idea is injected in the people that particular |
| very happy to hear this and rewarded that minister. By | | | | leader is popular and most of the people support him. |
| narrating this story I want to explain that by telling the | | | | Previously we have experienced how a certain |
| same fact in a different way changes its impact and | | | | fundamentalist religious group was highlighted in this |
| listener’s reaction also changes accordingly. This | | | | way. |
| principle is applied by the international propaganda | | | | Keeping in view all these aspects |
| machinery of super powers and media is used to do | | | | of media the western governments have taken |
| the brain washing of the people – especially of the | | | | preventive measures. For example there are laws that |
| third world countries. | | | | keep check on media’s foreign relations and its |
| Today when we have hundreds | | | | political affiliations. News that is conflicting with the |
| of TV and radio channels, newspapers and magazine | | | | national interests is not published. Scenes of violence |
| so in this bombardment of news common people can | | | | and injuries are avoided to broadcast. But over here in |
| not get to the conclusion. It’s a dilemma of the third | | | | Pakistan beheaded corpses are shown on the TV |
| world that western media is considered to be the | | | | screens. Seeing this foreign investors and businessmen |
| standard and trustworthy. And the local media is either | | | | will soon flee from Pakistan. |
| dominated by the establishment or mostly such people | | | | In this scenario we must also take |
| are managing them that have no vision of national | | | | notice of the role of immature media of Pakistan. |
| interest in the regional context. In this scenario if the | | | | It’s a fact that the government owned media is not |
| local media launch campaign for their selfish interests it | | | | impartial and people don’t trust it. There for there |
| can make the situation worse for the government. | | | | was always a need of free and impartial media in |
| To get rid of such situations in the | | | | Pakistan. But when in Musharaf period media was |
| third world, it is essential that the young generation | | | | given a free hand so at that time it was the |
| must be politically conscious, they must know the | | | | responsibility of the government to make certain rules |
| national interest and they must have the power of | | | | for it. Most of the channels are owned by the people |
| analysis of news. To understand the role of media and | | | | who are purely capitalistic in nature and their sole |
| how to set apart facts and rumors, it is necessary that | | | | purpose is making money. Now it is very easy for |
| one must know how media works, how it is financed | | | | international agencies to pressurize them using ads of |
| and what factors influence it. Some channels are | | | | multinational companies. And their headquarters are out |
| sponsored by the government like PTV of Pakistan | | | | side the country so if government wants to apply |
| and BBC of UK. Mainly these organizations are given | | | | some rules on them, they can run their channels from |
| funds by collecting license fee from the public. But | | | | abroad. |
| private media is mainly run by advertisements. The | | | | Secondly our people are illiterate |
| companies which give ads to these channels or | | | | and those who are literate, are not politically aware of |
| newspapers, decide according to the rating of any | | | | the consequences of uncontrolled media. As our |
| particular channel. Higher rating means higher viewer | | | | political parties are not organized from with in and they |
| ship or readership and eventually higher rates of | | | | don’t have strong roots in the people so public can |
| advertisements. | | | | be very easily misguided by the media. Besides this in |
| As most of these private media | | | | Pakistan there is no journalistic culture and ideology |
| groups are run on commercial basis so there are | | | | and the journalisms departments of universities just |
| always chances of conflict between national interest | | | | teach journalistic techniques. There must be some |
| and their vested interests. That’s why International | | | | subjects in the curriculum of journalism that can guide |
| intelligence agencies may give them incentives to mold | | | | the students ideologically. |
| the public opinion in a certain direction. These incentives | | | | By telling these facts it is not my |
| are not given directly but in shape of ads of | | | | wish to oppose free journalism in Pakistan. But instead |
| multinational companies. | | | | of unbound media we need strong, independent and |
| As I have mentioned in the | | | | politically conscious media that does not make |
| beginning that it is not necessary to publish or | | | | suspense of the news. Our journalists must realize that |
| broadcast lies but even facts can be presented in | | | | what is our national interest and what are the |
| such a way that the desired results are achieved. | | | | negativities to stay apart from regional players. |
| There are dozens of examples where media was | | | | Government should make a code of conduct for the |
| used to destabilize the governments, rebellions were | | | | media that can bind the media to have headquarters |
| engineered and election results are changed. BBC | | | | inside the country and there should be check on their |
| played an active part against Sokarno government in | | | | external funding. The media should promote those |
| Indonesia and to block the way for socialism. | | | | leaders which can present the humanitarian aspect of |
| Propaganda against Jamal Abdul Nasir, separation of | | | | the religion. Media must disclose those names that |
| East Timor, division of Yugoslavia and the so-called | | | | have exploited the youth of Pakistan and Afghanistan |
| American sponsored Afghan Jihad; all are the miracles | | | | in Jihad era. Because for decades we journalists have |
| of media. | | | | exploited our people for popular journalism and fame. |
| To mold public opinion some times | | | | |