Abstract
“Who will watch the watchdog” This praise became popular in Pakistan when Geo, one of Pakistan's most-watched television news channels in Pakistan, has many times violated codes of ethics that were proposed by Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) (Pakistan Voice, 2012, p. 2-6). Media plays an important role in our daily lives, as its basic function is to inform, educate and entertain. Today?s world media is getting more and more power because it plays a role of watchdog on politicians, governments, judiciary and our actions and can quickly inform masses and disseminate information across the globe. Therefore, freedom of media is very essential if it plays a constructive and significant role for people living in a democratic country like Pakistan. But if the press itself is not free then how can it play a constructive role or can raise voice for the rights of the citizens. Edmund Burkey (1787) stated that media is the fourth-pillar of the state. He termed it fourth-pillar because of its constructive role in our lives, the press or media can only perform its sacred duties of the fourth estate if it is free and independent in covering different aspects of life, whether it is politics, education, health, religion, war zone or any other important topics. Most importantly, it is only possible if the job is done professionally, ethically and with full responsibility.
Highlights
“Who will watch the watchdog” This praise became popular in Pakistan when Geo, one of Pakistan's most-watched television news channels in Pakistan, has many times violated codes of ethics that were proposed by Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA)
This paper aims to deal with one analytical major question that up to what extent Pakistan‟s television channels are violating these basic codes of ethics that are truthfulness, fairness, accuracy and accountability? This research paper is an initiative to briefly, precisely and clearly define and analyze the practice of basic codes of ethics with recent examples from the most popular Pakistani news channels including Geo News, Express News and Samma News
My intro will be followed by conceptual framework: social responsibility theory, a brief introduction to code of ethics, media landscape of Pakistan, emergence of electronic media after 9/11, analysis of media in light of these codes of ethics that are truthfulness, accuracy, fairness, objectivity and minimize harm followed by analysis of Pakistani news channels in light of proposed ethics of PEMRA
Summary
“Who will watch the watchdog” This praise became popular in Pakistan when Geo, one of Pakistan's most-watched television news channels in Pakistan, has many times violated codes of ethics that were proposed by Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA). He termed it fourth-pillar because of its constructive role in our lives, the press or media can only perform its sacred duties of the fourth estate if it is free and independent in covering different aspects of life, whether it is politics, education, health, religion, war zone or any other important topics Most importantly, it is only possible if the job is done professionally, ethically and with full responsibility. In the first section the focus shifts towards the conceptual framework of social responsibility theory and its main components, while the second section clearly define and analyze on ground situation of electronic media in Pakistan and implementation of basic codes of ethics with recent examples from top Pakistan’s news channels i.e. Geo News, Express News and Samma News. This theory makes journalists and TV channels accountable for their actions if it harms society in any form
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