ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday issued notices to respondents in a case regarding legislation for the protection of journalists’ rights.

Chief Justice Aamer Farooq heard the cases filed by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), and Islamabad High Court Journalists Association (IHCJA).

At the outset of the hearing, the chief justice asked whether there was any progress regarding legislation for the protection of journalists’ rights as the Implementation Tribunal for Newspaper Employees (ITNE) chairman had been making efforts in that regard.

Umar Ijaz Gilani Advocate informed the court that the draft bill had been sent to the Information Ministry.

On this, the chief justice remarked that the ITNE was working for the rights of newspapers’ employees and even its chairman had also prepared a draft bill in that regard.

He observed that he could not understand the laws related to newspapers. The lawyer said the ITNE comprised only a chairman and now the concept of members and benches was also being introduced.

CJ Aamer Farooq said the government should realize the things and even it was better if the Parliament passed the legislation in that regard.

To a court’s query, anchorperson Hamid Mir said he was in favour of the legislation for the journalists of electronic media. Former IHC chief justice Athar Minallah had given him an assignment regarding the “cross-media”, and he had submitted written suggestions in that regard.

The chief justice remarked that there was also an issue of non-payment of journalists’ salaries. The journalists had to make multiple visits to tribunals for even small amounts (owed by their employers), he noted.

Hamid Mir said many journalists even did not have written job proofs. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) had been authorized in the law to protect the rights of journalists, he added.

The chief justice said whether there could be any resistance on the matter. Hamid Mir replied that it was possible that the association of media owners might create hurdles in it.

The court asked whether the incumbent government wanted to introduce such legislation. No government should have any objection as it was not a political matter, he added.

The court then issued notices to respondents and adjourned of the case till February 6.

Source: Pakistan Today

The post Islamabad High Court (IHC) issues notices in journalists’ legislation case first appeared on Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF).

BAJAUR: A jirga succeeded to resolve a dispute between local journalists and the staff of district headquarters hospital Khar here on Thursday.

The jirga comprised of local MNA, political leaders figures and officials of the district administration held several meetings with both the parties to resolve the issue.

The local journalists alleged that medical superintendent Dr Liqat Khan along with other staffers thrashed a local reporter, Zahid Jan, when he was busy in coverage of a protest demonstration at the hospital.

The protest was held on November 26 against delay in postmortem of two PPP workers, who were shot dead by unidentified persons in Salarzai tehsil on the same day.

The management of the hospital and journalists had announced to register cases against each other. However, the jirga persuaded them to resolve the issue amicably.

A ceremony in this regard was held at the house of Khar neighbourhood council chairman and leader of JUI-F Anwar Hussain. Besides JI local leader Qari Abdul Majeed, PPP’s Aurangzeb and officials, the ceremony was attended by jirga members, led by MNA Gul Zafar Khan, Khar tehsil council chairman and JUI-F deputy district chief Haji Said Badshah and assistant commissioner Hamza Zahoor.

The jirga members expressed their pleasure over amicable resolution of the issue. They said that a conflict between the management of district headquarters hospital and local journalists was a matter of serious concerns for them as it could affect the residents of the entire district.

Source: Dawn

The post Bajaur jirga resolves dispute between medics, journalists first appeared on Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF).

Journalism is a profession full of challenges, and choosing it as a career means one has to be really ready to face occupational hazards and threats regularly. Reporting an issue in society is not a crime and this is the duty of every citizen. But when journalists report something, especially wrongdoings of some powerful elements in society, they often make enemies more than friends.

Feudal lords and white-collar criminals become a threat to them. If a journalist is reporting an issue related to a school, the owners of the school by using their wealth try to suppress it. If a crime or malpractice of a politician is reported, there are repercussions aplenty.

A journalist from Kumb city in Khairpur Mirs district was shot dead earlier this year. A local police officer was accused along with three other suspects in the case. The suspects were arrested, but the officer was not. Interestingly, the cause of murder is still unknown.

This is what happens regularly in many areas and justice is not provided to the victims’ families. We have also seen some veteran journalists being attacked in the past.

Journalists strive to point out the ills of society and this is what their job entails. There is nothing wrong with that, but in our country, politicians and moneyed people feel insecure whenever they are questioned and held accountable because they are fearful of a probe into their wrongdoings.

No one quite knows what led to the killing of Arshad Sharif in Kenya, but there is enough floating in the air to have the matter investigated thoroughly. It is good to know that the government has already formed a team to investigate the matter.

Having said that, such inquiries are reserved for only the well-known names. Journalists doing their professional assignments in the more lethal and dangerous environment of rural Pakistan face threats as a matter of routine, but hardly anybody comes to their rescue or help. Even their deaths go unnoticed just because they don’t happen to be famous.

Providing protection to its citizens is the duty of the state. That being so, the security of all journalists must be ensured, or there may not be anyone left to project the voice of the oppressed and the victimised.

Source: Dawn News

The post Journalists’ safety first appeared on Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF).

KARACHI: Office bearers of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) have urged the owners of media houses to ensure safety of their workers, both journalists and non journalists, increasingly inflicted with COVID-19.

In a joint statement on Monday, President PFUJ, Shahzada Zulfiqar and Secretary General, Nasir Zaidi have urged the owners of both the print and electronic media setups to take upon themselves the responsibilities towards prevention of the viral infection, with significant morbidity besides mortality rates.

Reiterating that rapid increase in the cases of infection among media workers is being noticed that two senior activists said proprietors of the media houses must urgently arrange safety kits for their workers besides ensuring standard operating procedures for prevention of COVID-19 to be strictly implemented at places of work managed by them.

Newspaper: Urdu Point

The Lahore Press Club (LPC) body has demanded the government ensure special look after of senior journalist, Shahid Ali Farrukh, who has been admitted to the Punjab Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI) after being declared a COVID-19 positive by doctors

LAHORE, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 8th May, 2020 ) :The Lahore Press Club (LPC) body has demanded the government ensure special look after of senior journalist, Shahid Ali Farrukh, who has been admitted to the Punjab Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI) after being declared a COVID-19 positive by doctors.

LPC President Arshad Ansari demanded formation of a medical board to look after the journalist. He said that more than 40 media workers had been infected with COVID-19 so far and admitted to different hospitals of the city.

He said the government should fulfill its promise of providing special healthcare facilities to the media workers suffering from coronavirus besides financial support to them.

Newspaper: Urdu Point

پاکستان پریس فاوٗنڈیشن (پی پی ایف)نے پاکستان میں میڈیا کی حفاظت اورآزادی صحافت 2019-2020کی عالمی آزادی صحافت پر رپورٹ جاری کردی ہے

پاکستان میں میڈیا COVID-19سے رونما نئے اور سخت امتحان میں اپنی ذمہ داری نبھارہاہے۔ملک میں اس وبا کے پھوٹنے سےلے کر اب تک دو صحافی جاں بحق ہوئے اور کم از کم 38کا ٹیسٹ مثبت آیا۔

پاکستان پریس فاوٗنڈیشن (پی پی ایف) کی “میڈیا کی حفاظت اور آزادی صحافت پر رپورٹ2019-2020“آزادی صحافت کے عالمی دن 3مئی کو جاری  رپورٹ میں COVID-19سے پاکستانی میڈیا کے لیے پیدا شدہ تشویشناک صورتحال  کے جائزہ میں بتایا گیا ہے کہزیادہ تر میڈیا اداروں اور حکومت نے میڈیا کارکنان کے بچاوٗ کے لیے خاطر خواہ اقدامات نہیں کئے اور نہ ہی ذاتی تحفظ کے آلات پرسنل پروٹیکٹیو ایکوپمنٹ(پی پی ای) کا بر وقت بندوبست کیا گیا

رپورٹ میں پاکستان کی میڈیا تنظیموں پاکستان براڈکاسٹرز ایسوسیشن(پی بی اے)،آل پاکستان نیوز پیپرسوسائٹی(اے پی این ایس)اور کونسل آف پاکستان نیوز پیپرز ایڈیٹرز(سی پی این ای)سے درخواست کی  گئی کہ وہ میڈیا کارکنان  کی دوران کوریج کورونا وائرس اپنے بچاوٗ  کی تدابیر اختیار کریں اور اپنے تنظیموں کے ممبران کوان تدابیر پر عمل پیرا ہونے کی خود نگرانی کریں۔پی پی ایف  نےحکومت پر بھی زور دیا کہ وہ میڈیا کارکنان کی حفاظت کو یقینی بنائے۔

میڈیا کارکنان میں مثبت کیسوں کی بڑھتی ہوئی تعداد تشویشناک ہے جس سےظاہر ہوتا ہے کہ میڈیا کارکنان کے بچاوٗاور وائرس سے ان کی حفاظت کے لیے ضروری احتیاطی تدابیر اختیار نہیں کی گئیں۔اگرچہ اب تک کم از کم 38میڈیا کارکنان کے اس وبا سے متاثر ہونے کی تصدیق ہوئی ہے لیکن اصل تعداد بہت زیادہ ہوسکتی ہے کیونکہ ابھی بہت کم تعداد میں ٹیسٹ ہوئے ہیں۔

میڈیا کارکنان کوحفاظت کی فراہمی کے ساتھ کرونا وائرس نے میڈیا کے لیے نئے امتحانات کھڑے کیے،جیسے اس وبا کی رپورٹنگ کیسے کرنی ہے کہ صحیح اور درست خبریں فراہم ہو سکیں چونکہ سوشل میڈیا پر جعلی خبریں  اور من گھڑت افواہیں پھیلائی جارہی ہیں،وائرس پر درست اعدادوشماردینا اور حکومتی دعوئوں سے میڈیا کی درست رپورٹنگ کو چھپانے کا انسداد کرنا اور اس کے ساتھ وائرس کی وجہ سےجس نے تقریباَ پوری دنیا کو کسی نہ کسی صورت میں لاک ڈاوٗن کرنے پر مجبور کر دیا ہے،اس کے معاشی اور مالی نقصانات  کی تفصیل فراہم کرنا۔

پی پی ایٖف کی  رپورٹ میں حکومتی حلقوں کو تجویز دی گئی ہے کہ وہ ان حالات میں درست معلومات کی فراھمی کی ضرورت کو سمجھے،اظہاررائے کی آزادی کے حق کو مانے اور پیشہ ورانہ ذمہ داریوں کی انجام دہی کے دوران گرفتارکئے گئے صحافیوں کو رہا کرے۔

پاکستان میں،  جہاں آزادی صحافت کی تاریخ ناتواں رہی ہے، پی پی ایف کی رپورٹ میں سال2019-20کے دوران اظہار رائے کی آزادی پر بڑھتی بندشوں، آزادی صحافت اور صحافیوں کی حفاظت  سے منسلکعوامل پر مفصل روشنی ڈالی گئی ہے۔

جنوری 2019سے اپریل 2020کے دوران پاکستان میں صحافی بڑھتی ہوئی پابندیوں میں اپنی ذمہ داریا ں نبھاتے رہے اور پابندیاں عائد کرنےوالوں کا کوئی احتساب ہوتا نظر نہیں آیا۔میڈیا کی ساکھ متاثر کرنے کے لیے صحافیوں کو نشانہ بنانے سے لے کر میڈیا اداروں پر دباوٗ ڈالنے کے لیے معاشی بندھنوں  تک مختلف ہتھکنڈے آزمائے گئے۔

یہ سال میڈیا کے لیے سخت امتحانات لایا جب میڈیا COVID-19کی وبا کی کوریج کررہاہے۔دنیا کے دوسرے ممالک کی طرح پاکستانی میڈیا کو بھی ملک میں اس وبا کے پھیلاوٗ کی کوریج کے لیے نئے طریقے استعمال کرنے پڑے۔

صحافیوں کو اپنے کام کی وجہ سے مختلف مقامات پر غیض وغضب کاسامنا کرنا پڑا اور جسمانی تشدد کا نشانہ بنایا گیا،دو مختلف واقعات میں دو صحافی پیشہ ورانہ ذمہ داریاں نبھاتے ہوئے جاں بحق ہوئے۔رواں سال ایک اور واقعے میں ایک صحافی کو اغوا کرکے ڈرایا دھمکایاگیا۔ایک دوسرے موقعے پر ایک صحافی کے گھر پر چھاپہ ماراگیا اور مایہ ناز لکھاری محمد حنیف کی اردو کتاب چھاپنے والے ایک پبلشنگ ہاوٗس پر چھاپہ ماراگیا۔

جسمانی تشدد اور دھمکیوں کے ساتھ صحافیوں کو ذاتی طور پر اور آن لائن بھی خوفزدہ کیا گیا ۔یہ دھمکیاں اہم مناصب پر براجمان افراد کی جانب سے دی گئیں جس کی وجہ سے صحافیوں اور میڈیا اداروں پر دباوٗ بڑھا ۔ نتیجتا میڈیا گروپ خود ساختہ سینسر شپ پر چلے جاتے ہیں۔یہ دھمکیاں اور ہراسانی اب آن لائن سوشل میڈیا پلیٹ فارم تک پہنچ چکی ہیں جہاں پر میڈیا کے کردار کو نشانہ بنا یا جارہاہے۔ٹویٹر پر میڈیا کے خلاف اکثر اوقات ٹرینڈ چل رہے ہوتے ہیں۔

پی پی ایف کی رپورٹ کے مطابقکم سے کم پانچ صحافیوں کو گرفتار کیا گیا ۔میڈیا کے ہائی پروفائل کیس میں جنگ اور جیو میڈیا گروپ کے چیف ایڈیٹر میر شکیل الرحمان کو 12مارچ2020,کو گرفتار کیا گیا۔میر شکیل الرحمان کو قومی احتساب بیورو(نیب) کی جانب سے 34سال پہلے رہائشی پراپرٹی  کی خریداری میں مبینہبے ضابطگیوں کے الزام میں گرفتار کیا گیا،لیکن اس سے آزادی صحافت کے بارے میں سوال اٹھتے ہیں اور یہ ملک کے سب سے بڑے میڈیا گروپ کو دباوٗ میں لانے کا ایک ذریعہ نظر آتاہے۔مقامی اور بین الاقوامی درخواستوں کے باوجود شکیل الرحمان سلاخوں کے پیچھے ہیں۔

پی پی ایف کی رپورٹ مطابق صحافییوں کے لئے جو ان پرخطر حالات میں اپنے فرئض ذمہ داری کے ساتھ نبھارہے ہیں ۔برسر اقتدار پاکستان تحریک انصاف(پی ٹی آئی)کی حکومت کی سخت پالیسیوں اور مخالفانہ بیان بازی کی وجہ سے مزید مشکلات پیداکردی گئیں،اورانھوں نے 2019میں میڈیا کوریج کو غداری سے تشبیہہ دے دی۔باوجود اس کے کہ وزیر اعظم عمران خان پاکستان میں آزادی صحافت پر قدغنوں کو مذاق کہہ کر مسترد کرتے ہیں،حکومت کی پالیسیاں اور تجاویز جن میں میڈیا عدالتیں اور سوشل میڈیا کے قوانین شامل ہیں،اس موقف کو تقویت پہنچاتے ہیں  کہ میڈیا کی خودمختاری کو کنٹرول کیا جارہاہے۔

اس دوران پاکستان الیکٹرانک میڈیا ریگولیٹری اتھارٹی(پیمرا)کی جانب سے کئی بار میڈیا کے لیے ایسی“تجاویز” بھی پیش کیگئیں جس کا مقصد یہ طےکرناہے کہ میڈیا کیا رپورٹ کرسکتا ہے اور کیسی رپورٹنگ ناقابل قبول ہوگی۔اس دوران کئی ایسے مواقع  بھی آئے کہ ایسےٹی وی چینل یا ٹاک شو کی نشریات روک دی گئیں جس میں اپوزیشن پارٹیوں کے سیاستدان مثلاسابق صدر آصف علی زرداری اور پاکستان مسلم لیگ نواز(پی ایم ایل-ن)کی نائب صدر مریم نواز کےانٹرویو کئے جارہے تھے۔ 

پی پی ایف کی رپورٹ  کے مطابق جنوری 2019اور اپریل 2020کے دوران سوشل میڈیا کو کنٹرول کرنے کے لیے کئی ایسی تجاویز دی گئیں۔جس کے بعد سوشل میڈیا کمپنیوں نے پاکستا ن کو چھوڑنے کی دھمکیاں دیں اور آن لائن اظہار رائے کی آزادی کی ایک سنگین مثال بنی۔

ایسے ماحول میں جہاں پاکستان کےصحافی حکومتی اور دیگر سرکاری عہدیداروں  کے دبائوکا شکار ہیں اور اکثر اوقات اپنے کام کی وجہ سے زبانی اورجسمانی طور پر ہراساں کئے جاتے ہیں،اس طرح کےواقعات پاکستان میں آزادی صحافت اور صحافیوں کی حفاظت کا ایک تاریک پہلو پیش کرتے ہیں.

مکمل رپورٹ اس لنک پر دستیاب ہے:

https://www.pakistanpressfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/پاکستان-میں-میڈیا-کی-حفاظت-اور-آزادی-صحافت.pdf

This year, the media in Pakistan, is operating under a new and challenging environment created by the spread of COVID-19. Since the spread of the pandemic in the country, two journalists have died and at least 38 media workers have tested positive.This year, the media in Pakistan, is operating under a new and challenging environment created by the spread of COVID-19. Since the spread of the pandemic in the country, two journalists have died and at least 38 media workers have tested positive.This year, the media in Pakistan, is operating under a new and challenging environment created by the spread of COVID-19. Since the spread of the pandemic in the country, two journalists have died and at least 38 media workers have tested positive.
 
Pakistan Press Foundation’s (PPF) “Report on Media Safety and Press Freedom in 2019-2020” released to commemorate the World Press Freedom Day on May 3, has detailed the alarming situation surrounding COVID-19 created for the Pakistani media.
 
According to the report most media organisations as well as the government have not ensured the effective implementation of safety protocols nor the timely provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) to media workers.
 
A key recommendation of the report is calling on Pakistan’s media associations including the Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), The All Pakistan Newspaper Society (APNS) and Council of Pakistan Newspaper Society (CPNE) to develop detailed workable guidelines for all media workers on how to cover the coronavirus safely and to monitor their implementation by their member organisations.PPF has also urged the government to provide support to the media in ensuring the safety of media workers.
 
The number of positive cases amongst media workers is an alarming trend that reflects a lapse in the implementation of the necessary measures to ensure the safety of media workers and prevent their exposure to the virus. While at least 38 cases have been confirmed in media workers, the actual figures could be much higher as only a small fraction have been tested for the virus. 
 
In addition to the protection of media workers, the coronavirus has also created new challenges for the media on how to cover the pandemic, ensuring accurate information as fake news is circulated on social media platforms, making sense of data on the virus and government rhetoric that undermines media coverage as well as the financial setback created by the virus, which has send much of the world in some form of lockdown.
 
The report also recommends that all levels of government recognise the need for free flow of information during this time, respect the right to freedom of expression and to release all journalists who have been arrested for their work.
 
The report also discusses factors surrounding press freedom and the safety of journalists in Pakistan during 2019-20 that has seen an increased muzzling of the freedom of expression in a country that has an already weak track record on press freedom.
 
Between January 2019 and April 2020, journalists in Pakistan worked under increasing restrictions with little accountability of those who limit freedom of expression, continue to target journalists and aim to discredit the work of the media through a range of tools from attacking journalists to placing financial constraints on media outlets as a pressure tactic.
 
Journalists have come under fire for their work in various arenas and have faced physical assault, including in two instances deaths of journalists due to their work. In at least one instance this year, a journalist was briefly abducted and harassed. In another instance, the house of a journalist was raided and a publishing house printing one of renowned writer Muhammad Hanif’s books in Urdu was raided.
 
In addition to physical acts of violence and intimidation, journalists have faced threats, both in person and online. These threats have been issued by individuals in positions of power which leads to an increased pressure on the journalists and their media organisations and can lead to self-censorship. The threats and harassment journalists experience has extended online on social media platforms, where the media has been subjected to smear campaigns. Trends against the media are often trending on Twitter.
 
There have also been at least five arrests of journalists. The most high-profile case of a media personnel arrested is the arrest of the Jang and Geo Media Group Editor in Chief Mir Shakil ur Rehman on March 12, 2020.  Rehman was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) irregularities in the purchase of his residential property 34 years earlier, however, it raised concerns about press freedom and appeared to be an attempt to pressurise the largest media group in the country. Despite numerous local and international calls for his release, Rehman remains behind bars.
 
This already high-risk environment which journalists operate under has been further made difficult by the policies and rhetoric of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, which in 2019 likened critical media coverage to treason. While Prime Minister Imran Khan dismissed curbs on press freedom in Pakistan as a “joke”, the policies and proposals of the government including media courts and social media regulations, indicate a control over the autonomy of the media.
 
Meanwhile, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has on numerous instances provided “advice” to the media which creates controls on what the media can cover and what could be unacceptable. During this time period, on numerous occasions, television channels or shows have been removed from air during interviews with opposition politicians including, former president Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz.
 
Between January 2019 and April 2020, there have been proposals to regulate social media content. This led to various social media companies threatening to leave Pakistan and creating a grim picture for the opportunity for free expression online.
 
An environment where journalists are the target of government and other officials’ scorn and are often threatened for their work — both verbally and physically — creates a bleak picture for press freedom and the safety of journalists in Pakistan.
 
The complete report is available at https://www.pakistanpressfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Media-safety-and-press-freedom-in-Pakistan-2019-2020.pdf

In a statement issued on Monday, she demanded the government take immediate and concrete measures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all journalists. She said that provision of protective gear [personal protective equipment] to journalists must be a top priority of the government. She expressed disappointment over the government inability to announce interest-free loans for the media industry so that the workers’ salaries could be paid on time.

The government has also not provided any relief package for journalists, she added. The former information minister also extended her condolences over the death of former APP employee Rashid Bhatti from coronavirus. She said it should set alarm bells ringing in all government ranks. She urged Imran Khan to focus his mind and energies on the raging pandemic in the country instead of pursuing his petty, vengeful political agenda. She said instead of ranting all day and night against Shahbaz Sharif, he must get worried over the fact that doctors and journalists were dying across the country because the government had failed to protect them with appropriate gear. Marriyum said it was not time for politics but to do anything and everything to save lives and livelihoods of people of Pakistan.

Newspaper: The News

Many media workers have been infected with COVID-19 while working in the field, without any safety measures.

Pakistan is one of several countries where journalists are risking their lives to report on the pandemic, with little or no protective equipment. Journalists working in newsrooms, sitting side by side close to each other without any social distancing

The Pakistani government is the sole provider of personal safety equipment and says it will soon start providing it to journalists nationwide.

Al Jazeera’s Sara Khairat reports.

Newspaper: Al-Jazeera

LAHORE: At least three journalists, associated with two private media houses based, have contracted coronavirus, Anadolu Agency reported on Wednesday.

All three, whose names have not been disclosed, are based in Lahore.

Mohsin Naqvi, chief executive officer (CEO) of one of the two media groups in question, confirmed the development and said: “We are investigating the possibility of further infected individuals by tests and have quarantined few staff members. We have and will continue to assure that all precautions possible are taken.”

Meanwhile, All Pakistan Newspaper Employees Confederation (APNEC) Chairman Siddique Anzar claimed three more reporters, two in Punjab and one in Karachi, were infected of the virus that emerged in China last December.

Anzar also lamented the lack of safety kits for beat reporters.

“Most of the reporters covering hospitals asked me for safety kits. After our request to the federal government, they have taken up the responsibility for the treatment of only those reporters and their families who have tested positive,” Anzar told Anadolu Agency.

He said reporters from smaller towns such as Dera Ismail Khan and Larkana, besides being ill-equipped, were also facing financial difficulties because of delays in salaries.

Pakistan is amongst the worst-hit countries in South Asia where the number of affected people is close to 1000, with seven reported deaths. Some 18 patients have recovered so far, according to government numbers. While the Centre is reluctant to impose a national lockdown citing potential economic fallout of such a decision, provinces and administrative units are going under strict lockdowns with the latest being Balochistan.

While staffers in digital newsrooms have been asked to work from home, TV reporters have to be out in the field to cover the situation.

Sibte Hassan, a Karachi-based reporter for another private media house, said: “Channels are demanding extensive coverage of this issue… we have to give live hits in every headline and bulletin but they haven’t provided us with any safety kits. I am roaming around in hospitals… I got my safety kit on my own, but many of the field reporters cannot even afford these.”

Apart from the above-mentioned issues, media houses are also decrying unpaid advertisement dues by the federal government “for long”.

According to senior journalist Hamid Mir: “I have even used safety kits in war zones that were very heavy but for corona, it is very light… hand gloves, masks, plastic capes, and sanitisers. We have demanded the government to pay the overdue bills of media houses that are around Rs6 billion so that their staff can get through this lockdown and take care of themselves.”

After Sindh, Punjab announced a lockdown on Sunday, closing everything except essential services such as hospitals, grocery stores and pharmacies.

The global death toll from the virus has exceeded 17,000, with 398,000 cases confirmed worldwide.

In the face of the pandemic, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), an international organization that is aimed at safeguarding the right to freedom of information, has called on media executives in Pakistan to “temporarily close their bureaux for the sake of the health of their staff”.

“… we ask all of the country’s media executives and owners to put their reporters’ health first and not send large numbers of them into the field,” said Daniel Bastard, the head of RSF’s Asia-Pacific desk, adding: “Everything must be put in place so that they can work from home and avoid any potential source of infection.”

Newspaper: Pakistan Today , Related link: The News