Though mass media was flourishing in Pakistan the country was still among most unsafe states for journalists to work in.

Denmark’s Ambassador to Pakistan Jesper Mollar Sorensen made these remarks while presiding over the inaugural session of the 2nd ‘Transforming Youth Media Summit’ on Saturday.

The envoy said that some 110 journalists had lost their lives in the line of duty in Pakistan in the last 10 years, meaning that almost one journalist was losing his life every month while 11 journalists were being killed every year.

He said the sorry state of affairs for media personnel was persisting despite the situation that mass media scene of the country had witnessed a phenomenal growth in over the last 10 years.

Sorensen said that during the decade the number of TV channels had grown to 100 from merely one, the number of FM radio stations had increased to 150 from a single one, while almost 2,000 newspapers were being printed in the country in 11 languages.

The diplomat added that given the risks and problems being faced by journalists in the country, the government of Denmark had recently launched a media support programme in Pakistan in collaboration with the non-government sector at a cost of $2.8 million while the total assistance of Denmark to the country stood at $50 million.

Sorensen said the Denmark’s media support programme would be utilised for strengthening the role of Pakistani media in support of a democratic and pluralistic society and a publicly accountable and representative system of governance in the country. “The two-year assistance programme would also be helpful for proposing and adopting a consensus code of ethics for the entire Pakistani media while it would be used for improving skills and safety of journalists working at district and local levels especially for regional languages’ media.”

The ambassador noted that in the past decade, the emergence of a vibrant media scene in Pakistan had played a crucial role in evolving socioeconomic and political discourse for the larger benefit of society and public. But, he maintained, media workers, especially those employed in the provinces, were often untrained and underpaid. “In addition to these challenges, threats and violent attacks against journalists continued in Pakistan.”

Sorensen noted that Pakistani youth and media combining together would become a highly influential force, which could be used for bringing improvement to society and public affairs to a great extent.

He said the Danish government would also provide support to improve working conditions, provision of due privileges, safety and security to the media personnel in Pakistan while the media of the country should also be equally supportive to strengthening the democratic order.

Also speaking on the occasion, former information minister Javed Jabbar said the media commission appointed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan some years back had given some 40 proposals for improving and upgrading the functioning of the mass media in the country.

He said one of the important proposals was that the ministries of information and information technology should be merged together, besides the proposed merging of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for proper regulation of the mainstream, conventional, modern and technologically advanced mass media.

He told the audience that the information ministry had expressed its willingness to accept the majority of the proposals given by the media commission.

Jabbar said that no doubt the media scene of Pakistan had flourished but the progress was not much public-friendly as at present there was no genuine public interest broadcaster in the country, which could be completely free of government’s interference. “While also at the same time such ideal media outlet should not be fully dependent upon advertisements for its financing needs.”

The former minister said that there was need to change the revenue model of Pakistani private TV channels as they were fully dependent upon revenue generation through advertisements while fee paid by the subscribers was pocketed by cable operators and no share of it was given to private TV channels.

Noted TV artist Durdana Butt viewed that there could be no democracy in the country without responsibility, and urged the private TV channels to show more responsibility in their conduct and content while covering public interest matters.

The News

The post Challenges to media despite its phenomenal growth highlighted appeared first on Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF).

“I want to make it very clear that the US government strongly support your efforts to provide the people of Pakistan with credible and informed analysis of Pakistan’s democratic future. Pakistanis are calling for transparent, free, and fair elections as the nation moves towards the first peaceful transition to civilian power in Pakistan’s history. As journalists, you will play a central role in that transformative moment,” Richard Olson said this while addressing to the opening ceremony of the US-Pakistan Professional Partnership in Journalism “Alumni Media Summit” on Thursday organised by International Center of Journalists in collaboration with US Embassy Islamabad.

He said that the US government invests nearly $30 million annually in exchange programs with Pakistanis. More than 1,000 Pakistanis participate in various high school, undergraduate, graduate, and professional US-sponsored exchange programs each year.

The US Ambassador said that the relationship between the people of the United States and the people of Pakistan is strong. Much of this is due to many people-to-people connections, we have established with Pakistanis like you, he said.

He added that the US-Pakistan Professional Partnership in Journalism Program creates understanding and builds bridges between our two countries through people-to-people connections. He said that more than 70 journalists from various TV, radio, and print outlets across Pakistan gathered in Islamabad for a three-day media summit. He said that the journalists are alumni of a US government-funded exchange program known as the “US-Pakistan Professional Partnership in Journalism.”

The US Ambassador said while addressing the summit, “first, you learn about the United States by experiencing it first-hand. You work side-by-side with American journalists in news organisations across America. You come away with new ideas for reporting in Pakistan based on your experience in US newsrooms, he said.

Richard Olson said that second, Americans learn from you and during your time in the United States, you teach Americans about Pakistani politics, society, and culture. You are the Pakistan ‘expert” for your American friends and colleagues, he said. He said that third, American journalists learn about Pakistan by exchange visits like the group we have here tonight from the United States. Through their interaction with you and other Pakistanis, they develop a much better understanding and appreciation of the people and the issues, he said.

“Finally, you develop your journalism skills. During this conference you will learn from American and Pakistani experts in the field, and they will learn from you. While addressing the opening session of “Alumni Media Summit” Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting said that the foreign media particularly western media should portray true picture of Pakistan. He said that foreign media is not highlighting true picture about Pakistan. “I have great confidence and I am thankful to foreign media persons who came here to have the real picture of Pakistan, he said.

He said that most of the society of Pakistan is enlightened and moderate. Few elements are hard-liners who are a friction of the society. Pakistan is fighting against terrorism and it is big victim of the menace. “You go back and tell the real picture of Pakistan and Islam to the world. Islam gives the message of peace and love. The people of Pakistan want peace,” he added.

The Minister said, “We have different cultures and values. But there is need to understand and respect the values of each other. We should see in-depth the culture of each country. “The Minister said that democracy is flourishing in Pakistan and first time a democratic government would transfer its power to other democratic government after holding free, fair and transparent elections. “We are in transition period. The PPP-Government will hold free, fair and transparent elections in the country,” he said.
He said that we are in favour of freedom of speech, expression and media. Media of Pakistan is flourishing. The media should set precedent of responsibility and ownership. He further said that the ups and down have come in Pak-US relations. He said that people to people contact would strengthen the Pak-US relations. We have to work together and no country can isolate us from rest of the world.

Pakistan Press Foundation