Malik M. Ashraf<\/p>\n
It is rightly said that press (media) and a nation rise and fall to\u00adgether. The media as a fourth pillar of the state and represent\u00ading the society is supposed to maintain its pluralistic hue wed\u00added to the cause of defending the social values, human liberties and freedoms that are indispensable for the socio-econom\u00adic development of the society besides playing its educative role on issues of crucial national interest in an indepen\u00addent and impartial manner. The media is also required to promote and defend democracy as its own freedom is reinforced in a democratic set up. This is how it can play an effective role in the rise of a nation.
\nJudged on the touchstone of the foregoing, the media landscape in Pakistan presents a very dismal picture. While it zealously tends to maintain and protect its freedom, it is not show\u00ading the sense of social responsibility that goes with the freedom of expression. The media like the political polarization in the country has also become highly polarized. The conduct of the media dur\u00ading the present political turmoil in the country and run up to the elections clearly manifests that phenomenon. Some channels have been persistently engaged in tarnishing the image of the leader\u00adship of a particular party and dishing out unauthentic information about alleged corruption and some have been promoting the nar\u00adrative of the vested interests. Mutual rivalries between channels and media groups going beyond fair competition in the market of ideas and their descending into the realm of degrading dispositions towards each other are also a contributing factor to the overall irre\u00adsponsible behavior of the media. The new entrant to the media mix, the social media, has played a very dirty role in spreading false\u00adhood, fabricated news to malign political opponents and even deni\u00adgrating the state institutions. Reportedly the government has iden\u00adtified 500 social media accounts which were engaged in trolling the judges of the apex court, particularly the CJ. The social media is also being used to mislead the youth in regards to national issues. It has gone on un-checked with all the negative consequences.
\nThe constitutional provision for freedom of expression and me\u00addia is in consonance with the internationally recognized role of the states to regulate all the entities within its territorial limits in such a way that they contribute to the strengthening of the state, its ideo\u00adlogical moorings, national interests and the moral values of the so\u00adciety with a view to promote peace and tranquility in the country. In fact there is no concept of unbridled media freedom in the world and rightly so. The Social Responsibility Theory propounded by Dr. Robert Maynard Hutchison, Vice Chancellor of Chicago University who headed Hutchison Commission formed in US in 1942 to make recommendations on the freedom of expression and media\u2019s obliga\u00adtions towards the society— in the backdrop of growing calls by the US public for government intervention to check the indiscretions of the media and attempts by the media to avoid incisive government regulation— remarked \u201cfreedom comes with responsibility:
\nThe report of the Commission submitted in 1947, is regarded as the Magna Carte of the modern concept of freedom of expression and media\u2019s responsibilities towards the society. It unequivocally emphasized the need for media to provide accurate, truthful and comprehensive account of events, act as a forum for exchange of comment and criticism, present and clarify goals and values of the society and make sure that it projects a representative picture of the constituent groups of the society. The media can defend its free\u00addom and play its defined role only when it acts with responsibility. Nevertheless it is an irrefutable reality that the government has a constitutional duty to ensure that all the entities operating with the boundaries of the state, including media do not cross the Rubican.
\nOne would like the media to self-regulate itself in a manner that while playing its role as a watch-dog against the government, it also serves the cause of the society and the state by maintaining its pluralistic disposition. In the run-up to elections, post-election scenario it must exhibit greater sense of social responsibility in\u00adstead of playing a partisan role and being part of propaganda of the vested interests, specific political groups and parties. It needs to present realistic and truthful picture of the unfolding scenario to the public. The media owes it to the nation and itself. The incum\u00adbent government will also have to make sure that the media enjoys freedom of expression within the parameters of the internationally recognized ethical and professional codes of conduct and the social media is also regulated properly.<\/p>\n
The writer is a freelance columnist. He can be reached at ashpak10@gmail.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Malik M. Ashraf It is rightly said that press (media) and a nation rise and fall to\u00adgether. The media as a fourth pillar of the state and represent\u00ading the society is supposed to maintain its pluralistic hue wed\u00added to the cause of defending the social values, human liberties and freedoms that are indispensable for the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[3489],"class_list":{"0":"post-383334","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-article","7":"tag-malik-m-ashraf"},"yoast_head":"\n