Media as it is commonly seen as
an emerging power, now-a-days has already been entered in an environment of
conflicts and allegations in Pakistan.
Allegations or more clearly should I say, the charges of irresponsibility.
Though media is playing a
positive role at many places, but at the same time it has many negative aspects
too, due to which we are seeing a societal deterioration now-a-days. Day by
day, month by month and year to year the societal norms are changing to the
extent that we are forgetting our past. Some changes are good, but some of them
are devastating for us and for our generations to come.
Following are some briefly
described traits of media, due to which the norms & the values of our
society are changing rapidly.
1) Openness of Media:
It is what we
can see as an emerging demand of today’s media i.e. freedom of speech. But,
does it mean that there should be no supervisory authority or cultural boundary
or some kind of media violation policy for them. Is it what it means that they
are free to show everything without taking care of people’s beliefs and
culture? Is it what is all about freedom of speech? If yes, then we should say
“NO” to it. We should reject it and wake up the authorities in that case. Some
examples are as follows:
i.
A week earlier, we all heard and some of us
experienced strange incident on three of Country’s leading channels i.e. GEO,
ARY and SAMAA TV. All theses channels has played a Qawwali based on Hazrat Ali
(R.A) and Hazrat Fatima (R.A) nikah ceremony for three of the worldly couples,
which is a disrespect to those religious deities and a heartfelt emotional
& spiritual disturbance for all the Muslims living here and around the
world. Now, being a citizen of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, shouldn’t they act
responsibly in that matter? Shouldn’t they be aware of their socio-ethical
responsibility?
ii.
Then another example is that we are seeing
censorable content freely on our television screens which is very embarrassing
and devastating, especially when we are sitting with our family. Like ads of
condoms, hair removing creams, feminine sanitary pads and etc. Also, obscene
language is being spoken in some of our TV Shows today. Like Kiran Khan (Model)
said on Shaista Wahidi’s morning show “Hum larkiyan na hoti toh larkon ki pyas
kaun bhujata”, Mathira (Model & Actress) spilling obscenity all around the
TV. Apna Channel showing bikini shoots of Indian models. Hum TV and other
channels showing dramas with too bold stories openly like “Muhabbat Jaye Bhar
Main”, “Ishq Hamari Galiyon Main”, “Main Deewani”, “Bashar Momin”, “Hum Thehray
Gunahgar”, “Kitni Girhain Baqi Hain”, “Shab-E-Zindagi”, “Bunty I Love You”,
“Zip – Bus Chup” and a lot more. Urdu 1 and Geo Kahani showing Turkish dramas
which are an open devastation for our culture. Actresses wearing too bold
dresses challenging openly our culture to death. Though some of the shows on
different channels are subjective and brought a good societal change like
“Zindagi Gulzar Hai”, “Humsafar”, “Dhuwan (PTV)”, “Alpha, Bravo, Charlie”,
“Dhoop Kinare”, “Hasb-e-Haal”, “50/50”, “Zaviya (Ashfaq Ahmad Sb)”, “Kaho
Pakistan” and many others.
If this is all
freedom of speech and authorities like PEMRA, Islamic Ideology Council &
Government is not up to any action against them. Then we should change the name
of Pakistan,
tune out our channels & tune in western channels and kick out our culture
to adopt westernization which is already gifted with sexual abuses, lower
marital rate, old age homes hence less family life and greater lonely life.
2) Rationality of Media:
Though media is
strengthening day by day, but the rationality of its content is getting a bit
questionable. Because, either it is at too much height or either it is too much
shadowy, both of which makes it deviating. For example, in TV Dramas, the story
sometimes shows too much negativity, like in commonly seen family conflicts;
which makes it unrealistic.
Similarly, in
this period of social & national turmoil, media should produce development
programmes at national level to reduce this societal upheaval e.g. Master Chef,
Britain Got Talent, The Apprentice, Tour Guide of Pakistan, Kasuti
(Intellectual Quiz Program) and etc. Some programs are already in procession
like Master Chef, but there should be more of these programs.
Instead of all
this, we are having singing & dancing shows; though it is an industry with
full of talent, but we are strongly in need of those professionals & intellects
through whom we can bring an industrial revolution for industries far more
important than the performing arts.
Then as for the
News Channels, it is being irrational of them to speak only about Geo’s
mistake, where as ARY & SAMAA did the same and therefore they should also
be condemned with Geo. It should be noted here that Team Geo has already
apologized for their Qawwali act, where as ARY & SAMAA Teams did not have
shown any apology, instead they are part of those who are puking at Geo’s act,
which shows a complete irrationality on their part. Also, please be mindful
here that it is not about defending Geo, but to realize Media’s role in playing
with our minds showing only one side of picture to make us believe it as a
whole picture.
3) Balance of Communication:
The most
important thing for a socio-ethical media is its balanced communication i.e.
neutrality of media, its personnel’s and obviously its content, especially for
a journalist.
Despite of its
affiliations, it should be able to point out wrongs & rights of a subject
which is being observed by them, even if its affiliated member has some errors
in it.
More precisely,
what I meant here is that a TV Host or journalist should present both sides of
picture without any further emphasis on any single side. For example; we have
seen TV Shows on freedom of education in which TV anchors present a picture
giving an idea of a deprived society; whereas there are so many educational
reforms running all across Pakistan like “Teach for Pakistan”, “Danish School”,
“Read Foundation”, “Agha Khan Rural Support Programme” & etc.
Another example
is when TV Shows sometimes present a picture in which people of some specified
area are not given their rights; like commonly shown issue of Baluchistan.
Whereas they have been blessed with Sui Gas & further they are having
royalty from government. Also, they have the priceless Gwadar Port & City.
Then they have fish exports (Shark Fins), Makran
Coastal Highway, Recodec (The Treasure Chest),
Coal Power Projects, Juniper Forest of Ziarat (One of the World’s Oldest), great
tourist spots and many other things.
Then another
example is when on TV screens and in other media channels suppression of women
is shown at height, whereas now-a-days much of the work is already done on
women empowerment and for that girls are given equal rights in education, in
serving the country through defense forces and civil & private service.
One more
example is, when on TV screens we are seeing news of Bomb Blasts and right on
the next channel there is a fashion show or some kind of fun making show
killing our humanity & our socio-ethical norms. This shows how unbalanced
our media is and how less socio-ethically responsible it is.
The last
example is when TV Anchors probe people (politicians, analysts, actors &
actresses and/or civilians) or societal issues. One such program in my memory
is that where an Investigative Journalist is probing an issue of a price hike
in Khairpur by pointing out some vegetables like Tomatoes & Onions. Whereas
if we probe the reality, we will came to know that both of the vegetables are
not grown in Khairpur and therefore they’ve been transported from other cities.
This obviously adds up the transportation cost including labor, fuel &
packing costs. That is why these vegetables get on a price hike and similarly
this goes on with other things too. One of the main factors behind this price
hike is the increasing price hike of fuel, which has not been probed by these
media channels, hence resulting in an unbalanced medium of communication.
This is all I got to say this time
and being a common man, the whole of this article is written in somewhat layman
style. Hope the theme and context of this article will be focused more than its
wording by the readers.
May we all be blessed in all ways always. Ameen Sumameen
