Battle of the airwaves

It seems that not an entire month can pass by without Pemra coming in news for issuing notices. This time, on Friday, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) issued notices to four private television channels alleging that they were "being irresponsible and provoking anti-national sentiments" with their coverage following the attacks on PNS Mehran air base.

This notice has refreshed a long-drawn battle between the broadcasters and the government on the issue of government regulation versus self-regulation of the broadcasters, with little result to show for. All stakeholders of the broadcasting industry, the public and the government and the broadcasters, agree that there is a dire need for a code of conduct for television channels which have appeared on the scene in the last decade. There is also considerable unity of opinion that the code of conduct should be formulated from within the media to give them more ownership and reduce the risk of a possible government-led wave of censorship. However, the major discord arises on the account of the content of this code of conduct and the regulatory authority to implement it. Pemra has suggested a code of conduct which Pakistan Broadcaster Association (PBA) has rejected. Alternatively, the PBA proposed two codes of conduct; a general self-regulatory one and one specifically about coverage of terrorism, both of which are lying with Pemra and Ministry of Information.

The government, however, hasn't played its part faithfully. The commission set up under the chairmanship of former Justice Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim has failed to break the stalemate between the two parties as this urgent matter of national importance keeps facing the dreaded red tape. Just to make things uglier, Pemra continues insisting on enforcing its rules by trying to arm-twist the broadcasters.

We must admit that our nascent electronic media governed by the inherent immediacy of live reporting has stumbled on its feet many a time. There is no doubt that along the way, many mistakes have been made, many lines have been crossed. However, it is now trying to find its footing. It will be well for the government to remember that eight private channels have already voluntarily adopted the code of conduct for terrorism coverage. The ball is in the government's court to implement the voluntary code of ethics proposed by the PBA. In addition, an independent media council needs to be set up to defuse the broadcasters' concerns over the power of the government on such a council. Any council which is under the influence of the government will not get full support of the broadcasters due to doubts over its credibility.

However, Pemra also has the mandate to "improve the standards of information, education and entertainment." The only way for such improvement to materialise is by training and capacity-building programmes. Although, Pemra has made a beautiful building, it has not held a single such training programme in relation to its mandate.

Pemra laws were framed under a military ruler. They need to be suitably amended and brought in conformity with the Constitution guaranteeing peoples' right to information. Yet access to Information Act is still pending. Rumours often spread like a flu epidemic when people feel they no longer have any access to facts.

There is a big trust deficit between the broadcasters and the government. Delaying tactics to implement the broadcasters' voluntary code of conduct, attempts to "punish" broadcasters for murky reasons, and not following up on its mandate to aid in improving the quality of information are factors contributing towards widening the deficit. Even if the government's intentions are correct, it is still its responsibility to ensure that no successive regime has any room to try to curtail the freedom of speech.

Source: Business Recorder 7 June 2011