KARACHI, Nov 20: Launching a code of conduct on reporting during general elections, the Pakistan Coalition for Ethical Journalism (PCEJ) has said that journalists face the challenge of objectivity, impartiality and balanced reporting every day but polls pose a grater test of professionalism.

The code was discussed at a meeting attended by senior media persons here on Tuesday. More meetings will be held in Lahore on Wednesday and in Islamabad on Thursday, says a statement.

The PCEJ has urged the media to observe guidelines which call for refraining from rumour, unsubstantiated allegations, provocative language and inciting hatred or sectarianism, promoting tolerance and ensuring that all political parties and candidates are given fair and equal coverage.

The PCEJ plans to ask the Election Commission and major political parties to respect the right of the media to report without any interference during the upcoming elections.

Kamal Siddiqi, the editor of Express Tribune, urged the media to realise its rights as well as responsibilities.

He said being a journalist in the country during elections made one vulnerable because he was pressurised from different sides.

“The code of conduct or a checklist of dos and don’ts kept things in perspective and helped the media report the truth and on issues that mattered,” he said.

His views were supported by Aidan White, the director of the Global Ethical Journalism Network, which has been working with the PCEJ.

Azhar Abbas, managing director of Geo News TV channel, stressed the importance of observing ethics because the media, especially the electronic media, was still in its infancy and the media industry needed to learn a lot.

He said the media should formulate a clear set of ethical guidelines and a code of conduct, adding that it was more important during elections.

Public interest must, and would, come first, he said.

Shafqat Abbasi of the Press Council of Pakistan said that in regional media there was no concept of ethical journalism as people associated with it often became spokesmen of political parties and candidates.

In some areas reporters faced threats and harassment if they did not file reports they were told to do, he said.

A strong code of conduct would help to protect journalists, he said. He also called for proper training of journalists.