AS media students, we study about ethics almost in every course and also have a specialised course of media laws and ethics. Be it print, electronic or digital media, we see laws related to ethics being violated blatantly in Pakistan.

Talking about print media, we see newspapers violating the readers’ rights, because they provide more space to advertisements on their front pages for the sake of earning more revenues. The front page sometimes has advertisement occupying 75 per cent of the space, compromising the rules of ethics, even if not violating the laws.

The frequency of advertisements is also irritating on most television channels. Besides, one also has to put up with the use of inappropriate words in news bulletins, which is highly unethical on the part of such channels.

When the mainstream media, which is indeed regulated, hardly cares about professional ethics and laws, it is futile to expect anything sane happening on the unregulated social media platforms. The so-called ‘influencers’ and even electronic media channels also running their stuff on such platforms, have been involved in unethical, deceptive tactics to make profit through misleading thumbnails and ‘clickbaits’. One does not find in the videos what the thumbnail claims. We recently saw people posting videos about cyclone Biparjoy with misleading thumbnails just to attract more eyeballs.

I wonder why the authorities concerned do not take action against TV channels that violate media laws and ethics without any fear or remorse. Why are major news channels involved in unethical practices for financial gains?

They have a large viewership. They must realise they have a responsibility to educate their audience about laws and ethics. Instead, they are themselves involved in blatant violation of media ethics. Journalism is considered the ‘fourth pillar’ of the state. It is disheartening to observe such unprofessional and sorry state of media affairs in Pakistan.

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) should take notice of such violations to put the national media on the right track.

Hajra Rauf
Karachi

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2023