Daily Times

Sir: The emergence of multiple TV channels within such a short time, without an independent regulatory body to enforce a code of ethics, has become a problem.

There seems to be neither a system nor an effort to scrutinise anchors or journalists with an adequate pay package to resist the temptation of becoming an instrument of abuse and blackmail. What the media has failed to understand is that it has to function in a responsible manner, never to be seen to be distorting facts and disseminating false propaganda, which is against the public interest. Unfortunately, the balance between corporate profits and public service has not been maintained. Resorting to sensationalism by design and becoming instruments in the hands of vested interests, big business and political parties, or allowing personal biases to override professional integrity were bound to backfire, which is what is happening. Can the media justify exposing the identity of victims and family members of rape victims just to hike ratings?

Democracy is a system of governance with the sole objective to serve the collective welfare of the majority and enforce the rule of law. It becomes an abuse of democracy if, like dictatorship, the system is used for the benefit of a few, which is what has been happening in this country. The media antagonises the viewer with a doctored interview of a man accused of taking over land belonging to the poor and giving away villas to members of the civil or uniformed bureaucracy and a few black sheep in the media. Moreover, he scandalises the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Chaudhry.

The media should never be seen as an instrument of spreading disinformation, subverting truth and maligning institutions that have credibility in the eyes of the public. Francis Bacon wrote in 1625, “Nothing doth hurt in a state than when cunning men pass for wise.” It is time the media reformed itself.

MALIK TARIQ ALI

Lahore