1. Media Ethics, Laws, Policies and
Strategies in Pakistan
In the Public Interest
Assigned by: Mr. Ramzan Azhar
Presented by: Nauman Khan
2. Public Interest
• The public interest is about what matters to everyone in society. It is
about the common good, the general welfare and the security and
well-being of everyone in the community we serve.
• The public interest is not just what the readers, listeners or viewers
want either as consumers or people who want to be entertained.
• It is about issues which affect everyone, even if many of them are not
aware of it or even if they don’t appear to care.
• Normally, it is clear to journalists and editors what is and what is not
in the public interest, but sometimes it’s a complex question.
3. Public Interest
• Many people may be interested, for instance, in sports news, in
celebrity and popular culture, and less interested in the dull realities
of public services, for example we use the terms Hard and Soft news
in Media studies.
• But the potential for dramatic impact on peoples’ lives makes the
provision of basic services – transport, education, health, sanitation,
for instance – absolutely vital matters of public concern.
• The public interest is in having a safe, healthy, educated, and fully-
functioning society.
4. Public Interest
• However, media’s role is to inform, educate, entertain and become a
watchdog of the interests of general public.
• In this regard, free, independent, self-responsible and self-regulated
media is needed to meet the objectives.
• Freedom of media, speech and expression is the only true litmus test
to gauge a society’s independence.
• An open society can not exist without an independent media and vice
versa.
• Self-regulation and self-responsibility are linked with the level of
freedom of speech media enjoys.
5. Public Interest
• In a democracy, journalism plays a central role in that. It gives people
the information they need to take part in the democratic process.
That is why there is a public service ethic at the heart all of serious
journalism.
If journalists are good at their job, and to win the trust of the public
they must hold governments and other institutions to account and
they must act and behave ethically.
6. Public Interest
• With the public service mandate, mass media can do wonders, but if
monopolized, it can be turned into a weapon of mass deception.
• Mark Twain says, “ there are laws to protect the freedom of the
press’s speech, but none that are worth anything to protect the
people from the press”.
• Some times, the right to information of media overshadow all other
rights.
• The gap between what a decent society expects from their media,
and what media is able to provide, appears to be widening under the
great pressures of business and political interests.
7. Theoretical framework:
• Normative theory:
(How media should operate in given situation).
• Social Responsibility theory:
(Social responsibility is an ethical framework and suggests that an
entity, be it an organization or individual, has an obligation to act for
the benefit of society at large).
8. Media Ethics and Public Interests:
• Ethics: A system of moral Principles or rules of behavior.
• Codes of Ethics:
• Truthfulness.
• Accuracy.
• Fairness and Impartiality.
• Self-Accountability/Regulation.
9. Media Ethics and Public Interests:
• Head to head competition in terms of ratings and economical
interests rather than becoming the real watchdogs of the public
interests.
• This process leads to unethical practices.
• Therefore at some level, the state or community has to intervene to
regulate and check the unethical practices.
• Meanwhile, on other side, Governments and different institutions use
the same regulations to control media according to their interest, in
shape of censorships and licensing.
10. Media Laws and Public Interests:
• Lord Wellesley’s Press Act, (1799).
o Newspapers could not be published on Sundays.
o Hickey’s Gazette was charged on maligning renowned personalities.
o News could not be published without the inspection of govt
secretary.
• Press Act, (1801).
o Newspapers needs prior authorization to publish material related
to military affairs.
11. Media Laws and Public Interests:
• The Press Act, (1813).
o The proof sheets of all NP, including supplements should be sent to
the secretary before publication.
• Press Act, (1818).
o Lord Hastings directed that Newspapers should not publish:
Unfriendliness towards the Actions of Public institutions of
England associated with Indian govt.
Criticism on the political judgments regarding stability of the
sub-continent.
12. Media Laws and Public Interests:
• The Licensing Regulations, (1823).
o Licensing authority Governor General.
o Names of the Newspapers, editors, printers and owners must be
submitted at the time of application.
• The METCALF’s Act, (1835).
o The printer and publisher would be responsible for the material
published in a Newspaper.
13. Media Laws and Public Interests:
• The Licensing Act, (1857).
o The Govt reserved the discretionary right to grant licenses or revoke
them at any time.
o The govt was also empowered to prohibit the publication or
circulation of any Newspaper, book, or other printed materials.
• The Newspapers Act, (1908).
o Magistrate were empowered to seize printing presses, newspapers
which published objectionable material which assisted as provocation
to murder or acts of violence.
14. Media Laws and Public Interests:
• The Indian Press Act, (1931).
o Extensive powers given to provincial govts in suppressing the
propaganda of Civil disobedience movement.
oPre-censorship was enforced. All news related to congress activities
were declared illegal.
15. Media Laws and Public Interests:
• PPO (Press Publication Ordinance) (1961)
was imposed by Ayob khan military govt. which is considered as the
Draconian law or black law of Press history of Pakistan.
• National Press Trust (NPT) 1964;
the right to take over any Newspapers, Magazine, printing press etc. which
was dangerous to country's security.
• Zia’s Periods. (PPO continued).
• RPPPO
• PEMRA
• Freedom of Information Ordinance.
• Defamation Ordinance.
• Press Council of Pakistan.
