PESHAWAR, July 15: Speakers at a workshop on Tuesday observed that journalists had failed to follow a code of ethics, play their role of keeping a watch for violation of people’s rights and develop skills of reporting on parliamentary proceedings because a sound democratic culture could not flourish in the country.

The workshop entitled “Legislative reporting” was organized by the Centre for Civic Education and the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs at the Peshawar Press Club.

The speakers said the reporters had not gained any experience in legislative reporting because the life of the legislature was very short.

They said the newsmen should quote the speakers instead of reconstructing phrases on their own.

The reporters in the press gallery often overlooked provision of background or details of the issues raised on the floor of the house, they said.

They said a code of ethics had been introduced by the government through  an ordinance, which was difficult to follow because all the institutions had become corrupt.

They said the Press Council Ordinance was not debated in the house and even journalists were not consulted.

“The press gallery has become a place of gossip and it is not performing its role of a watchdog. The parliament is weak, so is legislative reporting,” a speaker said.

If walkouts and protests were held just to get attention of the press, they should be discouraged, they said.

A parliamentary reporter should focus on the issues of public interest and have knowledge about the rules of business of parliament, they said.