THIS is apropos the editorial ‘Reporting restrictions’ (Dec, 13). One wonders which one is sadder, some news TV channels showing arbitrary analysis or the viewers watching such analysis. Over the course of the last decade in Pakistan, the media has unilaterally assumed the role of prosecutor, jury and judge. Meanwhile, the viewers have accepted this role.

Our ratings-obsessed electronic media is thriving on sensationalism and negativity. During the Panama saga, one could only gasp at the obsession of media and politicians with the Panama papers.

The rhetorical briefing given to the media by politicians outside courts used to garner more coverage than the actual remarks of the judges. There used to be a court in front of the apex court, thanks to the media’s ubiquitous coverage.

Pakistan doesn’t have a single TV channel which could depict our country’s socio-culture beauty and geographical wonders. We may differ with Indian mainstream electronic media and their anchors for being ultra-sensational, but their media moguls also furnish the masses with TV channels like “Discovery, National Geographic” etc that have played a decent role in informing and entraining the viewers, besides positively projecting the country abroad.

It is important to trammel and regulate the electronic media. However, it is more important that viewers themselves develop enough maturity to sift objectivity from subjectivity, and fact from analysis. And production houses of the talk shows also have to understand the importance of journalism with responsibility without even being reminded-- by the apex court and the regulator-- of their responsibility.

Riaz Mahar
Sukkur

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2017