Diminishing freedom

Published May 3, 2019
Cartoon by RK.
Cartoon by RK.

TODAY is World Press Freedom Day, and in a global environment where authoritarian regimes are in the ascendant, even in ostensibly democratic countries, it is all the more important to celebrate the role of the journalist in holding power to account.

Fittingly enough, this year’s theme is ‘Media for democracy: journalism and elections in times of disinformation’.

Read more: Without press freedom, the truth disappears

When journalists are painted as enemies of the people, it should be cause for alarm. A free and independent media is the cornerstone of democracy, and plays a critical role in ensuring the fairness and transparency of the electoral exercise. When governments legislate to muzzle the media, when they discredit journalists and sow confusion in the public by promoting false narratives, often through third parties on social media, it signals their intention to prevent scrutiny of their policies and actions. Journalists who threaten this impunity do so at the cost of their lives.

According to IPI, an association of media professionals in nearly 100 countries, 55 journalists across the world were killed last year. Several of them were working on exposing corruption in the corridors of power.

Read: Press freedom under serious threat from govts worldwide: IPI

However, the situation in Pakistan illustrates that press freedom cannot be gauged by the number of body bags alone.

Granted, compared with 15 media persons who were killed in this country during 2010 and 2011 for reasons confirmed as being related to their work, ‘only’ four since 2015 are believed to have lost their lives in the line of duty. However, more telling is that only three murders of journalists in Pakistan have been successfully prosecuted.

At the same time, there is unprecedented pressure on editors — sometimes cloaked as ‘advice’— to drop certain stories, even specific quotes publicly uttered by elected officials; give a particular spin to news reports; and avoid some topics entirely.

The modus operandi employed to force compliance would make a despot smile: vicious smear campaigns, physical violence, abductions and legal harassment on spurious charges, including treason.

Resistance by media outlets is countered by strong-arm methods to disrupt their circulation and limit their viewership.

International election observers in their report on last year’s polls noted that the media’s critical role as a platform for political debate was severely eroded by intimidatory tactics, and that the consequent self-censorship rendered election-related coverage “devoid of journalistic, non-partisan scrutiny”. The PTI government should consider the possibility that one day it too may want an independent media to tell the story like it is.

Read: RSF index highlights dismal state of press freedom

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2019

Opinion

Editorial

Peak of success
06 Oct, 2024

Peak of success

IT started with the ascent of Nanga Parbat in 2017 and ended with the summit of Tibet’s Shishapangma on Thursday....
Indian visitor
06 Oct, 2024

Indian visitor

AMONGST the host of foreign dignitaries expected to fly into Islamabad for the SCO Council of Heads of Government...
Violence once again
Updated 06 Oct, 2024

Violence once again

The warring sides must rein in their worst impulses and prioritise the nation’s well-being over short-term gains.
Controversial timing
Updated 05 Oct, 2024

Controversial timing

While the judgment undoes a past wrong, it risks being perceived as enabling a myopic political agenda.
ML-1’s prospects
05 Oct, 2024

ML-1’s prospects

ONE of the signature projects envisaged under the CPEC umbrella is the Mainline-1 railway scheme, which is yet to ...
No breathing space
05 Oct, 2024

No breathing space

THIS is the time of the year when city dwellers across Punjab start choking on toxic air. Soon the harmful air will...