International Association Of Independent Journalists Inc.

[IAIJ]

Citizen Journalism in Pakistan


By Rafaqat Gondal


Media was a booming industry in Pakistan for most of the nineties. TV channels and radio stations sprang up from every little corner of the country, the people running popular talk shows on TV declared themselves defenders of freedom of expression and everyone who was part of the media industry in whichever way was busy patting each others’ back because the “Media was responsible for reporting the truth”. In addition, it was also considered the main actor in upholding the sanctity of freedom of speech and defender of civil liberties of the people of this land.

I would like to add also here that the majority of owners of media groups do not give regular salaries to their journalists and appoint these correspondents on the basis of honorary at difference stations. Some weeks ago a woman journalist had not been given her salary, she committed suicide. Mostly people in Pakistan run their newspapers to make black money into white. But it is also true that the journalism in Pakistan is making progress gradually. Our media also raises their voices against corruption and human violations but need more work to improve it. It is good news that Jeo TV along its others media groups have announced code of conduct, it is a great achievement in the history of Pakistan.