Videos

The links to the videos are posted below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyDbio8YW-4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqG8__THIPE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cioI1wAvjkg

Interview at PEMRA

What is the role of PEMRA?

PEMRA was established in 2002. It is a public organization under the Information Ministry. It has a regulatory role in electronic media namely cable TV, satellite TV and FM. Regulation of internet does not come under PEMRA.

What are the operations of PEMRA?

PEMRA deals with Council of Complaints (COC), passes budgets and deals with both Provincial and Federal electronic broadcasts. PEMRA monitors the TV channels and is in contact with channel operators. PEMRA also issues licenses to channels to air in Pakistan.

How are complaints launched and what is the monitoring mechanism that prevails?

Common modes of launching complaints include email, phone calls and even in person at our offices. Whenever someone lodges a complain we monitor the content closely to see If any objectionable material is being broadcasted. If we find something objectionable we issue notices to the channel operators and call them up. A good example would be that of Mathira. We got many complaints about her show. Have you seen what sort of a vulgar show she hosts? That is not what we want to teach our kids. We called the people running that show and gave them a notice.

Does PEMRA function solely or in collaboration?

PEMRA works in collaboration with two organizations:

PBA (Pakistan Broadcasters Association) which deals with satellite TV and FM radio;
Cable Operators Association of Pakistan which includes cable providers like WorldCall.

Does PEMRA share a healthy relationship with its collaborative?

It does with PBA but not with Cable operators Association of Pakistan. During President Musharraf’s government, PEMRA had control over the cable operators but the change in government has given much power to cable operators who do not miss any chance of targeting PEMRA.

How does PEMRA regulate foreign channels and their content shown on domestic channels?

PEMRA issues 2 types of licenses.

Direct; When TV channels open up in Pakistan like HBO PAKISTAN. A code of conduct is imposed on them and percentage of content is told to broadcast.

Foreign; Landing rights are given to channels who broadcast from abroad. We check their content to see if it’s appropriate to allow to be shown.

Initially licenses were given to any channel and it was left to the market to decide which one would stay and which would shut down according to popularity but now its properly monitored and agreements are signed before handing over licenses.

Highlight the legislations of PEMRA

Some of the factors we consider are that the broadcasted media should:

Promote local culture;

Respect state sovereignty;

Have diversification and variety;

Highlight religious and social concerns;

Refrain from vulgarity;

Provide entertainment and educational programs.

Enlighten us with some more examples of complaints launched

Broadcast of blood and body parts, like after a terrorist activity or accident. The gore is disturbing for young children and old, aged people.

Breaking news which creates panic and later does not turn out to be true, like news about bomb blast which turns out to be a tyre burst.

Profit making has become the primary aim of the channels and hence they sensationalize news. We keep warning them about it from time to time.

Media- Regulation/Unions

Media Landscape

 

 

Types of Regulations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Handout

 

Media Regulation

Definition of Regulation

Principles, rules and laws designed to control or govern the media conduct.

Regulatory Body

PEMRA- Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority

The establishment of PEMRA was initiated in 2000 through the formation of the Regulatory Authority for Media Broadcast Organizations. The Information Ministry is responsible for the administration at PEMRA whereas all the financial dealings are taken care of by the organization itself.

PEMRA's Mandate:

·         Improve the standards of information, education and entertainment ;

·         Enlarge the choice available to the people of Pakistan in the media for news, current affairs, religious knowledge, art, culture, science, technology, economic development, social sector concerns, music, sports, drama and other subjects of public and national interest ;

·         Facilitate the devolution of responsibility and power to the grass roots by improving the access of the people to mass media at the local and community level ;

·         Ensure accountability, transparency and good governance by optimization the free flow of information.

Functions of PEMRA:

·         Responsible for regulating the establishment and operation of all broadcast media for example granting licenses to FM radio, Cable TV, Landing rights given to foreign channels to broadcast in Pakistan.

·         Council of Complaints (COC): Deals with immediate and fair redressal of complaints pertaining to operations of electronic media. The complaints are taken via telephone calls, posts.

·         Licensing of cable operators and facilitates distribution of media

Operations at PEMRA:

PEMRA works in collaboration with 

·         Cable Operators Association (CAP)

·         Pakistan Broadcasting Association (PBA)

-          Satellite television

-          Radio

Forms of Regulation:

Radio: Time delay machines are installed for radios where inappropriate content is censored.

Television: A specific percentage limit is assigned to foreign programmes and a check is maintained to monitor whether channels abide by these guidelines.

Legislations of PEMRA:

1-      To promote local culture

2-      Encourage diversity and variety

3-      Uphold state Sovereignty

4-      Abide by religious and social considerations

5-      No vulgarity

6-      Provide positive entertainment and educational programmes.

Constraints faced by PEMRA:

The government is a hindrance to the independence of the organization. Even though they proclaim PEMRA as the Regulatory Authority the employees are still bounded to comply by the government’s constant intervention with matters relating to operations and broadcasts.

Examples of issues with regard to regulation in Pakistan:

-          Mathira: Audiences launched complaints against the VJ Mathira for the onscreen obscenity.

-          Broadcasting of blood and gore on news channels.

-           Sensationalism on news 

-          GEO Super broadcast without license

 

 

 

UNIONS

Definition of Unions:

A union is an organization of workers joined to protect their common interests and improve their working conditions.

Our focus is on:

-Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists

-PRESS CLUB

 

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ):

It is the Representative body of journalists all over Pakistan.

Objectives of PFUJ:

•       Secure rights of journalists

•       Raise the status and improve the qualification of journalists

•        Unity of its members

•       Defend, maintain and struggle for freedom of the Press

•       Secure employment

 

PRESS CLUB:

Press Club is a Union where members interact with each other and indulge in activities when off the field. Members are primarily news journalists, but can also include academics, business people and members of the public service.

Role of Press Club:

“On the path of democracy and press freedom.”

A voice for democracy, to eliminate all forms of dictatorship.

Is the press dynamic or not?

Press club operates autonomously without any limitations or disruptions by external parties.

Press club is not accountable to anyone but itself.

Past of press club:

Earlier it dealt with only print media but now electronic media also comes under the Press Club.

Constraints:

Members of the Press club can be part of the Pakistan federal union of journalists (PFUJ) but members of PFUJ cannot be part of the press club.

Foreign Journalists and Press Club:

Journalists are encouraged to come from abroad, souvenirs and other perks may be provided to them. However, responsibility for their security is not in the hands of press club that is these journalists come on their own risk.

Who finances press club?

·         Monthly membership fee of Rs.100

·         The club raises money through events and press conferences held at Press Club

·         The government also provides grants and funds

Transparency: dealings are corruption free as quoted by Mr. Moosa Kaleem-secretary Press Club.

 References:

www.pemra.gov.pk

www.karachipressclub.com/

www.pfuj.com/

 

Interviews with:

Mr Moosa Kaleem/Secretary Press Club at Press Club

Mr Tufail Channa/Assistant General Manager at PEMRA

 

Group Members

 

Insiya Murtaza

Kanza Afzal

Maria Maniya

Musaid Raheel

Uswah Munawar