Dr. Mustafa Kamal
The rapid advancement of media in the era of social platforms and digital news has transformed how information reaches the public. News now travels in seconds, but this speed has raised serious questions about authenticity and adherence to media ethics.
In the age of traditional media, verifying the authenticity of news before broadcast was non-negotiable. Journalists, anchors, and reporters were trained to separate fact from opinion. Personal biases were withheld, if expressed at all, until the end of a program. Objectivity was the standard, and the anchor’s role was to inform, not influence. Today, the priorities of television channels are an open secret. The race for ratings has blurred the line between journalism and spectacle. Programs hosted by personalities like Fizza Ali and IrshadBhatti generate intense debate on social media, often not for their journalistic merit but for their sensational tone &attitude . Unfortunately, character assassination of guests through unethical insinuations and inappropriate questions has become a recurring feature of many talk shows. An interviewer is the mouthpiece of the public. The questions posed to a guest should elicit information, insight, and healthy discourse, not humiliate or defame. Yet some practitioners equate negative reporting with bold journalism. They indulge in substandard practices, extracting negativity even from positive developments and turning coverage into unwarranted criticism. The boundaries of the media may be undefined, but its responsibilities are not. The media is the custodian of a nation’s ideological frontiers. Alongside ethics, it bears the duty of safeguarding the country’s integrity, pride, and cultural values. By the grace of Allah, Pakistan’s mediatory role during the US-Iran and Israel tensions earned global recognition and respect. Credit goes to Prime Minister of Pakistan MianShehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General AsimMunir for this diplomatic achievement. Our national and private media largely demonstrated maturity and responsibility in covering the crisis. However, a handful of anti-national elements abroad continued to distort facts, undermining the national interest. This contrast underscores why responsible reporting is not optional. It is essential. The need of the hour is a return to ethical and responsible journalism that prioritizes verification over virality. Regulatory bodies like PEMRA and PTA must also play a proactive, role to curb disinformation and ensure that freedom of expression is not misused as a license for defamation or anti-state narratives.
In the digital age, credibility is the media’s real currency.
