Government unhappy over Dawn clarification

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 19 February 2022

The PTI government has criticized Dawn for poorly handling a correction about a false tweet. Information Minister Fawad Chaudary emphasized the need for better media accountability.

Summary

ISLAMABAD—The PTI government is not happy with how the daily Dawn published a clarification regarding a fake tweet attributed to the spokesperson of the finance ministry.

In its lead story on the increase in fuel prices, Dawn quoted a fake tweet of Muzzammil Aslam. Later, it regretted the error but published the clarification on the inside pages.

This was not lost on Minister for Information Fawad Chaudary. In a tweet in Urdu, he said the news was published on the front page and “look where the regret has been published.”

The minister pointed out that this is not the first time Dawn has used a fake social media post for its news. “Earlier Dawn published a fake media law and then even wrote an editorial on it. No apologies have been offered till today.”

The minister maintained that this attitude goes against the freedom of the press. Muzzammil Aslam also questioned the placement of the clarification. He said the placement in the newspaper matters. “This arbitrage play by media has to be stopped. They should print the apology on the same page….”

Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar called for introducing legislation to ensure the clarification is published on the same page. “The correction should be published in the same prominence as the fake news. There should be a law for it if there is none yet.”

Photo: OyeYeah News

KEY POINTS:

• PTI government unhappy with Dawn's clarification on fake tweet.
• Clarification placed in less prominent section of the newspaper.
• Minister Chaudary calls this pattern detrimental to press freedom.
• Legislation proposed to ensure corrections match original news prominence.
• Muzzammil Aslam questions media's accountability for fake reports.