Karachi University marks World Press Freedom Day

JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 3 May 2016

A moot at Karachi University emphasized the balance between media freedom and commercial interests. Experts highlighted the historical context of freedom of expression in Pakistan.
Summary

KARACHI: Senior journalists and intellectuals at a moot Tuesday were of the view that "today the media institutions are free but this is the era of commercial freedom". The event was held at Karachi University's Mass Communication Department in connection with the World Press Freedom Day.

Senior journalist Mudassir Mirza maintained that "our country was disintegrated because the facts were not made public in 1971." Editor of Daily Express, Tahir Najmi, opined that corporate media and administration is now running the affairs of journalism in the country rather than journalists.

"Rating is needed for revenue generation that's why rating is the major priority for the media houses and due to which journalists are paid good amount these days." Columnist Dr. Tauseef Ahmed Khan said that freedom of expression is the basic right of the people and vital for democracy.

No democracy can function without freedom of expression and that the West has prospered due to freedom of expression, he added. It was pointed out that the Sindh government has still not passed the Right to Information law despite this being part of PPP's election manifesto. Chairperson of the Department of Mass Communication, Karachi University, Prof. Dr.

Seemi Naghmana Tahir, said that renowned journalist Zameer Niazi's role in freedom of expression struggle was pivotal and commendable. Electronic media is in a transitional phase and still its quality is not 100 percent. We are psychologically become habitual of censoring our content, she added.

Faculty member of Mass Communication, Osama Shafiq, said that constitution of the country gives the right of information and freedom of expression to the people of Pakistan. - APP

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