Islamabad: Pakistan’s Urdu press and electronic media need more editorial control unless they want to meet the fate of the News of the World, a daily said Sunday.
The British Sunday paper is accused of hacking into phones of crime victims, celebrities and politicians.
A Daily Times editorial said: “Pakistan’s English press is by and large not sensationalist or sleazy. However, there are exceptions where opinion is masqueraded as news, which blurs the distinction between the two.
“The Urdu press … is certainly more unrestrained in sensationalising news and has a prurient interest in scandals, gossip and unsubstantiated reports.”
It said while the state-owned PTV never indulged in sensationalist journalism, the new electronic media is “another story altogether”.
“There is hardly any editorial control over private TV channels’ contents, and in their race for breaking news and ratings, most news channels run unverified stories and offer no apology if proved wrong,” it said.
“Talk shows have descended into fish markets rather than being a forum for reasoned debate.”
It cautioned that the Pakistani media “should not turn itself into something like NOTW (News of the World)”.
“If our media wants to adequately fulfil its role, it has to distance itself from power and develop a sense of responsibility. Wrong practices must stop.
“Our readers and viewers deserve honest reporting and not yellow journalism.”
