Islam & Pakistan! Technology & Me!
Deadly “Corporate” Media Sovereignty
By Syed Ammar Faheem
Sunday, 28th September – 2008
Freedom of the press and freedom of the media is one of the fundamentals of democracy, but if handed over to a nation not used to it, it may turn ugly. Nothing is hidden from the camera today. Be it “sources” on the inside or even fabricated stories. Being a corporate entity, money is what matters the most. Sometimes, our media seems to be speaking on someone else’s behalf. They stand sovereign, above any laws.
They can say what they want; they can force things through by blackmailing anyone, anytime. They become the real rulers and force things through. Freedom of the press and freedom of the media is one of the fundamentals of democracy, but if handed over to a nation not used to it, it may turn ugly.
Talk about the previous decade, people learnt about what happened through the trademark 9 O’clock news on state television or through the next morning’s newspaper.
Talk about today, with several ‘free’ television channels and newspapers running from inside and outside Pakistan, people have the latest on what is around within minutes. Nothing is hidden from the camera today. Be it “sources” on the inside or even fabricated stories.
Pakistan saw a media boom and the industry flourished big time during the rule of President Musharraf who duly takes credit for a booming Telecom and Media industry, bringing in the big bucks in billions.
The media today is a corporate entity in itself. Talk of Pakistan and there is billions of rupees involved everyday. With so much capital, the media setups are bound to invest in some other sector, or in some other form in the media.
Again, with so much capital involved, greed is bound to influence. Consider for example a media setup, running a couple of newspapers and a network of three to four television channels. I don’t need to name the group, do I? It is reported that the setup has vested interests in the Karachi Stock Exchange. We all know how a rumour can affect the market sentiment. Imagine a rumour as big as the President [Musharraf] of a nation fleeing the country in a plane, which was seen at the Chaklala airbase!
Or even more, they may be funded by foreign elements too. Being a corporate entity, money is what matters the most. Sometimes, our media seems to be speaking on someone else’s behalf.
This is what is called, “Corporate” Media Sovereignty. It is deadly for democracy. It influences the people the most, and people think what these corporate entities want them to think.
It means death of democracy at its very root, popular opinion. You can defame anyone you like and you can make the worst look like the best.
The freedom and liberty given to media in Pakistan was late, yes, but it has turned ugly without doubt. I hold our media responsible for all the instability in Pakistan today, had they been responsible in reporting and informing people, we would not have been facing what we face today.
They stand sovereign, above any laws. Broadcasting and gathering public sympathy can be done in a few minutes time, even before any damage-control measures are taken by the authorities.
They promote democracy, yet they stand responsible for its death today!
© 2008. All rights reserved. Ammar360.com
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Right, its so simple. The media is a business. And like in any other business, money is all that matters. The owners hardly care about the national affairs at stake, all that matters is their own money.
Is there any audit for the media industry? I guess not, they’re powerful enough to avoid this. Consider a local example, why do people have PRESS stickers and cards? This quite simple demonstrates the power of PRESS in Pakistan.
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