Importance of having powerful media

[coffee_cup]

It is 5th generation warfare all around and countries are equipping themselves to defend against it.

It is about having a very powerful media which strongly projects your national interests outside but at the same time is allowed to have political bias internally within defined parameters that do not endanger the national narrative to put you at geopolitical or economical risks.

So we see "al-Jazeras", "Khaleej Times", "BBC", "CNN", "NYT", "WP", "Fox", "Russia Today", "Deutsche Welle", "Reuter", "Times of India (even though very amateur and childish)" and many more.

None of the above mentioned will EVER report anything that could possibly go against their national interest.

We in Pakistan pride ourselves of having great military forces and trying all to get the latest weaponry. We pride ourselves of fighting the greatest terrorism war and winning it.

But how could we ignore this latest and most dangerous weapon of war?

How could we allow the hostile countries to use it against us in form of "Jang/Geo, Tribune, DAWN" etc?

How could we allow them to systematically endanger our national security? What are we doing to protect us against this great danger?

I would like to have a candid discussion about it.

PS: It matters not if above mentioned media outlets have political inclination to one party or the other. That is fine. I am talking about systematical methods which they have adapted to attack Pakistan.

 

[_Sherdils_]

I think there is foreign investment in these media outlets in Pakistan. Media line is towed by the inverters who own it. This is why our media is so anti-Pakistan sometimes.

 

[zulu]

Useful post as still in are under war and in future better to get prepared but problem is cant trust mainstream pakistani media than what options?first govt have to pass law all stockholder names of any media company (so they cant able to get foreign funds and agenda hint: 2007 SECP report jung media group 8% and another 3 % shares ).Also people have to put individuality their efforts as those fight fought on social media too (saw recently also on PDF ) they are using paid trolls too just to create confusion,dis credit one of main objective of information war.hope soon someone posted guidelines to educate us all

 

[Khanate]

Pakistan doesn't have a media. We have a mafia.

 

[Mugen]

This is so important in this day and age that I cannot stress it enough. It changes the way world sees you.

 

[_Sherdils_]

Pakistan doesn't have a media. We have a mafia.

What bothers me the most is if you search for PAKISTAN on google, 80-90 % of news that google would show would be indian outlets. Really small ones too like the quint etc. Compare them to Geo/Dunya etc, their articles don't even make it on google's news feed. You rarely seen Dawn and The news.

This was particularly frustrating during elections last year. Most news of our elections was covered and displayed on google by Indian outlets!!!

 

[Progressive Conservative]

Disagree with the statement that the BBC, DW, NYT will "never ever report anything that ever go against the national interest". Each of those papers get criticism from right-leaning papers in their home bases for not toeing the national line. Case in point is the BBC during the current Brexit debacle. They have been slated by almost everyone who is pro-Brexit for going against the national interest.

Trust is a very important commodity, and each of those three are (broadly) trusted news outlets. On the other hand, contrast them with Russia Today which does peddle Moscow's line and it is now shunned in the West for being Putin's mouthpiece.

You can either opt for the RT model, or the BBC model. It does seem more appealing to go for an RT style state propoganda arm, but in the long run it backfires.

 

[Dubious]

It is 5th generation warfare all around and countries are equipping themselves to defend against it.

It is about having a very powerful media which strongly projects your national interests outside but at the same time is allowed to have political bias internally within defined parameters that do not endanger the national narrative to put you at geopolitical or economical risks.

So we see "al-Jazeras", "Khaleej Times", "BBC", "CNN", "NYT", "WP", "Fox", "Russia Today", "Deutsche Welle", "Reuter", "Times of India (even though very amateur and childish)" and many more.

None of the above mentioned will EVER report anything that could possibly go against their national interest.

We in Pakistan pride ourselves of having great military forces and trying all to get the latest weaponry. We pride ourselves of fighting the greatest terrorism war and winning it.

But how could we ignore this latest and most dangerous weapon of war?

How could we allow the hostile countries to use it against us in form of "Jang/Geo, Tribune, DAWN" etc?

How could we allow them to systematically endanger our national security? What are we doing to protect us against this great danger?

I would like to have a candid discussion about it.

PS: It matters not if above mentioned media outlets have political inclination to one party or the other. That is fine. I am talking about systematical methods which they have adapted to attack Pakistan.

Several of American or even world media is owned by very few families...so yes many a times stuff coming out is controlled- not always for the better of Pakistan...

How do we counter it? Well, invest in state owned journalism / investigative journalism is an unheard venture in Pakistan [or the so called ones are well not professional even if they try to be].

Secondly, people need to learn to know what to make famous! MANY people just fwd BS without checking it! Someone had said that there is so much information flooding us today, it has become tough to engulf it all or even distinguish right from wrong!

Many a times fake news becomes famous and many a times the "correction" never receives the same level of "fame" ...People are chasing to announce "breaking news" then to wait for concrete evidence because that is how the media does it...They want to be the 1st to announce to be on top...even if it is the title of FAKE NEWS BREAKER!

 

[coffee_cup]

Several of American or even world media is owned by very few families...so yes many a times stuff coming out is controlled- not always for the better of Pakistan...

How do we counter it? Well, invest in state owned journalism / investigative journalism is an unheard venture in Pakistan [or the so called ones are well not professional even if they try to be].

Secondly, people need to learn to know what to make famous! MANY people just fwd BS without checking it! Someone had said that there is so much information flooding us today, it has become tough to engulf it all or even distinguish right from wrong!

Many a times fake news becomes famous and many a times the "correction" never receives the same level of "fame" ...People are chasing to announce "breaking news" then to wait for concrete evidence because that is how the media does it...They want to be the 1st to announce to be on top...even if it is the title of FAKE NEWS BREAKER!

So to brainstorm:

1) Invest in having state-of-the-art educational institutions for teaching journalism
2) Strict licensing process
3) Amendments in law?
4) Strict enforcement via centralized media control agency to safeguard the national security (PEMRA?)
5) Educating masses about brainwashing mechanisms applied by hostile countries

Definition of "Freedom of speech" on lines of Europe and USA would be required (Hint: their main focus is national interest)

Now next question is:
How do we break the monopoly of these very powerful mafias such as Geo/Jang, DAWN, Tribune etc.

I think, not awarding the tax payers hard earned money as handouts in form of govt. advertisements is a step in the right direction.

What else?

 

[war&peace]

I think there is foreign investment in these media outlets in Pakistan. Media line is towed by the inverters who own it. This is why our media is so anti-Pakistan sometimes.

First of all, Pakistan has too many media outlets ...far too many than its current economy can afford it and I don't know who is responsible for this Mushroom growth without any quality checks and standards. Thus, the number needs to go down either organically or forced by govt policies

Secondly, it is the failure of the state and the govt to loose its writ on the media and let it get away with all sorts of false- and anti-Pakistan and anti-Islam propaganda.. Even Imran Khan has not been able to do much about it because he appointed the idiot & trojan horse Fawad Ch.
Govt has failed in controlling the monetary channels

 

[zulu]

State controlled media we did that experiment back than till 1970's (always in lost later sold to sorry govt awarded it for pennies to their favorites ) but putting some regulations whats the harm 1)showing name of all stock holders 2)no foreigner cant take it only pakistani resident/national (Like USA )
3)have to follow some mutual agreed guidelines
Some rule also need to applied here as well as many just posted indian news(which are cleverly crafted as they got clear objectives unlike ours ),every twitter,fb rumors.Our guideline should also be clear here what we can post as PDF means we are part of country and society so have some responsibility too.Also some policy against professional paid trolls too

Several of American or even world media is owned by very few families...so yes many a times stuff coming out is controlled- not always for the better of Pakistan...

How do we counter it? Well, invest in state owned journalism / investigative journalism is an unheard venture in Pakistan [or the so called ones are well not professional even if they try to be].

Secondly, people need to learn to know what to make famous! MANY people just fwd BS without checking it! Someone had said that there is so much information flooding us today, it has become tough to engulf it all or even distinguish right from wrong!

Many a times fake news becomes famous and many a times the "correction" never receives the same level of "fame" ...People are chasing to announce "breaking news" then to wait for concrete evidence because that is how the media does it...They want to be the 1st to announce to be on top...even if it is the title of FAKE NEWS BREAKER!

 

[Dubious]

awarded it for pennies to their favorites

That isnt state owned anymore....

but putting some regulations whats the harm 1)showing name of all stock holders 2)no foreigner cant take it only pakistani resident/national (Like USA )
3)have to follow some mutual agreed guidelines

Freedom BS...the same movement that made news that women being oppressed by being asked to wear the duppatta...It was choking them and they made a scene of it terming us as oppressors!

no. 2 that would be good but then it would need someone higher up to decide and put their foot down!
no. 3 - What sells seems to scream the loudest! Even basic journalism goes down the drain

Some rule also need to applied here as well as many just posted indian news(which are cleverly crafted as they got clear objectives unlike ours ),every twitter,fb rumors.Our guideline should also be clear here what we can post as PDF means we are part of country and society so have some responsibility too.Also some policy against professional paid trolls too

Sure there needs to be guidelines, but then ratings are effected so ratings vs guidelines...even basic ethics goes down the drain when it comes to ratings!

So to brainstorm:

1) Invest in having state-of-the-art educational institutions for teaching journalism
2) Strict licensing process
3) Amendments in law?
4) Strict enforcement via centralized media control agency to safeguard the national security (PEMRA?)
5) Educating masses about brainwashing mechanisms applied by hostile countries

Who exactly is going to do this? Any curbing on journalists and they scream they have been kidnapped or shot at

Definition of "Freedom of speech" on lines of Europe and USA would be required (Hint: their main focus is national interest)

We need someone to grind it into them!

Now next question is:
How do we break the monopoly of these very powerful mafias such as Geo/Jang, DAWN, Tribune etc.

I think, not awarding the tax payers hard earned money as handouts in form of govt. advertisements is a step in the right direction.

What else?

Maybe not allowing 1 family/ group / affiliation with more than 1-2 companies! Like no one is allowed to own 2 media sets? But that would be like autocrat...total control with total power

 

[zulu]

Nope they sold (forgetting exact dates) it but as usual Pakistani practice
2)Freedom without any restriction make animals.Also guidelines need esp in such hard time .THose who question about it why not total freedom like US or European?as we are not US and European.Even in our constitution any article proposed clashes with The Objectives Resolution (qardarad e maqasid ) considered void
3)I think make some rules for pdf too heated speeches quite common esp initiated by troll and later our sher jawan jumped it.For reference forget Indians just check some BD posts

 

[coffee_cup]

Who exactly is going to do this? Any curbing on journalists and they scream they have been kidnapped or shot at


We need someone to grind it into them!


Maybe not allowing 1 family/ group / affiliation with more than 1-2 companies! Like no one is allowed to own 2 media sets? But that would be like autocrat...total control with total power

It is not as hard as it seems like. Especially in form of social media you have a tool which can be used to break the monopoly systematically. There is a reason why all the "anchors" (read "Buttons" in mafia language) are going nuts about it and want the govt to curb it because "it is used for slanders, abuses and threats".

Can you believe this hypocrisy? The same media who wants to have "freedom of speech" for them wants govt to create laws to deny this freedom to others.

Anyway, there are a very few people in Pakistan who could be called journalists. I even doubt that majority of these leeches have passed their university exams honestly.

Now coming back to protecting national interest, I must say that this mentality of "Sanu Ki" or "Mitti Pao" can also be felt on PDF. We allow far too much freedom to others to demonize us and spread their propaganda. At the very least, this is something that we can control.

 

[Dubious]

It is not as hard as it seems like. Especially in form of social media you have a tool which can be used to break the monopoly systematically. There is a reason why all the "anchors" (read "Buttons" in mafia language) are going nuts about it and want the govt to curb it because "it is used for slanders, abuses and threats".

Well PMIK has his own twitter and so do other ministers...But they cant present everything!

Can you believe it? The same media who wants to have "freedom of speech" for them wants govt to create laws to deny this freedom to social media.

Oh I can believe it...freedom of speech is only free when it serves the person crying for it!

Anyway, there are a very few people in Pakistan who could be called journalists. I even doubt that majority of these leeches have passed their university exams honestly.

I wouldnt be surprised...I doubt many even went to journalism classes and only have a simple BA in something they couldnt land a job with

Now coming back to protecting national interest, I must say that this mentality of "Sanu Ki" or "Mitti Pao" can also be felt on PDF. We allow far too much freedom to others to demonize us and spread their propaganda. At the very least, this is something that we can control.

We are trying our best to be as unbiased as possible...but we are only human...

And every now and then we do allow some critical discussions to break the bubbles some live in...To hear the other side sometimes opens new channels / topics for discussions...

Nope they sold (forgetting exact dates) it but as usual Pakistani practice
2)Freedom without any restriction make animals.Also guidelines need esp in such hard time .THose who question about it why not total freedom like US or European?as we are not US and European.Even in our constitution any article proposed clashes with The Objectives Resolution (qardarad e maqasid ) considered void
3)I think make some rules for pdf too heated speeches quite common esp initiated by troll and later our sher jawan jumped it.For reference forget Indians just check some BD posts

Total freedom is also playing its toll on West...even they become speechless when asked why certain rules only apply to Jews, Holocaust and whatnot...Guild makes one does great things...

Nothing is free on this planet, the quicker one learns abt it the better! But for that you need to make the laws solid! We dont have such judges / politicians/ lawmakers!