MassCom Digest: Notes, Theories & Media Trends

MASS MEDIA IN PAKISTAN Topic: Film/Motion Picture Film or movie is a form of entertainment that enacts a story by a sequence of images giving the illusionof continuous movement. They are also called motion picture because a film or a movie works on thetheme of pictures in motion. Film in Sub-Continent The Lumier Brothers of France exhibited their short films in December 1895 at Grande Cafe, Paris. Thefollowing year, they brought the show to India and held its premiere at the Watson Hotel in Bombay on7 July 1896. Raja Harishchandra (1913) was the first silent feature film made in subcontinent. It was made byDadasahebPhalke.By the 1930s, the industry was producing over 200 films per annum. The first Indian sound film,ArdeshirIrani'sAlamAra (1931), was a super hit. There was clearly a huge market for talkies andmusicals; Bollywood and all the regional film industries quickly switched to sound filming. Film – a popular medium of communication Film is an important and a very p...

Origin of concept what is universal declaration of human rights? The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Universal Declaration) is an international document that states basic rights and fundamental freedoms to which all human beings are entitled. when was universal declaration created? The Universal Declaration was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 10 December 1948. Motivated by the experiences of the preceding world wars, the Universal Declaration was the first time that countries agreed on a comprehensive statement of inalienable human rights. Australia played an important role in the development of the Universal Declaration. what does universal declaration say? The Universal Declaration begins by recognising that ‘the inherent dignity of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world’. It declares that human rights are universal – to be enjoyed by all people, no matter who they are or where they live....

In 1971 crisis, journalists and newspapers were under strict observation and no journalist or newspaper was permitted to write about situation or incidents happening in East Pakistan, to keep the people blind of the situation. Freedom of press which was bestowed on newspapers and journalists was for obscene and immoral things, not for objective or unbiased reporting. People’s right to know was an unacceptable thing to the government. Later, nation’s anger over country’s humiliating defeat by India boiled into street demonstrations throughout country. To forestall further unrest, General Yahya hastily surrendered his powers to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto of Pakistan People’s Party. After Dhaka fall media played a great role in re-boasting nation’s morale that were very disappointed over country’s division into two parts and brought them back to the real life. Even then Draconian law, PPO was revived again and used against the press by the new government. Weekly Outlook and Punjab Punch were cl...

Freedom of expression Article 19 of the Pakistan constitution   reiterates the freedom of expression and speech in these worlds “Every citizen shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression and there shall be freedom of press, subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interest of the glory of Islam or the integrity, security or defense of Pakistan or any part thereof, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court {commission of} or incitement to an offence” The constitutional provision for freedom of expression and media is in consonance with the internationally recognized role of the states to regulate all the entities within its territorial limits in such a way that they contribute to the strengthening of the state, its ideological moorings, national interests and the moral values of the society with a view to promote peace and tranquility in the country. In fact there is no con...

CPNE The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) has worked since its foundation in 1957 as the combined body of Newspaper Editors in Pakistan to campaign for defense of press freedom and the right of access to information in the service of democratic practice and strengthening of democratic institutions in the country. The members of CPNE i.e newspapers editors have also adopted a Code of Ethics which lays down the norms for maintaining the dignity of the print media as a non-partisan and professional high standard in member publications in respect of publications of news, views, comments and other write-ups. CPNE Code of Ethics An Ethical Code of Practice is formulated as under for the press for the purpose of its functioning in accordance with the canons of decency, principles of professional conduct and precepts of freedom and responsibility to serve the public interest by ensuring an unobstructed flow of news and views to the people envisaging that honesty, accuracy, object...

PMRA (PEMRA) PEMRA has been established under PEMRA Ordinance 2002 to facilitate and regulate the private electronic media. It has mandate to improve the standards of information, education and entertainment and to enlarge the choice available to the people of Pakistan Including news, current affairs, religious knowledge, art and culture as well as science and technology. PEMRA MANDATE Improve the standards of information, education and entertainment ; Enlarge the choice available to the people of Pakistan in the media for news, current affairs, religious knowledge, art, culture, science, technology, economic development, social sector concerns, music, sports, drama and other subjects of public and national interest ; Facilitate the devolution of responsibility and power to the grass roots by improving the access of the people to mass media at the local and community level ; Ensure accountability, transparency and good governance by optimization the free flow of information. ...