Media [Content]

Regulations
How?
Code of Conduct
and Code of
Ethics!!!
Muhammad Aftab Alam
 Pakistan’s Media
Landscape
Newspapers (Audit Bureau of Circulation - ABC):
Daily (706), Weekly (121), Fortnightly (15) Monthly (147) – Total (989)

Newspapers (APNS):
Full Members (208), Associate Members (263) – Total (471)

Television Channels (PEMRA licenced): 124

Radio Stations (PEMRA licenced):

Commercial (175), Non-Commercial (60)

Cellphone users: 193 million (87.74% tele-density)

3G/4G users (azz, zong, ufone, telenor, etc.,): 113 million (51.24%
tele-density)

Broadband internet users (ptcl, nayatel, etc.,): 116 million (52.60%

tele-density)

Social media users:

Facebook users: Around 50 million
Twitter users: Approximately 05 million
Youtube news and current affairs channels – 500 +
Regulatory Framework for Media and Internet in Pakistan

Newspapers:
Deputy Commisioner, Press Registrar, Press
Council of Pakistan, Editor, Ombudsperson

Television, Radio, Cable Distribution:

Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority
(PEMRA)

Internet:
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA)

Social / Online / Digital Media

PTA and FIA ??? (PECA)
Should content be regulated? How?

Newspapers (print only)

Television / Radio

Social media platforms (facebook, twitter, google,

tiktok etc.,)

Online communication / VOIP (Whatsapp,

messengers, etc.,)

Digital / online journalism platforms (Naya Daur,

Hum Sub, Dawn.com, Voicepk, Tribal News
Network, Sujag, Ibex Media, etc.,)

Youtube Channels (journalism and non-

journalism)
 What is a Code of
Conduct?
Code of conduct is a set of rules outlining the
social norms, religious rules and
responsibilities of, and or proper practices for,
an individual. – Wikipedia

Code of conduct - for a group or organization

- is an agreement on rules of behaviour for the
members of that group or organization. –
Collins Dictionary

Code of conduct - an agreement on rules of

behavior for a group or organization
 Code of Ethics?
Code of Ethics: a value statement that
behaves like the constitution with general
principles to guide behaviour;

Code of Ethics: outlining a set of principles

that affect decision-making.

Codes of Ethics: governs decision-making

Codes of Conduct: governs actions

 Code as Self-Regulatory
Instrument

Codes are mainly considered as “essential [voluntary]

instruments of self-regulation.”

“Whoever enjoys a special measure of freedom, like a

professional journalist, has an obligation to society to
use their freedoms and powers responsibly” -
Straubhaar, LaRose & Davenport in Media Now:
Understanding Media, Culture, and Technology (2010)

Codes are “a fundamental point of reference, guiding

journalists on their role, their rights and obligations
and how they can best perform their job; all while
representing a standard against which their work can
be assessed.” – Yavuz Baydar, who introduced the
concept of ombudsmanship to the Turkish press
Principles of Ethical
Journalism
Independence – of any interest

Truth and Accuracy – facts checking

Fairness and Impartiality – objective and

unbiased

Humanity – create no harm

Accountability – self-reflection

Privacy – of subject of the news

Pluralism – inclusivity and multiple set of

voices
 Media Commission &
Code of Conduct
Constitutional Petition No.105/2012 - known as Hamid
Mir and Absar Alam Case

The Petitioners prayed for:

the reform the existing Code of Conduct of the PEMRA

January 15, 2013: Supreme Court constituted a

Commission – known as Media Commission –
comprising retired justice, Nasir Aslam Zahid and
former senator Javed Jabbar

Commission’s Mandated: (among its other Terms of

References – “consider the feasibility of letting the
media adopt a self-regulatory code of conduct, instead
of content regulation, in the light of international
standards and practices.”
Media Commission &
Code of Conduct
May 31, 2013: The commission completed its task
within five months and submitted the report

The commission recommended to form a task force

comprising media specialists to review all media
laws, including formulation of a new Code of
Conduct (CoC).

The government formed two bodies:

A 9-member task force to review all existing rules
and regulations related to media and to suggest
amendments; and
A committee, headed by Mr. Irfan Siddiqui, with the
mandate to remove ambiguities in CoC for media.
 Media Commission &
Code of Conduct
The second (Irfan Siddiqui) committee was consisted of:
President of All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS)
President of Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA)
President of Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE)
Secretary Law, Justice and Human Rights Division
Additional secretary of the information ministry.

August 19, 2015: Federal Ministry of Information,

Broadcasting and National Heritage issued a notification of a
new Code of Conduct (CoC) for private sector media
broadcasters and cable operators in Pakistan.

Section 19 of PEMRA Ordinance exclusively authorises

the regulator “to devise a Code of Conduct for programmes
and advertisements” for its licensees.
 Salient Features of
the Code of Conduct
Fundamental Principles:

No content: -
against Islamic value, ideology of Pakistan of founding
fathers of the nation
that incites or condones dislodgement of
democratic setup against the commands of the
constitution
that includes a call to arm against the Federation of
Pakistan or anything against the integrity, security and
defence of Pakistan
passes derogatory remarks about any religion, sect,
community or uses visuals of words contemptuous of
religious sects and ethnic groups or which promotes
communal and sectarian attitude or disharmony
 Salient Features of
the Code of Conduct
No content should: -
contains anything indecent, obscene or pornographic
contains abusive comments that incites hatred and
contempt against any individual or group of persons, on
the basis of race, caste, nationality, ethnic or linguistic
origin, color, religion, sect, gender, age, mentality or
physical disability
likely to incite, aid, abet, glamorize or justify
violence, commission of any crime, terror or leads to
serious public disorder
known to be false; or there exists sufficient reasons to
be believe that the same may be false beyond a
reasonable doubt
contains aspersions against the judiciary or armed
forces of Pakistan
 Salient Features of
the Code of Conduct
No content that: -
amounts to intimidation, blackmail or false
incrimination of any person
is defamatory as defined in the law for the time
being
depicts behavior such as smoking, alcohol
consumption, narcotics and drug abuse as
glamorous or desirable
is expunged from the proceedings of the Senate,
National or any provincial assembly
is containing statements of proscribed
organizations or their representatives unless
statement of admission
 Salient Features of the Code of
Conduct

Coverage of incidents of accidents, violence and

crime
no to incite, glamorized or in any way promote violence or
anti-social behavior and such coverage does not
prejudice the success of an ongoing security
operation
appropriate warning for content which may be potentially
disturbing or upsetting
no scenes with violence or suffering such as close-up shots
of persons brutally tortured or killed
extreme caution in handling themes, plots or scenes that
depict sex offence and violence including rape and sexual
assault
identity of any victim of rape, sexual abuse, terrorism or
kidnapping or such victim’s family shall not be revealed
without prior permission of the victims or victim’s guardian
 Salient Features of the Code of
Conduct

Coverage of incidents of accidents, violence and

crime
identity and number of victims or other important
information – not to be revealed – during any ongoing
rescue security operation
no live coverage of any ongoing security operation by
the law enforcement agencies
coverage of activities in conflict zone – carried out in
accordance with the guidelines issues by the concerned
law enforcement agency
No entry of reporters, cameramen or other crew – in the area
where security operation is being carried out – without prior
permission of the security agency incharge of the operation
licensee to provide necessary protection gear and training to
its reporters, cameramen and other crew deployed for
coverage of any crime incident or conflict zone
 Salient Features of
the Code of Conduct
Editorial oversight
Prior review of the content, to be aired, by the licensee
[and not by an independent editorial board]

Programme Mix and Live Coverage

No licensee shall broadcast any live programme unless
there is an ‘effective delaying mechanism’ put in
place to ensure effective monitoring and editorial
control in conformity with this Code

Monitoring Committees
Licensee shall appoint in-house monitoring
committees under the intimation to the PEMRA to
ensure compliance of the Code
 Other Codes /
Legislation
Ethical Code of Practice of the Press
Council of Pakistan

Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)

Code of Conduct for Media – 2018

Code of Conduct of the Pakistan Federal

Union of Journalists (PFUJ)

Protection of Journalists and Media

Professionals Act 2021
To promote, protect and effectively ensure the
independence, impartiality, safety and freedom of
expression of journalists and media professionals

National Commission for Human Rights