Public, somehow, sees inconsistencies and unethical behaviour only in media practices. But that’s not where the problem lies. Rather it lies in the failure to recognize that media is both a function and a mirror of the society itself. And when the public sees this reflection they are not only aghast by it, but as a consequence they blame the media for mirroring their true picture. The critique that the Pakistani media is obsessed with negative news, also falls within this context.
Just observe a typical drawing room or office conversation and it will most likely centre around traffic problems, a troubling car, lack of good domestic helpers, racism, government glitches, or otherwise complaints and more complaints. And this is exactly what media reflects. People tend to enjoy negativity …like a dense crowd of onlookers at an accident site. This is reality and rarely do we see it, so lets gather around and watch it. But if it’s on TV, it’s such a shame.
Catch 22 folks: If journalists raise too many issues they are spreading negativity and if they don’t, they are either playing ostrich, or have ‘sold their souls’. One has to bear in mind that media after all is a business venture and caters to what its consumers want, and if they want spice, then spice is what they get.
Then there are those, who argue that media should be more ethical because of its high impact on society; and the answer to them is this: let us not make ethics a function of level of influence, power and so forth. If unethical behaviour is to be condemned then capital market speculation, commodity hoarding, risky lending by financial institutions, subli-minal advertising which impairs natural decision making of the consumer, and so forth should also be ‘equally’ lamented upon. A thief is a thief: doesn’t matter if he steals a penny or a pound, so let us not rebuke journalists while letting others off scot-free.
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