ISLAMABAD: A marked changed was being witnessed in PTV’s ‘Khabarnama’following the federal government’s move to abolish censorship, reported BBCPushto Service.
After taking charge, Minister for Information and Broadcasting FawadChaudhry announced ending political censorship from the state-runTelevision’s news bulletins.
BBC contacted the staff of PTV to get first-hand information about theveracity of government’s claims that whether the opposition parties arebeing given adequate coverage and their criticism on the government isbeing aired or otherwise.
A significant change has been witnessed in order to air news stories in PTVbulletins, after the abolishing of censorship by the federal government, aproducer working in PTV Centre Peshawar, requesting anonymity told BBC.
Sharing details of the priority list of news stories, the producer said,earlier PTV used to air the news stories of prime minister, followed bypresident and federal ministers. Chief minister’s activities were airedafter the ministers.
Likewise, the news/activities of judges and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) weregiven prominent coverage.
According to PTV producer now the priority of airing news has changedaltogether. In the priority of news stories aired last week, the news ofPrime Minister was aired at serial no 20. In the same news bulletin, theactivities of opposition were aired prior to PM’s activities.
He said in past the criticism of sitting government was not made part ofany news bulletins. But now the news stories criticising the government area regular feature of news bulletins. No matter opposition criticise thegovernment or any other, member of the opposition, the news bulletin givesit adequate coverage.
A journalist working in PTV, Islamabad told BBC that they had been directedto ensure more coverage to opposition leaders on PTV news bulletins ascompared to past.
He said such types of directions he had received for the first time in hisfour years long service.
He said a new change is that PTV has also started covering social media’strend, it was not allowed earlier.
When asked about any notification of changing editorial policy, he said inroutine policy is conveyed verbally, which type of news stories should beaired and which are not.
Following the lifting of restrictions, observers have started doing acritical analysis of PTV.
Jibran Imam, a journalist affiliated with Geo News, Karachi, said earlierPTV was used to paint rosy picture only.
PTV had been following a conservative editorial policy regarding thecoverage of opposition and criticism to the government. However, Jibranwitnessed a significant change in this regard.
He said PTV has aired criticism which pointed fingers on the transparencyof general elections. One more change is that PTV has started accommodatingthe analysts, having a rigid stance against certain institutions, in itsprogrammes.
He said it is a big change that as some private TV channels do not dareinviting such rigid stance analysts in their programmes.
Jibran said airing criticism on government and granting PTV independence tocriticise the government are two different things. The freedom limits ofPTV’s criticism would be gauged in the coming days.
It may be mentioned here that after the end of censorship, the PTV hadposted on its Twitter account the news of the use of helicopter by Punjabchief minister. Many people had expressed views amid astonishment.
In the same post, the issue of DPO Pakpattan and issue of CM, Punjab onsocial media was posted. The issue was not yet receded, but the news ofmeeting relatives by CM Punjab on state helicopter jolted everyone.Questions were also raised on getting protocol/ security in Mian Channu byPunjab CM.
A journalist Lihaz Ali while commenting on limits of criticism enjoyed byPTV, said such liberty was not expected from PTV.
Another viewer Sangeen Alizada said PTV is the state-run institution, hefelt today that PTV is a state-run institution; it is not owned by thegovernment or any political party. – APP