BOOK: Media & Media Laws in Pakistan

| by Yasmeen Ali

( September 11, 2012, Lahore, Sri Lanka Guardian) The book is a comparative analysis of Media & Media Laws in Pakistan. This book tries to address questions raised in every sphere. It is not another “theory book” expounding concepts. It moves beyond discussing concepts to what issues exist in the world of communications in Pakistan. What are the questions that need to be addressed by relevant authorities in different mediums of communication and their possible solutions too, are offered.

Excerpts:

John Swinton, the doyen of the New York press corps, upon his retirement, made the following speech(Excerpt):

“There is no such thing, at this stage of the world’s history in America, as an independent press. You know it and I know it. There is not one of you who dare write your honest opinions, and if you did, you know beforehand that it would never appear in print. I am paid weekly for keeping my honest opinions out of the paper I am connected with. Others of you are paid similar salaries for similar things, and any of you who would be foolish as to write honest opinions would be out on the streets looking for another job. If I allowed my honest opinions to appear in one issue of my papers, before twenty four hours, my occupation would be gone. The business of the journalist is to destroy the truth, to lie outright, to pervert, to vilify, fawn at the feet of Mammon, and to sell his country and his race for his daily bread. You know it and I know it, and what folly is this toasting of an independent press?….”

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Christopher Warren, President IFJ states, “A free press must be held accountable for its conduct but criminal defamation laws threaten the liberty of journalists and the fearless nature of a truly free press. Meanwhile, outrageous civil defamation damages suits threaten the economic viability of media organizations.”

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A well- known quote, largely attributed to Voltaire, is originally of Evelyn Beatrice Hall, who wrote under the pen name of S.G Tallentyre, known for her biography of Voltaire titled, “The Friends of Voltaire”, Hall, wrote in that biography, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it” is the tenet on which the very principle of right to freedom of expression rests.