The New Nation - Internet Edition

Dr. M. S. Haq

Pakistan Television's (PTV's) Date Line program is, among other things, an attempt towards sharing with viewers a daily round up of important events and developments - both within and outside of Pakistan. The critical mass of the program is apparently composed of inter alia: products of news related researches and analyses; observations, comments and opinions of Pak personalities and others on pertinent matters; materials for welding the backward and forward linkages of say, PTV's round-the-clock current affairs and other relevant programs; and elements of conclusions.

Factors such as and as appropriate: one, the meaningful, as well as skillful presentation of above program before the world viewers by such hosts as, Zubaiyer and Nazma Shafique along with concerned co-hosts and others; two, effective and efficient behind-the-scene management of the program; and three, overall PTV efforts, as well as leadership associated with making the program at least an acceptable one - on a continuous basis - to the viewers; have been instrumental in adding additional quality dimensions to the program. Congratulations! Keep up the good work.

Let us now focus on the day before yesterday's Date Line. One of the main attractions of the program was: the discussion sessions with Information Minister Sherry Rehman and with another federal minister of Pakistan. The discussion was focused on a variety of matters pertaining and ancillary to late PM Benezir (peace be upon her) on the occasion of her receiving - posthumously - the UN human rights award. The participation and the performance of both the ministers with regard to the discussion sessions were apparently fine - relative however, to time, space and other variables. In that respect, it will not be out of place to mention here: the content, the thrust and the presentational skills of the federal minister (sorry! I cannot remember his name at this point in time) were, in many respects, found to be more interesting, more human, more immune to stereotype political rhetoric, more concise, more precise, more impact-oriented, more lesson bearing and more intelligent than those of Rehman in pertinent areas.

The nature, the tone and the content of reply of Minister Rehman to one of the questions posed by the male co-host of Date Line - during the initial stage of discussion - appear to me, as a viewer, a product of rudeness and ineffective criticism on her part than a product of politeness and lessons on again her part. Interesting though, I have not so far come across such a personality component of the Minister over the electronic media. There could be several reasons for that.

But I believe criticism of above nature - when it involves say, subordinates, direct, indirect or otherwise - should be done in camera and it (meaning, the criticism) should be more constructive, more motivational and more impact-oriented. One of the concerns here is: inappropriate media (print, electronic, others) behaviours could send to world viewers including inter alia Pakistani viewers a mixed signal about Pakistan, people of Pakistan, political parties of Pakistan, political party leaders of Pakistan and concerned others in pertinent areas - at the time when the country is going through a severe image crisis, among other things.

let us work towards transforming the media (print, electronic, others) into inter alia a solid and positive source or force (or both) of knowledge, information, understanding, learning and development including empowerment in pertinent areas - for all. Let us minimize, if not stop the wasteful use of 21st century ICT opportunities in an increasing knowledge based and ever competitive universe. Let us use the media as one of the reliable, friendly and productive partners in the fight against say, falsehoods, terrorism, superstitions, extremism, poverty, hunger, deprivation, corruption, poor governance, injustice and inequality. Let us also work towards enhancing media immunities to infections due for example to: naïve realism; lack of objectivity; lack of innovativeness; unfair practices on the part of media employers, media employees and concerned others; commercialism; politicization; conflict mongering; and peace breaking.