PTI leadership and journalists slam Pemra’s directive on discussions & analysis on TV shows

Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has barred television anchors from giving their “opinions” during talk shows and limited their role to “moderator”.

The electronic media watchdog also directed the anchors hosting regular shows “not to appear as experts” in talk shows on their own or other channels.

Furthermore, the media houses have been advised to select the guests in talk shows with the utmost care and keeping given their knowledge and expertise in a particular subject.

The directive issued to all satellite TV channel licensees, says, “Participants/invitees should be selected with due care having credibility as fair and unbiased analysts with requisite knowledge/expertise on the subject matter.

As per Pemra’s code of conduct, the role of anchors is to moderate the programs in an objective, unbiased and impartial manner, excluding themselves from their personal opinions, biases, and judgments on any issue.

Therefore, anchors hosting exclusive regular shows should not appear in talk shows whether own or other channels as subject matter expert”.

This Pemra’s move to regulate news show panels has ignited a new debate. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s leaders have slammed the media watchdog for issuing this order, banning TV anchors from appearing on other talk shows.

Former finance minister Asad Umer, Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari and Federal Minister for Science & Technology Fawad Chauhdry on Monday took to social media to express their concerns and dismay over Pemra’s decision.

 

Many media personnel and journalists also took to social media registering their protest over Pemra’s orders.

 

However, new reports claim that Pemra has taken a U-Turn, issuing a new statement claiming that some people misinterpreted its advisory issued yesterday.