Press Councils must monitor media: Justice Sawant

By Haroon Habib

DHAKA, APRIL 5. Judges, editors of national dailies and politicians have appealed to media professionals to uphold `fairness doctrine' and freedom of the press defying lures of undesirable income and overcoming all forms of influence to protect the fundamental rights of the people.

The appeal was made at a round table on ``The role of Press Council in upholding press freedom and protecting individual rights'' organised by the Bangladesh Press Council at the National Press Club here on Tuesday. Visiting President of the World Association of Press Councils (WAPC) and Chairman of Press Council of India, Mr. Justice P. B. Sawant, the Chairman of Bangladesh Press Council, Mr. Justice Habibur Rahman Khan, Secretary-General of WAPC, Mr. R. Gunasingum, leading editors and columnists of Bangladesh including journalist union leaders of the country took part in the round table.

Mr. Justice P. B. Sawant said many internal and external pressure groups including owners of media industries, financiers, advertisement providers, political groups, bureaucrats, mafia groups and religious leaders tried to put pressure on the journalists to produce reports to meet their own needs. He said the press councils across the world should monitor the media and help them adhere to the `fairness doctrine'. Every news industry has its own ideological tilts but that should never get reflected in the news, he observed. Justice Sawant said that all media - print or electronic - had the right to interpret any event but while doing so they should be cautious about twisting news with opinion. He said the facts should not be suppressed or manipulated under any circumstance. ``To fulfill the social responsibility and to meet the greater interests of the nation there should be difference between toothpaste or chocolate industries with all newspaper industry,'' the WAPC leader said.

Referring to the enormous power of modern media industries, he said, `we should never forget the saying that Absolute power corrupts absolutely.' The judge warned, ``Media in the hands of wrong people can be dangerous.'' Mr. Justice Sawant said though unfortunate it was a fact that many socalled journalists don't live on their salaries. Referring to his country's experience, he pointed out, ``Some people give deposits to some newspaper houses to get accredited to press and some bad professionals try to downgrade their business rivals through media.''

The chief of Indian Press Council (IPC) said that at least 30 per cent of the complaints received by IPC were filed by the press against government departments and officials. ``Press councils are not substitute to courts,'' the judge said, adding that ``the press councils in different countries should serve as internal self-regulating machinery by the press and of the press''.

Mr. Justice Habibur Rahman Khan said Article 39 of Bangladesh Constitution ensured freedom of expression and freedom of the press. ``If the Press is allowed to exercise unbridled freedom it can do more harm than good to the society.

Therefore, it has been provided in the Constitution that freedom must be exercised subject to reasonable restriction for monitoring the progress of the newspapers to ensure freedom of the press, to see that there is no violation of ethics by the newspapers and journalists, to take steps for preventing the abuse by the media and journalists which may threaten the freedom of others,'' he said.

Mr. Justice Khan said the Press Council Act of 1974 was enacted for maintaining and upholding press freedom and for safeguarding and protecting individual rights. The Bangladesh Press Council was autonomous, quasi-judicial body consisting of Chairman and 14 other members. He also wanted penal powers for the Press Council.

The Secretary General of WAPC Mr. R. Gunasingum, expressed the hope that the next world conference of WAPC would be held in Bangladesh, some time next year.

Mr. Reazuddin Ahmed, Chief Editor of the Financial Express said the Press Council should try to raise an effective, ethical and moral barrier to stop judgment by the press, as `trial by press' is perceived as hazardous. He said media people should learn how far they could go.

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Section  : International
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