MCM304 Handouts 1 to 45-updated
- Oldest mass medium: print media.
- 10th century: handmade press established.
- 15th-16th century: book printing started in Europe.
- Early mass media faced restrictions due to imperialism and the Church's influence in Europe.
- Rulers feared print media would empower people to challenge authority, leading to capital punishment for publishers.
- Democratic societies asserted knowledge as a basic right.
- Print media adopted a simple style, lacking headlines and format settings.
- Newspapers condemned East India Company's actions, fostering unity.
- Urdu papers took a strong stance against the Company.
- Queen Victoria declared India a colony in 1858.
- Sir Syed Ahmed Khan advocated modern education to end suppression.
- Militant Journalism: bold stance against British rule by figures like Maulana Zafar Ali Khan.
- Quaid-e-Azam published Dawn to support the Pakistan Movement.
- Post-independence: mass communication lacked structure; limited functional radio stations.
- Challenges: refugee crisis, infrastructure, administration hindered press freedom.
- 'Imroz' publication gathered a strong team.
- 1953: 'Kohistan' introduced Offset printing.
- 1953: communal riots led to blaming newspapers for provocation.
- 1960: Magazines were replaced by ‘Digests’.
- Gen Ayub Khan imposed Martial Law, government took over Progressive Papers Ltd. and news agencies.
- National Press Trust was established, government gained control over newspapers.
- 1961: press laws were reformed, but remained restrictive.
- Deputy Commissioner's power to refuse declarations was introduced.
- Government used advertising and import license restrictions to manipulate newspapers.
- 1965 war: media supported government stance, protests against Tashqand agreement.
- Government celebrated “A decade of development” in 1968.
- Ayub Khan ignored mass media's watchdog role, leading to public hatred and his downfall.
- Newspapers shifted focus from politics to social issues due to martial law restrictions.
- Supplements: sports, women, youth
- Feature writing new dimension, plus pictures.
- Rise of glamorous journalism by publishing film pages and film bulletins.
- Entry of television affected newspapers readership.
- Official statements of government ministers replaced the touch of political news.
- Papers of Ayub’s era were not to build a public opinion but they were for masses to assert the news of government policies.
- General Yahya announced elections date in Dec 1970.
- Mass media displayed a lack of responsibility by reporting rumors and speculations.
- Press and Publication Ordinance (PPO) was not employed, causing newspapers to start again.
- National Press Trust favored rightists.
- Musawat, Kohistan, & Jasarat were started by polital entities.
- Azad newspaper played a fair role.
- Pakistani media failed to inform the people so they could not pressurize the government to transfer power to ‘Awami League’.
- Language barrier between East & West Pakistan.
- Geographical borders of East Pakistan and West Pakistan were never joined.
- East Pakistanis language was Bengali.
- West Pakistanis language was Urdu
- National identity is always on communication, Common literature, Common culture and daily aspects of life.
- The most popular political party of Awami League was banned in 1970.
- The decision of military operation 1000 miles away without any land contact was also not feasible.
- Newspapers never gave a true picture to the people of Pakistan.
- People were Pessimistic after the separation of East Pakistan.
- Pakistan faced economic crisis and tarnished reputation.
- General Yahya government handover government to Pakistan Peoples Party.
- Newspapers encouraged the people and gave them the self belief.
- Newspapers assured people that separation of Pakistan was a political failure it never meant that ideology or philosophy of Pakistan was no more.
- Economic problem was solved by the aid of Libya and Saudi Arabia.
- Second Islamic Conference was held in 1974 in Lahore.
- Pakistani mass media during the OIC session portrayed the feelings of Muslim Ummah in a very positive and appreciable way.
- In 1974, India also tested nuclear devices and Z. A. Bhutto declared that Pakistan would also acquire nuclear technology. Pakistani newspapers published many articles in which they justified the need of Nuclear weapons.
- Mass media awareness about the approved constitution.
- Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto signed Shimla agreement with the Indian Government and 93000 Pakistani army prisoners were released.
- Elections were held in 1977.
- Mass media in this movement very clearly presented the stance of opposition parties.
- On 5th July, Gen Zia ul Haq enforced 3rd martial law.
- PFUJ started a movement against the censorship policies of Gen Zia.
- Communist philosophy negates God and provokes godless society.
- Pakistani media favored this holy war against communism.
- Pakistani papers started to think that religion is a sensitive issue so they do not to touch such issues in the editorial and articles.
- Afghan Crisis and Iranian revolution effected Pakistan.
- The religious based political parties got a major role in the country politics.
- All the newspapers of that time covered Afghan stories and fully supported Mujahidin and Jihadi groups.
- Demands of General Zia ul Haq to perform a basic role in Afghan crisis:
a) Arms supply given to Mujahideen should be of Russian origin and no American ammunition would be used.
b) No other country including USA would be allowed to contact Mujahideen directly and aid for the Afghan refugees would be dealt through Pakistan.
c) At a given time two aero planes loaded with ammunition will land in Pakistan. Further arms supply to be made after confirmation by this country. - Religious groups also got encouragement that they were fighting a bigger enemy on the name of Jihad. This aspect encouraged religious extremism and sectarian violence in the country.
- Pakistani papers started to think that religion is a sensitive issue so they do not to touch such issues in the editorial and articles.
- Non party elections were held to lift martial law and M. Khan Junejo was appointed the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
- Michael Gorbachauf came into power and he thought communism was not powerful enough so he amended the system completely.
- M. Khan Junejo was dismissed by General Zia ul Haq.
- A new trend of evening newspapers was introduced.
- In 1998, a conflict was established between Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Jang group.
- In 1998 India tested its nuclear devices and adopted very aggressive policy against Pakistan.
Pakistan Towards Press Freedom
- Freedom of expression in Pakistan started with the arrival of care taking government after the tragedy of Bhawalpur in 1988.
- Pakistan was also affected by the new satellite technology and Dish antennas became quite common.
- The inquiry report of Dhaka fall named as Hamood Ur Rehman Commission Report was published after 34 years in 2005.
- The frame work of International politics also changed drastically after 9/11 tragedy in the US.
- Despite all these things the statements of President Musharaf that Terrorism cannot be eradicated from this world unless the root causes of terrorism are removed.
- During Iraq war for the first time private TV channels and newspapers sent their representatives to Jordan and Syria near Iraq border to get the real picture.
- The decision of Musharaf Government to support US after 9/11 cost a lot for Pakistan.
- Every newspaper tries to keep itself in the main stream.
- In Pakistan many newspapers staff is untrained.
- In Pakistan the main stream newspapers are either English or Urdu newspapers.
- The best example of the difference of opinion between English and Urdu newspapers can be seen in 1998.
- Religious extremism is condemned by English newspapers while Urdu newspapers have no such policy.
- However, their policy was found different for Urdu newspapers and different for English newspapers.
- The basic reason for government failure in catering religious extremism was the role of Urdu newspapers as the Urdu papers never supported government on this issue.
- In Pakistan Urdu and English newspapers are different in content regarding religious extremism.
- It is true that radio, TV and newspapers should not be a tool for Propaganda.
- In any state there can be four influential groups namely Policy Makers, Military Elites, Politicians and Civilians.
- Pakistani mass media is still working on the same footing as it did in the past in the time of Pakistan movement.
Newspaper Contents and Changes in It Over the Period of Time
- In the beginning all newspapers were not in this form as they are seen today. In earlier phase, newspapers were just in a story form and there was no concept of formatting of news.
- nowadays basic segments in a newspaper are advertising, editorial, and news.
- In fact this marketing is a device to address the interest of the readers so that the circulation of the newspapers can be enhanced.
- Editorials are another important segment in a newspaper. The subjective opinion of every kind is given on this page.
- Reporting is the third important segment of a newspaper. Every kind of news is classified into its respective beat.
New Trends of Journalism in Pakistan
- Important things in the formation of a newspaper: Make up, Designing and Printing and Stall value.
- Important aspect of pictoral journalism is show biz and advertising.
- New trend that is emerged in our newspapers is forum discussion.
- There is a wide difference in news and a feature. Features are not time bound while news are time bounds. Features can be objective and subjective while news is always objective.
Magazine Journalism
- Magazine: periodical publication with a variety of articles.
- Journal: professional periodical.
- 1731: "Gentleman’s Magazine" first used the term Magazine.
- Major contribution of periodicals in the history of Pakistan had been in the area of literature.
Types of Magazines:
- Literary: Ex:) Sawera, Naqsh, Naya Daur, etc.; After 60s one by one they vanished and digest magazines took their place.
- Religious: Ex:) In 19th century when journalism was taking its shape in sub-continent the most popular periodicals were religious magazines.
- Film: Most popular periodicals worldwide.
- Sports: Information on sports.
- Political: The major reason of their decline is newspapers.
- Women’s: A women’s magazine has everything of women’s interest.
- Children’s: Phool Children magazine was one of the most popular children’s magazine of sub-continent before independence.
- Fashion: Fashion magz is their quality of Photo Journalism, which is very high.
- Digest: Digest