Pemra has served show cause notices to 17 private TV channels for airing unedited live footages of blood, gore, dead and mutilated bodies amid a private plane crash, says a press release issued here on Wednesday.
In addition to Pemra's own monitoring, the action is supplemented by several complaints lodged at Pemra Call Centre wherein people had registered immense displeasure over the irresponsible behaviour of TV channels while covering that highly traumatic incident.
Many complainants have questioned their ethics of journalism and doubted their expertise to cover such events, and said TV channels by repeating excessively distressing images and news in insisting tones merely added depression rather than providing objective news. In warning issued to TV channels, the coverage was termed extremely un-ethical and irresponsible.
The Authority has also issued notices to other 24 entertainment TV channels on account of airing indecent, vulgar and unethical programmes, advertisements, shows, excessive foreign content and intruding to personal and family life of people. Also on this very aspect, the feedback from general public is suggestive of their annoyance.
There is no harm in taking edge over other channels in dissemination of timely and accurate news, but the quest must not be to take lead in indecency or irregularity. It's high time that the channels must realise their responsibility and define the Dos and Don'ts. The channels have also been summoned to show cause under section 20 (c) & (f) of Pemra Ordinance and Rule 15 (1) of Pemra Rules.
Despite the adequate code is well in place and channels claim to follow it voluntarily but spade-a-spade coverage of dead, mutilated bodies of victims was horrific and insane. The Authority is now seriously thinking to take punitive action because such irresponsible acts of TV channels are not only adding disrepute to their very own channels but also fetch public wrath against regulator. Pemra has resolved to take punitive action under the laws if such violations are not stopped henceforth.-PR