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{MST 4101}

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GOVERNMENT PRESS

RELATIONS

Presented by:Malik Tariq Mahmood

PhD FellowAIOU & IIU, Islamabad

Presented to:

Dr. Abdul Wajid KhanAssistant ProfessorDept. of Media Studies

The Islamia University, Bahawalpur

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INTRODUCTION

Government-press relations developed after theindependence war in 1857. Colonialists started acontrol of terror after the war, which resulted in changeof nature of government-press relations. Earlier the

press was in an developing phase and was fighting forthe right of free expression. The Charter Freedom ofPress was presented by Ram Mohan in 1823 againstthe government regulation restricting clearly freedom ofthe press. From the partition 1947, the governmentapplied all means to control the press. During this time,the press-government relations had not been friendly

and pleasant due to their positions.

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According to Turk (1996) many studies haveaddressed elements of the relationship betweenmedia organizations and government. Governmentmedia relations is deserving of serious study

because it sits at the interface between the executiveand journalism. Herman & Chomsky (1994)identified journalists reliance on governmentsources for a steady, reliable, cost-effective andcredible flow of news. They explained: the massmedia are drawn into a symbiotic relationship withpowerful sources of information by economic

necessity and reciprocity of interest.

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A famous quotation of Stanley Wolpert who tributesMuhammad Ali Jinnah in the following words:Few individuals significantly alter the course of

history. Fewer still modify the map of the world.Hardly anyone can be credited with creating a nation-state but Mohammad Ali Jinnah did all three.Primarily, Jinnah was a lawyer and a constitutionalist.

He had a very clear perception of individualsfreedom rights especially the freedom of the press. Headvocated many cases for preserving the pressfreedom even without any invitation.

Tribute to Freedom

Fighter

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Governments try to purchase the loyalties of thepowerful journalists. Big amounts are presented to

journalists by government agencies. If some

journalist does not agree to go along them, theythreatened and warned by the governmentagencies and forced to change their attitude. Inalmost every regime, opponent writers, journalists

and editors had to face a lot of problems. Amongall these influences, the influence of thegovernment as advertiser is the most effective one

on media content.

GOVERNMENT

INFLUENCE

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Government at all levels spend millionsannually trying to manage media coverage of

their activities. The most important area oftheir influences on media contents isadvertisements. According to the Agenda-

Setting Theory government sets the agendaas per their need like the issues of LalMasjid,CJABL etc.

INFLUENCE ON MEDIA

CONTENT

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The press was dependent on govt. ads due toweak private sector and overall weak economy.Influence through funds, donations, foreign

trips, gifts, plots, etc. are some of the shapes ofgovernmental bribe to influence media content.For example, in February 2004, government hasinvited applications from journalists to allotthem plots in Islamabad and precious plotswere allotted to journalists to cater the ChiefJustices issue.

INFLUENCING

TECHNIQUES

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Stoppage of govt ads to some newspapersseldom take place. Usually it occurs in someunusual circumstances when a newspaper

decides to oppose the govt at any price, even atthe price of the stoppage of govt ads. APNScondemned the pressure of PID on newspapers

and also the use of newsprint quota/ ads tocontrol the press. Press freedom is adverselyaffected when governments use advertising to

punish critical publications.

STOPPAGE OF

ADVERTISEMENTS

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Freedom of expression has never been consistentin Pakistan. Different regimes used legal andconstitutional means to control the press from

public debate and criticism. Freedom of expressionand Pakistani press usually faces threats, violence,economic pressure, etc. The countrys law onblasphemy has been used against journalists. Poorliteracy, urban orientation of the press, and thehigh price of newspapers are detrimental factorsfor the under development of print media in

Pakistan.

INTERFERENCE IN FREEDOM

OF EXPRESSION

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The following tools ultimately construct the relationshipbetween government and media: Press Releases Press Conferences

Media Briefing Media Events (luncheons, a local fair) Radio, Television, Newspaper and Magazine Interviews Radio and Television Talk shows

Organizations own radio or television program Meeting with Editors Letters to the Editor of the Newspaper Public Service Announcements In-house Publications, Newsletters Websites

Relationship Tools

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Pakistani Government has a strong influence onmedia content through different techniques. Due toeconomic priorities and financial expenditures,newspapers have no way to ignore the advertising

income. Government, usually, have no courage totolerate criticism. Obviously, no newspaper canmake a deal of economic loss. This is the reason

why newspapers give more and more positivecoverage to the govt. There are great concerns forthe society that govt give the free hand to mediaindustry and need the attention of working for the

freedom of press.

CONCLUSION

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MALIK TARIQ MAHMOOD

AIOU & IIU, ISLAMABADmalik364@hotmail.comdaffodileye@gmail.com

0300 97 00 423

0333 54 94 223