Role of TV as Watchdog of the Society

Role of TV as Watchdog of the Society

Watchdog Journalism

Watchdog journalism is a form of investigative journalism where the author or the publisher
fact-checks and interviews political figures and authorities, thereby verifying the validity of their
actions and statements”
Watchdog journalism usually takes on a form of beat reporting about specific aspects and issues
Pakistani media is known as a vibrant, revolutionary and overwhelmingly powerful tool in
shaping society’s opinion on a host of issues and for serving as a watchdog of government
actions.
Since 2002, the Pakistani media has become powerful and independent and the number of
private television channels has grown to 89, according to the Pakistan Electronic Media
Regulatory Authority. Since the introduction of these vibrant TV channels, many major scams
have been unveiled by journalists.

⮚ Pakistan Steel Mill’s Rs22 billion scam
⮚ NICL case
⮚ corruption in Pakistan International Airlines and Pakistan Railways,
⮚ Hajj corruption case,
⮚ NATO containers’ case,
⮚ rental power projects and the ephedrine quota case.

1. Pakistan Steel Mills

Pakistan Steel Mills • three cases were registered against the directors and chairman of the
National Insurance Corporation Limited (NICL). A case of
vfraud of Rs12 billion is also under investigation against the directors of the Trading Corporation
of Pakistan

2. Hajj Corruption Case

Hajj Corruption Case: Judge Malik Nazir Ahmad from special court central, a lower court,
also sentenced Director General (DG) Haj Rao Shakeel to 40 years in prison. Joint secretary for
religious affairs Aftab Aslam was also sentenced to 16 years. • Kazmi and Aftab were arrested
from the court premises after the sentence was pronounced and escorted to Adiala Jail by Federal
Investigation Agency (FIA) officials. Shakeel is already in custody of the National
Accountability Bureau in Lahore.

3. Panama Papers leak case

On April 3rd, 2016 the (ICIJ) made 11.5 million secret documents, later known as Panama
Papers available to the public. The documents, sourced from Panamanian law firm among other
revelations about other public figures in many other countries, included details of eight offshore
companies with links to the family of Nawaz Sharif Prime Minister of Pakistan and his brother
Shehbaz Shareef the Chief Minister of Punjab.
According to the ICICLE, Sharif’s children “were owners or had the right to authorise
transactions for several companies so as a result of TV coverage to this issue Nawaz shreef was
disqualified and many of the Nawaz spotters change their opinion about PMLN and the result
could be seen as PTI WON the election because though TV and media or we can say TV and
media has shaped or changed public opinion about PMLN.

Do TV or Media Fulfills their responsibility

However, the question remains whether the media fulfills the responsibilities it claims to or does
it only look after its monetary or political interest.

⮚ On July 28 Airblue Flight ED-202 crashed into the Margalla Hills in Islamabad, killing
all 152 passengers and crew members, and recent PIA plane crash in Karachii as the
entire nation looked on in horror. Instantly, the electronic media paid unprecedented
attention towards the incident the entire day. The Prime Minster expressed his grief over
the incident and did not hesitate to announce that he would make the inquiry report of
crash public within three months. The following day saw front pages of all mainstream
newspapers flooded with stories regarding the tragedy.
⮚ Same day, newsrooms focused on reporting another tragic incident – the devastating
floods. Rescue efforts were initiated nationwide and the media, without a doubt, played a
tremendous role running campaigns on the TV as well as in newspapers for the support of
flood victims.

⮚ However, at the same time, distressed families who lost their loved ones in the crash
expected that the media’s attention would soon return to their plight and press demand for
the inquiry into the crash. Unfortunately, this did not happen. With time the crash was
forgotten, leaving many questions unanswered. Requests for an Supreme Court Suo motu
action also went in vain same is the case with the recent plane crash at the end when there
was no one to be blamed the all started blaming the pilot .If we think we can get the same
sort of justice from the system as is available to the first world, we would be fooling
ourselves

CONCLUSION

From above mentioned example it is very clear that media TV can hold anyone accountable or
we cam say is can hold authorities accountable. But still there is fact do media fairly do justice
with their job or political pressure and pressure by the stake holder resist them to do actual role
of watchdog.