Working for the news department of Pakistan Television is a thankless job. It's all about second guessing the reaction of rulers to the content and treatment of news and opinions, and shaping them accordingly. In so doing, loyalty to the government far outweighs the integrity of facts, because the worth of PTV journalism is not decided by universal principles and ethics but the authority of a bureaucrat heading the ministry of information and broadcasting, and personal whims of whoever happens to hold power.
For better part of its half a century of existence, PTV has diligently upheld the supremacy of favourable spin over inconvenient truth, but is not always appreciated. Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, for one, is least impressed. On August 27, he ordered an inquiry into what newspaper reports termed 'unsatisfactory performance of PTV'. Mr. Gilani invoked people's right to access information, while directing the information secretary to conduct the probe.
What the PM perceived to be an infringement of people's right was apparently nothing more sinister than a little editing of his talk during an iftar party for media representatives. Parts of the Q&A session were edited in the PTV broadcast which incensed the PM so. According to a member of the inquiry team the producer of the event did not get a clean voice recording and edited out parts that were not audible. That created 'jumps' in the PM's otherwise smooth talk.
The probe is still on and the final report is expected to reflect the post-eid mood of the PM and his media advisers, rather than the merits of the case. If Mr. Gilani's ire was borne out of momentary drop in his blood pressure due to fasting, the producer will get away with a warning. If the prime ministerial displeasure persists after eid, the producer may have to do time in PTV Academy - the Kala Pani of the state broadcaster. What's certain either way is more insecurity among the PTV journalists and therefore more self-censorship, that will continue to redefine audiences' right to know.
