All over the world, the print and electronic media have received an enormous boost from modern communication technology. Media is now considered as the ‘fourth pillar of the state’ due to its key role in the dissemination of information and public-policy making. 

The Sindhi print and electronic media in Pakistan has also seen phenomenal expansion. There are fifty newspapers and twenty-five television channels in Sindh, providing round-the-clock news, entertainment, talk shows, documentaries, and real-time information. Subsequently, there have emerged a host of new interlocutors - anchors, columnists, reporters, writers, thinkers, and public intellectuals - who are promoting local and provincial issues at the national level. As a result, Sindhi society is more aware of its individual and collective problems and solutions. No wonder, the Government is increasingly feeling the heat of its unpopular decisions, whether it is construction of the Kalabagh dam or introduction of the controversial Sindh Peoples’ Local Government Ordinance 2012. 

However, the rise of a powerful media has also raised questions regarding its professional standards and ethical responsibilities. There is no denying that a few Sindhi media owners have political ambitions which come in the way of developing a truly professional and objective media. As a result, a class of vested interests has developed, immune from public accountability. On the one hand, there is conflict between media owners’ commercial interests and objectivity; on the other, is a conflict between media personnel’s conscience and financial compulsion. There is also the issue of professional incompetence. Moreover, certain sections of the media have also developed biases e.g. the multi-ethnic media of Sindh is increasingly reflecting varied ethnic and political influences. A section of Urdu media does not highlight problems of Sindhi society such as the recent flash floods. Millions of poor flood affectees continue to suffer displacement and economic ruin, but the non-Sindhi media does not project their plight correspondingly.

Good governance and development go hand in hand with a watchful media.  Therefore, it is imperative to nurture normative ethos, professionalism and objectivity in our media, (be it the conventional or unconventional one), if we need efficiency and progress in Sindh and Pakistan. To evolve such a media, media-owners have to avoid conflict of interests; media-persons have to shun biases; and regulators must ensure adequate wages, job security and conducive working environment for this sector. 

References

Azhar, R. 2012, ‘Countering Hate Speech on Social Media’, Daily DAWN, Karachi, 17 July, <http://dawn.com/2012/07/17/countering-hate-speech-on-social-media/>, accessed 1 November 2012.

Mohammed, Z.P. 2012, 'A Call for Media Ethics’, The Express Tribune, 14 July, <http://tribune.com.pk/story/407903/a-call-for-media-ethics/>, accessed 30 October 2012.

Sangi, S. n.d. ‘President’s Sindh Visit’, Other Voices Sindhi Press, Daily DAWN Archives, <http://archives.dawn.com/archives/28070>, accessed 1 November 2012.

Sarwar, S. 2012, ‘Media Credibility and Ethics in Pakistan’, Daily Times, Lahore, 8 July, <http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012%5C07%5C08%5Cstory_8-7-2012_pg7_16>, accessed 1 November 2012. 

Shah, Bina n.d. ‘A Challenge to Sindhi Media’, Daily DAWN, Karachi, <http://archives.dawn.com/archives/32124> accessed 31 October 2012.

Sindhi Language Media n.d. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sindhi-language_media>, accessed 30 October 2012.

Zubair, S. 2012, ‘Media: The Voice of Our Motherland’, The Express Tribune, 24 October, <http://tribune.com.pk/story/455781/media-the-voice-of-our-motherland/>, accessed 29 October 2012.