Future of Journalism by Adrian Monck

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• published: 25 Sep 2012
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Mishal Pakistan in collaboration with the Center for International Media Ethics (CIME) and the Center for Media Research and Development celebrate the second International Media Ethics Day in Pakistan at the Royal Palm Country Club, Lahore. CIME Ambassador, PurueshChaudhary in her opening remarks said “the media industry, think tanks, academia, civil society organizations, public and private need to realize the significance of globalization, understand the social, cultural, political and religious values, which strengthens the fundamental rights of individuals and societies”. Joining the debate on ethical dilemmas and the future of journalism were Adrian Monck, Director Communications at the World Economic Forum, Kirsten Mogensen, Assistant Professor Roskilde University, Amjad Hussain Honorary Executive Director and Founder, Center for Media Research and Development, Shafqat Abbasi, Chairman Press Council of Pakistan, Amir Jahangir, CEO Mishal Pakistan, Dr. Anjum Zia, Chairperson Mass Communication Department Lahore College Women University. The aim of the Media Ethics Day is to mobilize the journalism community and provide journalists around the world with an opportunity to discuss the challenges faced on the media ethics issues, examine case studies, and participate in role-plays and debates related to the various ethical dilemmas they might expect to face on the job. From the World Economic Forum, Adrian Monck said the future of journalism is digital and data. The hope for journalism is being more data focused and a more digital savvy group of people who still want to bring interesting information to the public domain, who have skills and the tools to successfully share knowledge”. I hope that the journalism education can be that bridge, he further added. In 2011, there were more than 300 participants in 11 countries, this year the event has doubled in size, with 23 locations globally. Amjad Hussain, Honorary Executive Director and Founder, Center for Media Research and Development, said there is a need to create more industry-academia linkages, which can foster collaborations to enable a knowledge-based society. Amir Jahangir, CEO Mishal Pakistan, on the occasion said the Pakistani information ecosystem needs to develop a mechanism, which can distinguish between good and bad journalism. Only then the society can appreciate the quality of ethical journalism in the country. A media credibility barometer or index can ensure in raising the bar of journalism standards in the country. The CIME Forum also organizes an annual event that brings together media professionals for training, panels and discussion in ethical practices. The Forum is held each year in a different region in the world, in order to reach a wider community of journalists and connect ethical issues of local relevance with those of the broader international media community. The interactive event was attended by a diverse segment of society, consisting of professionals from media, academia, think tanks and intellectuals. The International Media Ethics Day is being celebrated in: Albania (Tirana), Benin (Cotonou), Cameroon (Yaoundé), Ghana (Accra), Germany (Calw /Baden-Württemberg), Hungary (Budapest), Ivory Coast (Abidjan), India (Jamshedpur), Myanmar (Mandalay), Nepal (Kathmandu), Nigeria (Lagos), Nigeria (Mkar), Pakistan (Lahore and Islamabad), Peru (Monterrico), Romania (Iasi), Russia (Moscow), Vanuatu, Afghanistan (Herat), Nigeria (Abuja); Palestine (Birzeit); Uganda (Mbarara); Argentina (Buenos Aires) The Center for International Media Ethics - CIME, a non-profit organization with staff members operating across several continents teamed up with Mishal Pakistan, a social enterprise, specializing in media and communication for policy design in a bid to bring together a network of journalists and students in Pakistan to provide training, discussion and expertise in the ethics of their profession. CIME and Mishal Pakistan, along with several other stakeholders intend to promote respect for truth, accuracy and privacy by engaging relevant stakeholders to create dialogue on ethical practices through training programmes on quality reporting that results in educating the public. The two organizations would drive the emphasis that journalists together have the power to formulate a tacit code of ethics as a status quo of their profession, which is evolved and observed, mutually by the community, the regulatory authority and relevant stakeholders.