Role of All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS): Call for a Change
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ROLE OF ALL PAKISTAN NEWSPAPERS SOCIETY Role of All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS): Call for a Change Sajjad Ahmad Paracha & Seemi Naghmana Tahir Federal Urdu University , Karachi This study explores the institutional role of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) employing the methodology of document study and survey to collect the relevant data from media professionals. The paper finds that APNS as the main organization of newspaper publishers in Pakistan, only apparently seems to be committed to the cause of press freedom and maintena nce of high professional standards in the country. The APNS’ best efforts were seen only to safeguard the financial interests of the newspapers in case a government tries to introduce a new tax or whenever the APNS wants government to raise the rates of go vt. advertisements for newspapers. Not only this, the APNS has also kept mum over the violation of labour laws by its member organizations i.e. large media houses in the newspaper industry. Key Words: APNS, Newspapers, Media, Pakistan, Media monopo ly Since 1969 it seems that throughout the world there has (e) Media enterprises: Which produce information and been a rethinking of many issues concerning the present and programmes to the media syst em. (f) Professional the future development of the communication media and of organisations: Whose members are involved directly in the the role, which communication plays in society 1. media-professional associations, & labour unions etc. (g) the citizens have a direct stake in the media policies. There are In 1969 UNESCO’s communication decade well started when different ways in which the citizens may influence me dia a meeting of experts on communication in society was policies through representations, through voluntary convened in Montreal. At that time, few people were talking organisations etc., the methods for citizens’ participation will about (Media) Policies2. In 1975 the subject was being much vary among societies, but its importance cannot be emphasised more widely discussed and it was decided to convene in 1976 enough (h) the social scientist can make an essential the first inter-governmental conference on media policies. That contribution to the formulation of media policy by supplying conference brought together the ministers responsible for both quantifiable and non-quantifiable information on the media in the various countries, exchanged experience on media structure of society as well as on the content and effects of the in relation to economic and social development and conside red messages carried by the media4. the formulation, implementation and evaluation of media policies3. The role of information resources to accelerate the pace of . development in any region has long been emphasized by A very pertinent question regarding media policy is that who communication scholars globally. It is widely believed that is involved in its formulation. Media policy, because of its wide information provides the key foundation for the development. scope, requires responsible participation at many d ifferent It has been a popular idea for over four decades that media levels: (a) Government executive: Since there is close provides information and knowledge that is vital for social relationship between the system of Government and system of development, and helps solve social, political and economic media, so the co-ordination for endorsement by the highest problems and thus accelerate the pace of development. 5Not authority is required (b) legislative bodies: These play an only this but the changing trends in social economic and important role in formulating the media policy. (c) Authorities political environments globally have raised question about the in charge of social and economic planning for allocation of viability of mass media because it is widely believed that media important resources to develop media infrastructures. (d) have a very important role to play in bringing social change. The Individual ministers and their planning boards refer not only to sociology of mass media, which provides the theoretical that ministry directly in charge of media resources and their use framework for the following study is sa id to have been unable but also to all other ministries which are involved in some form to grasp certain fundamental features of its subject. Some and are potential user in education, agriculture, and health etc. analysts believe that it has buried them, scanted and defined them out of existence, and therefore it has had the effect of justifying the existing system of mass media ownership, control, Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Sajjad Ahmad Paracha at e-mail: [email protected], and purpose. The dominant paradigm in media sociology, Assistant Professor, Department of Media Studies, The Islamia according to Daniel Bell is the "received knowledge" of University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan, "personal influence, which he believes has drained attention Seemi Naghmana Tahir, Department of Mass Communication & Dean, from the power of the media to define normal and abnormal Faculty of Arts. social and political activity, to say what is politically real and 17 ROLE OF ALL PAKISTAN NEWSPAPERS SOCIETY legitimate and what is not.6 The representative bodies of mass Every member publication is bound to provide regula r media which not only frame the rules of the game but also have complimentary copies as for daily, 25 separate issues per a direct role in monitoring and implementation of those rules month for a period of six months; for biweekly, 80 separate thus may hold responsible for the working of mass media in any issues; for weekly, 40 separate issues and fortnightly, 20 society. In the following discussion the role of All Pakistan separate issues. Newspaper Society will be critically analyzed followed by a survey conducted to seek opinion of media professionals about The executive committee forms a scrutiny committee. Ev ery the powerful forum of newspaper owners in the Country. year a scrutiny committee this on its own or on complaint of any member, examines if a certain member fulfils the criteria All Pakistan Newspaper Society: Introduction and brief history and present report to executive recommending the expulsion All Pakistan Newspaper Society is the representative body of of a member for irregular publication. The executive takes the newspapers owners in Pakistan. This forum was initially decision by simple majority, which is appealable in general, established as Pakistan Newspapers Society, as a provincial body within 90 days. body in the early 1950’s primarily because of the efforts of the Hameed Nizami and Hamid Mahmood7. It functioned in Lahore The executive committee can take a disciplinary action for a number of years but failed to receive much support or against a member if the member fails to pay subscription or recognition either from the publishers and adve rtising agencies charges due from it or commits a breach of discipline or in general and the authorities, in power in particular. violates rules or code of standard. Code of standard for acceptance of advertising business states that members shall In 1956 headquarter of the organization was shifted to take all reasonable precautions to ensure that all advertising Karachi where majority publications originated. The accepted is legal, honest and truthful and that such advertising organization expanded rapidly with the inclusion of new is in respect of reputable goods or services, members shall not members from all over the country and was soon able to call favour direct advertisers, by giving them better facilities such as itself the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS). Very soon it lower rates, longer credit periods, preferential positions, became a force to be reckoned with in the publishing and commission, discounts or supplying art work at nominal rates 8 advertising world. etc., however 6.25% discount to direct advertiser and 15% to advertising agencies is permissible. No member can print the The objectives for which APNS was formed are: to act as the advertisement of a client whose business is suspended by central organization of the newspaper industry of Pakistan, to accredited advertising agency and also the advertisements of encourage, promote and originate the science and art of suspended advertising agency cannot be accepted by any journalism and newspaper industry and to produce and publish member publication of APNS. Executive functions of APNS the necessary literature; to originate and promote including the general management and control of business, improvements in the law, to watch, protect, preserve and conduct of relations with and between the advertising agencies promote the rights and interest of newspaper owners; to make and member publications and any other institution or bodies, rules to govern the conduct of its members and for accreditation of new members and advertising agencies are accreditation and conduct of business to provide penalties for performed by executive committee. Executive committee is the infringements thereof; to undertake or assist financially or consisted 25 members. Three seats of the executive committee otherwise in litigation affecting the interest of newspaper are permanently occupied by The Jang, Dawn, and Nawa-i- 9 owners. Waqt groups of publications. Elections on 21 seats are held among rest of the member publications of APNS. All the publication from dailies to monthlies having regular publication may become the associate member of APNS, if the The break-up of which is as: Karachi and Lahore dailies and publication applies on prescribed form with specific periodical have two seats each. Dailies from membership fee and is supported by a two -third majority of the Rawalpindi/Islamabad, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtoonkhwah members present in a vote taken in a secret ballot. If (KPK), and Sind excluding Karachi have one seat each. News and membership to an applicant publication is denied, it may apply views comment periodicals from Punjab/KPK and after six months of rejection with additional information and Sind/Balochistan, regional dailies, and technical papers have reasons in support of its eligibility.