MCM101 Lesson 17

LESSON 17: PRESS FREEDOM, LAWS AND ETHICS

1. What was the first US newspaper and what happened to it?
   The first US newspaper was Publick Occurrences in 1690. It only printed one issue before being shut down by colonial officials.
2. What are ‘Press Laws’?
   Press Laws are the laws concerning the licensing of books and the liberty of expression in all products of the printing-press, especially newspapers.
3. What did Pope Alexander VI introduce in 1501 regarding printing?
   Pope Alexander VI issued a bill against unlicensed printing, which introduced the principle of censorship.
4. What is the oldest freedom of information legislation mentioned?
   Sweden’s Freedom of the Press Act of 1766 is the oldest.
5. What is the basic principle behind most freedom of information legislation?
   The burden of proof falls on the body asked for information, not the person asking for it.
6. In India, which act gives citizens the right to information?
   The Indian Right to Information Act (2005) gives citizens the right to information.
7. What does Article 19 of the Constitution of Pakistan (1973) state regarding freedom of speech?
   It states that every citizen shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression, and there shall be freedom of the press, subject to reasonable restrictions imposed by law.
8. What is the purpose of the Press Council of Pakistan, as per the lesson?
   The Council allows journalists to operate in accordance with canons of decency, professional conduct, and responsibility, ensuring an unobstructed flow of news and views with guidelines of honesty, accuracy, objectivity, and fairness.
9. Explain the difference between ‘restrictive’ and ‘corrective’ censorship.
   Restrictive censorship interferes to restrict or prevent publication, while corrective censorship enforces penalties after publication.
10. Explain how the struggle for press freedom evolved in the early days of print media.
    Governments initially harassed printers and publishers, but as print media gained societal backing and organized itself, it became difficult for governments to control, leading to the enactment of laws and subsequent press freedom campaigns.
11. How does the Freedom of Information Ordinance 2002 in Pakistan fall short, according to the lesson?
    It has a restrictive list of public records subject to disclosure instead of applying to all records, and large amounts of information are not subject to disclosure, undermining the public’s right to know.
12. Explain the significance of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
    It establishes the right to freedom of opinion and expression, including the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers, forming a global standard for free speech.
13. How did the Star Chamber under Queen Elizabeth control printing?
    The Star Chamber confined printing to London, Oxford, and Cambridge, limited the number of printers and presses, prohibited unlicensed publications, and could search houses for unlicensed presses.
14. Explain one key function of the organization Article 19.
    Article 19 monitors threats to free expression globally, lobbies governments to adopt laws conforming to international standards, and drafts legal standards to strengthen media and free expression.
15. How do ‘open records’ or ‘sunshine laws’ relate to freedom of information?
    They are other terms for freedom of information legislation that set rules on access to information or records held by government bodies, promoting transparency.
16. Explain the role of ethics in journalism according to the Declaration of Principles.
    Ethics include respecting the truth and the public’s right to truth, defending freedom in news collection, reporting only facts of known origin, using fair methods, rectifying inaccuracies, observing professional secrecy, and avoiding discrimination and grave offenses like plagiarism and calumny.
17. A journalist in a country with strict press laws is investigating government corruption. Based on the lesson, what is one potential risk they face?
    They face the risk of legal action under laws that may impose penalties for criticism of officials, potentially leading to imprisonment, fines, or suppression of their publication.
18. Analyze the following scenario: A citizen requests information from a government department under the Freedom of Information Ordinance 2002 in Pakistan. The department fails to respond within 21 days. What does the lesson say about this?
    The lesson states that bodies must respond within 21 days, so the department is violating the ordinance, and the citizen’s right to know is being undermined.
19. A media organization is developing a code of conduct for its reporters. Based on the lesson, what key principle from the Declaration of Principles should they include?
    They should include the principle that journalists shall report only in accordance with facts of which they know the origin and shall not suppress essential information or falsify documents.
20. Based on the lesson, why might a government argue for “reasonable restrictions” on press freedom, as seen in Pakistan’s Constitution?
    A government might argue for restrictions in the interest of the glory of Islam, the integrity/security/defense of Pakistan, friendly foreign relations, public order, decency, morality, contempt of court, defamation, or incitement to an offense.
21. Apply your knowledge: How did the case of Peter Zenger in 1733 contribute to press freedom in the American colonies?
    Zenger was put in jail for New York Weekly content but won his case against New York for seditious libel. This case is seen as a landmark for establishing a legal defense for truth in libel cases and a step towards press freedom.
22. A modern blogger is accused of plagiarism. Which part of the journalistic code of ethics from the lesson have they violated?
    They have violated the principle that regards plagiarism as a grave professional offence.
23. Why is the Press Council of Pakistan considered a “euphemistic connotation of censorship” by some?
    Because, despite its stated aim of ensuring ethical conduct, its powers and government financing could be seen as a mechanism for state control over the press, effectively acting as a form of censorship.
24. If a newspaper publishes a harmful inaccuracy, what does the code of ethics require them to do?
    The code of ethics requires journalists to do the utmost to rectify any published information which is found to be harmfully inaccurate.
25. Based on the historical context in the lesson, what was one common method used by colonial powers in the subcontinent to control the press?
    They enacted various laws like the Registration of books and newspaper act (1867), the Press (emergency power) act (1931), and the States (protection against disaffection) act (1922) to suppress dissent and control content.