It’s much the same in the Western media. The news must be happy, at least when it comes to the global jihad and Islam. Jihad activity is downplayed, ignored, denied, or ascribed to “militants” or “youths,” while the media focus is on “backlash” against innocent Muslims. Those who call attention to the nature and magnitude of the jihad threat are ignored or derided as “bigots” and “Islamophobes,” or it is demanded of them that they report not only on Muslims murdering people and blowing things up in accord with the texts and teachings of Islam, but also on Muslims working at soup kitchens and helping little old ladies across the street. The news about Islam and jihad must be good; to report otherwise, even accurately, is “hatred.” Ignoring the real haters, or downplaying or excusing their violent acts, is the order of the day.
“Pakistan’s answer to terrorism: show only good news at bedtime,” by Khurrum Anis, Bloomberg, December 30, 2014:
Karachi: Pakistan has a new weapon in its fight against terrorism. Good behavior norms by the media.
A parliamentary panel has endorsed a list of 46 guidelines for television and print media, including censoring live reporting and setting up editorial boards to vet “each and every news, image, breaking news,” according to a statement on the parliament’s website.
To aid the psycho-social development of children the panel says “it’s a bad idea to speak against the country’s security apparatus,” and recommends showing “good news first and if possible before bedtime.”
Pakistan already has rules for reporting acts of terrorism and in June suspended the license of Geo TV for airing comments that accused the country’s spy agency of involvement in an attack on a talk show host. The latest guidance comes after the massacre of 152 people, including 134 students, by Taliban terrorists in Peshawar on 16 December.
“It is important for a policy to be followed, but what the government is asking is impossible,” said Zeshan M. Khan, director at Ilm TV. “Showing happy news at bedtime is simply not possible. But, it is necessary that channels do follow a code of conduct.”
The panel headed by Marvi Memon, a lawmaker from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s party, also recommended not to “emphasize too much about smaller events like rape, robberies and murder,” as they can have “a much worse impact.” The recommendations need approval from parliament….