Constitution, Mission and Code of Practice of Press Institute of Pakistan (PIP), Pakistan Press Foundation and South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA) by Muhammad Aamir

1. Media Ethics, Laws,
Policies and
Strategies
Topic
Review of the Pakistan Press Foundation
(PFF) & South Asia Free Media
Association (SAFMA)
Assigned by Sir Ramzan Azhar
Prepared by Muhammad Aamir
MS 3rd Media & Communication Studies
International Islamic University

2. Pakistan Press Foundation (PFF)
History:
 The Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) was established in
1967 as a non-profit organization.
 PPF continued working until 1974, when it had to suspend
operations due to the political environment.
 It was reactivated in 1992.
 Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) is an independent
media research, documentation and training center.

3. Pakistan Press Foundation (PFF)
 PPF has been involved in assisting the development
of independent media in Pakistan.
 Conducting training programs for journalists.
 Carrying out projects in research and documentation.
 Campaigning to defend and promote freedom of the
press.

4. PPF Objectives
 To help raise the standards of journalism particularly of
the vernacular and regional press.
 To promote and defend freedom of expression in
Pakistan and internationally.
 To encourage research on mass communication in
Pakistan.
 To promote through the media, greater awareness of
social and development issues

5. PPF
The PPF collaborates with local, as well as leading national and
international organizations:
 Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE)
 All Pakistan Newspaper Society (APNS)
 Asia Foundation
 Panos South Asia
 Free Voice
 UNESCO
 Commonwealth Press Union (CPU)
 Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES)
 The Thompson Foundation
 The British Council
 The Knight International Foundation
 National Endowment for Democracy

6. PFF Vision
 PPF vision is firmly based in the concept of
pluralism and media independence.
 PPF envisions a Pakistan where the media have the
freedom and capacity to reflect the realities of
society accurately, in a manner that captivates the
interest of their readers and audiences.

7. PPF Mission
 Its mission as promoting, supporting and
protecting media freedoms.
 To build professionalism amongst the media in
Pakistan.
 Developing and promoting free, independent and
professional media in Pakistan.

8. PPF Workings
 In 1999, the PPF established the PPF-Vicky Zeitlin Media Library
and Training Centre.
 Which house an extensive collection of publications on the media
and issues of interest to the Pakistani media.
 Training workshops and seminars are regularly held at the
training center.
 PPF is working to make harassment of journalists and news
organizations politically and socially unacceptable.

9. Continues…
 The foundation produces the PPF Newsflash, a service
designed to highlight threats to press freedom in the country.
 PPF also coordinates financial support for victimized journalists.
 The PPF is involved in research and documentation on mass
communication in Pakistan.
 The weekly PPF Media Review, in English and Urdu, compiles
important news about the media.

10. PPF Workings
 PPF is also involved in producing manuals and
handbooks on journalism in Urdu and Sindhi language.
 PPF organizes training programs on press freedom, the
rights of journalists and journalistic ethics.
 PPF has played a leading role in promoting the use of
the recently introduced access to information laws and in
lobbying for improvement of these laws.

11. Memberships
The PPF is a member of:
 The Commonwealth Press Union (CPU)
 International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX)
 World Press Freedom Committee (WPFC)
 Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC)
 Council of Asian-Pacific Press Institutes (CAPPI)
 Asia-Pacific Communication Network

12. South Asian Free Media
Association (SAFMA)
 Leading journalists from all over South Asia got together
in Islamabad at First Asian Free Media Conference and
formed South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA).
 An association of SAARC countries’ media persons who
agree with the objectives and goals of the Association
and are approved by the National Unit as members.

13. South Asian Free Media
Association (SAFMA)
 Established in the year 2000 as a result of South Asian Free
Media Conference, ‘Towards Free and Vibrant Media’ held in
Islamabad.
 In the 2nd South Asia Free Media Conference (SAFMC) held
in Kathmandu in January 2002 the country delegates agreed
on ‘Declaration of Intent: Media and peace’.
 Also SAFMA’s media agenda was put into action plan in this
conference.

14. SAFMA Objectives
 Promote tolerance, understanding, confidence building,
management and resolution of conflicts, peace, nuclear
stabilization, disarmament, economic and cultural
cooperation and people to people contact in the region.
 Support full enforcement of universally recognized human
rights, including women rights, social rights of the people
and equal rights of the minorities and the indigenous
people.

15. SAFMA Objectives
 Struggle for freedom of media, freedom of and access to
information, including the removal of all barriers in the way of
free flow of information and unhindered movement of media
persons and media products across the region.
 Develop high professional standards, professional
collaboration and independence of a South Asian media free
of all biases and prejudices while monitoring all violations of
freedom of and access to information.

16. SAFMA Objectives
 Benefit the people and the region with the fruits of
information revolution by promoting interactive and
collaborative media products including web-sites and
magazines.
 Uphold public interest and civil society in each country and
overall interests of the people of this region.

17. SAFMA
 Engage all media persons who believe in the freedom of media and agree
to promote SAFMA objectives.
 Establish broad-based chapters of SAFMA across the countries of the
region and develop networking among various branches of media.
 Plan and work for the freedom of media and all forms of expression and
freedom of and access to information in each country.
 Monitor the violation of freedom of media and free flow of and access to
information.
 Develop modules of training and hold workshops for media persons.

18. SAFMA
 Work out concrete ways to promote professional collaborations in various
media fields.
 Lobby with the national governments and at SAARC level for lifting of all tariff
and nontariff barriers in the way of free flow of information, including
unhindered movement and exchange of media-person and media-product
across the South Asian region.
 Promote as far as possible, healthy, informative, educative, objective and
constructive journalism, broadcasting and electronic communications.
 Bring media professionals together in various ways and at different forums to
develop better understanding of all pressing issues in the region.
 Produce joint publications/productions to promote a free and vibrant South Asia
media.

19. Thanks.