Media in the Modern Age: Economic Development, Regulation, and Freedom

Media is not only a source of information and news, but is also an important business. This session will examine both the role of the media in creating a national conversation on economic development and modernization as well as an industry that creates opportunities not only for employment but also for creativity and research.
Here we will examine:
The quality of media coverage of important issues and what can be done to improve it?
Should there be a ministry of information and what is its role? Is there any
transparency on the budget of the information ministry and how it is
utilized?
The rumors of this budget being used to control the media and journalists need to be addressed.
Should PPRA and government rules insist upon newspaper and television
advertisements in an era of internet and online connectivity? Why can these advertisements not be placed on a singular government portal? Or are they a political bribe?
Is PEMRA a regulator, a censor, or a fee maximizer? What should be its role,
to help develop both a creative and honest media as well as a booming media industry?
Why are large businesses buying up media? Is this desirable or is it as popularly believed a mechanism for gaining political influence? What mechanisms can be put in place to ensure that we have a genuine media business?
It has to be recognized that this is the age of content creating value. Look at the Turkish and the Korean media as well as the Bollywood, what they are doing for their respective countries. Does our government understand this?
What role do the rating agencies play? Where is the Monitoring and Evaluation of these rating agencies? How have they helped promote the media as an industry?
Is there competition among these rating agencies? Is fresh entry possible in this business?
Why do political parties have a free right to press conferences and on media shows without any challenge from civil society, academicians, professionals and experts? Most countries do not allow all press conferences of political parties to be telecasted live. Air time is expensive.
Why is PTV, which receives a huge government subsidy as well as a host of valuable properties not competing with international media such as Al-Jazeera, BBC etc.? Can it compete?
Does censoring criticism actually change the reality or opinions of people?
Freedom of speech and a free media are fundamental rights of the citizens and media both, but is there a limit to this freedom? How, and more importantly, who, decides the line differentiating between the freedom of media and national interest?
There is talk of controlling social media, even as we talk about youth making money off such media. Should social media be controlled? Why and How?