Mass media is a sacred trust that provides knowledge to the society and changes or modifies attitudes to cultivate the reality.

The role of media was highlighted at the inaugural session of a day-long research seminar, titled, “The Role and Effects of Media in Society” organised by the Department of Mass Communications (MCD) at the Arts Karachi University’s Arts Auditorium on Wednesday.

Dr Nisar Ahmed Zuberi, Senior Professor of the Department, gave a presentation on the Dos and Don’ts of the media and reminded the students that they were being prepared to assume this responsibility and prove that they were learning in a proper manner.

Dr Zuberi urged the journalists to facilitate cognitive skills of the people and try to tone down the news of crime and violence so that young people did not consider it “cool” and imitate it in their lives. The next most important role was to develop a pro-society leaning in order to provide it positive services.

Dr Mahmood Ghaznavi hoped that his students would prove themselves to be the cream of the society by indulging in positive and meaningful journalism.

The four other sessions were chaired by renowned working journalists and by the Dean, Faculty of Arts, Dr Muhammad Shamsuddin.