End Forced Marriages

Forced marriages are increasing in our country. Only 35 percent of the population is not forced to get married and spend their lives in a prison. Marrying anyone without one’s consent is illegal in Islamic sharia and unacceptable in Pakistani law. Forced marriages happen in urban areas as well, whereas in rural dwellings this ratio is about 99 percent. In the rural areas, parents torture their daughters into marriage and if, by some means these girls manage to elope, they are killed in the name of honour.

Lately, we have seen innumerable cases of girls marrying boys of their choice and ending up seeking justice from the courts. Even the court’s verdicts are not respected and, in a number of cases, the couple has been killed. The practice of forced marriage is quite common amongst the poor in Pakistan. In most but not all forced marriages, the female is the involuntary spouse. Human rights awareness organisations demand of the government and NGOs to end forced marriages. Our government should look into this matter and make strict laws to prevent this illegal practice.

ABEERA MUZZAMIL
Lahore

Daily Times

Source: http://www.pakistangendernews.org/end-forced-marriages/

Situation of Pakistan and Role of our Media

In today's world, everyone is well familiar with the role of electronic media. no one can deny that the they, particularly the news channels, play a very important role in shaping up public views, making us believe what they want us to. In some communities, this power of media play an all-important positive role for the betterment of that particular society and help them achieve their goals. Some examples of this are the role of media against German Nazis when US and European media made the entire European and US population believe that the Nazis are the most evil creature of the face of earth, promoting the youth to actively participate in their war efforts against Germany. Similarly there are controversies over the holocaust issue that this was much exaggerated to develop a soft corner for Jews and to spread hatred against Germans. 
If they want us to believe in something, they do!

Positive examples are also there like the mass global awareness spread by media about the Indonesian Tsunami brought lots of foreign aid and assistance to restore those who were effected. We don’t even have to go that far to see the role of media and just we analyze the programs, documentaries and all other events that were aired in 1965 war and its effect of military and civilian morale is well known. How the nation was united and reacted when we were informed that Kashmir and Northern parts of our country are hit with severe Earthquake in 2009 and then again in the Sindh/Punjab floods. Media played an important role to inform us of the sufferings of our brothers and the response from all over Pakistan was over whelming. Apart from these few examples of Pakistani media, what are your comments about them?? WHAT DO YOU THINK THE MEDIA IS DOING WITH US TODAY? WHAT ROLE THEY ARE PLAYING??

I am actually disgusted by the fact that hearing anything positive of our main stream news channels like Geo, Express, ARY News etc is now once in a blue moon sort of event. Do we need Earthquake and floods to unite the nation? ALWAYS??

Isn’t there anything positive going on in our country?? If there is then why we only get to hear about some communities leaving Pakistan, about some girl being raped, about some boys being brutally tortured?? Remember, I said why ONLY this???

One latest example, the attack on PAF Minhas – Kamra.
I was shocked to hear on a news channel, the EXPERTS saying that “Jb Hamlay ke itla pahly sa the tu hamla hua kuen” Traslation “When there were intelligence reports that there might be an attack, why the attack happened??” Disgusting!

I mean, if there were reports that such an attack could happen, and it really did, isn’t it something we should give some credit of to our intelligences that they knew beforehand that such an attack in being planned. Due to this news, the bases guards were alert and the attack was resisted well with all attackers killed. 

With all the world accusing us having UNSECURED nuclear assets, what are your comments on the coverage of events? For me, it was pathetic to say the least!
Don’t you think if our media praised the defender and guards of the base for their act of valor that they successful repelled the attack, that they are professional who held there nerves when Pakistan lone Aeronautical Complex was being threatened, that our assets are in secure hands, it would have been better. Instead of saying WHY IT HAPPENED, if they highlighted the positive of same event this would have answered so many of western questions. 

Same was the case when there was an attack on GHQ. The attackers were held by the admin block and for those who don’t know details about GHQ building, it seemed that our entire military leadership is killed or will be killed, thanks to SAB SA PAHLY news competition of our media.

Will like to have you thoughts on these issues, what they are doing and what needs to be done!

Source:http://defence.pk/threads/situation-of-pakistan-and-role-of-our-media.206017/

There can’t be any Public Virtue in the Absence of Private Morals

Public, somehow, sees inconsistencies and unethical behaviour only in media practices. But that’s not where the problem lies. Rather it lies in the failure to recognize that media is both a function and a mirror of the society itself. And when the public sees this reflection they are not only aghast by it, but as a consequence they blame the media for mirroring their true picture. The critique that the Pakistani media is obsessed with negative news, also falls within this context.

Just observe a typical drawing room or office conversation and it will most likely centre around traffic problems, a troubling car, lack of good domestic helpers, racism, government glitches, or otherwise complaints and more complaints. And this is exactly what media reflects. People tend to enjoy negativity …like a dense crowd of onlookers at an accident site. This is reality and rarely do we see it, so lets gather around and watch it. But if it’s on TV, it’s such a shame.

Catch 22 folks: If journalists raise too many issues they are spreading negativity and if they don’t, they are either playing ostrich, or have ‘sold their souls’. One has to bear in mind that media after all is a business venture and caters to what its consumers want, and if they want spice, then spice is what they get.

Then there are those, who argue that media should be more ethical because of its high impact on society; and the answer to them is this: let us not make ethics a function of level of influence, power and so forth. If unethical behaviour is to be condemned then capital market speculation, commodity hoarding, risky lending by financial institutions, subli-minal advertising which impairs natural decision making of the consumer, and so forth should also be ‘equally’ lamented upon. A thief is a thief: doesn’t matter if he steals a penny or a pound, so let us not rebuke journalists while letting others off scot-free.

Source:  http://www.tbl.com.pk/clashing-views-on-media-ethics-in-pakistan/

The Rise Of ‘Fake Media’ In Pakistan

TV news channels are supposed to provide information based on facts with objectivity and honesty. Sadly, all this is sorely lacking in the expanding media milieu in Pakistan. Without a touch of Bollywood melodrama and sensation, our news today is incomplete. Our news bulletins have turned news channels into ‘infotainment channels.’ Is it because of the rating competition, marketing considerations or plain lack of professionalism?

While speaking at a private university, a producer of a popular infotainment show on a private TV channel admitted that at least 50 percent of their “show” was based on “fake stories,” and the channel dramatized it in such a fashion that it looked real.

He was speaking about a show that is among the top-rated infotainment show aired on every Saturday and Sunday. It would not be difficult to assess, then, the kind of information we feed our viewers.

One must appreciate the confession made by the producer but was he the only person responsible. Such shows normally have a producer, an assistant producer, a researcher and the anchor himself, who  act as a captain because he or she is the one who often face criticism in the media, whether it is his or her fault or not. Anchors and reporters are the real face of any channel.

One of the channels recently fired its bureau chief in Hyderabad after numerous complaints against him, including airing a “fake crime story.” When the show was aired, it hit the headlines, got good ratings and the channel made special promos for promotional purposes and the issues were also covered in the news bulletin. Now was it ethical on part of the anchor, channel and all those involved to air the story? Why was only the producer fired?

The police arrested the bureau chief in what has been described by his colleagues “in a most humiliating” manner. “He was picked up like a terrorist or a criminal. They did not even allow him to wear his shirt,” said Ali Hasan, former president of Hyderabad Press Club.

When he was released on bail of Rs.1 million (according to the bureau chief) after 24 hours of police custody, I called him to find out his side of the story. He was afraid to talk, his voice was chocked and he said little about his ordeal. “I am innocent, I did nothing. It has nothing to do with the story but I can’t say at the moment why I was picked up and on whose order,” he said.

When I spoke to a senior staffer of his channel, he confirmed that there were number of complaints against the bureau chief including the story aired in the popular show.

The channel may take more action against some of the other people involved in the story and the show, but the fact is: Was this the only show where we often see stories far from facts.

What many team members and anchors of different shows do not realize is that such stories could threaten their lives, not because of their “boldness” but due to “fake or non-factual” stories.

A story based on facts and proper investigation can attract viewers depending on its production quality and content. So, why to look for a “desk story?”

Many private TV news channels have crime shows aired at prime time from 7pm to 11pm. Even in the morning shows events are “dramatized” (factual or non-factual) and as a result infotainment now has a dominant role while news and current affairs have taken the backseat.

The Islamabad High Court recently took notice of a show in which a female anchor “raided”  - a term more often used by bureaus of different channels and newspapers for policing – a prostitution den. Except for showing “sex scenes” she allegedly showed everything, as she asked all kind of probing questions from the “call girls.”

Though “infotainment” is not confined to crime shows, those heading such programmes are under tremendous pressure to bring more and more crime shows. The content of these shows is often dominated by sex stories as it gets “good rating.”

We, the reporters, producers and acnchors, don’t hesitate to raid houses, cafes, private parties any more.

Now in the race and competition, the channels have ran out of true stories – though there are millions of them provided someone interested can go find them – and turned to concocted stories.

Instead of promoting investigating journalism and allowing reporters to investigate true news stories on crime, terrorism, financial scams, political scandals, we have adopted a more negative approach.

I know for a fact how some of our colleagues put pressure on different departments and at times blackmail the police and other departments like customs, excise and taxation etc.

When the private ownership of news channels was allowed in 2001, the channels attracted viewers as they offered 24/7 news. Compared to the print media’s combined circulation of some five million, the viewership of the news channels crossed 30 million.

The credit goes to the “news.” But now the channels have increased the ratio of infotainment. In the initial years, we used to have re-enactment, which was later taken over by dramatization. Now we have complete drama in the “news channel.”

Some of us still remember what happened when one of the channels ran a “fake story” about a madrassa in Karachi that kept its students in chains. Everyone who handled the story knows the actual facts, yet a fake story was aired. The outburst was more lethal from the madrassa than they expected. The team members went underground and ran from one city to another to save their skin.

The fake stories, often presented as real stories, are not only unethical but often put the anchors, producer and team members in embarrassing position. At times, they are left with no other option but to offer a public apology. But when the crunch comes – in the shape of action from the police, law enforcement agencies or from non-state actors – it is only the staffers that suffer.

There is nothing wrong in reenactment and actors presenting a story for as long as the story itself is not fictitious. After all, the basis of journalism and ethical media is to look for stories based on “facts” that have to be accurate.

We need to promote healthy journalism, not fake journalism. Pakistani media has come a long way after a tireless struggle. People have lot of faith in us. Let’s not destroy it in the name of commercialism and the mad race for rating.

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The author is former secretary-general of Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists.

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Image courtesy: Google Images

 Source:http://www.freedomnetwork.org.pk/?p=2181

Of blood is a better story to sell, or should it?

One of the fundamental problems with Pakistani media is to treat news more as a commodity than as a social good. This crude concept leads journalists to use fancy words, metaphors, proverbs, and emotionally-charged arguments etc which exaggerate or misrepresent the meaning. For example, “When we say ‘the man is a lion’, we use the image of a lion to draw attention to the lion-like aspects of the man. The metaphor frames our understanding of the man in a distinctive ‘yet partial way’. One of its interesting aspects is that it always produces this kind of one-sided insight. Another interesting feature rests in the fact that metaphor always creates distortions. The man is a lion. He is brave, strong, and ferocious. But he is not covered in fur and does not have four legs, sharp teeth, and a tail!” states Morgan in ‘Images of Organization’.

The commodity concept also pushes TV journalists to use high pitched tones – often choosing to report heavily on juicy aspect of stories with shock value rather than reporting on more pressing issues to the general public. One might say that if media is reflecting the society, then these sensational ways of speaking are justified, considering that Pakistanis are nonetheless loud and emotionally charged people, relative to say the British. But then there is something called ‘Adab-e-Mehfil’: simple things like not speaking before one’s turn, not speaking loudly and so forth. Plus, it would not hurt to ask TV guests to present cultured and educated way of argumentation, based on facts and logic, instead of campaigns of slander, filled with cheap tricks and mocking undertones.

A related part of the problem is: ‘If It Bleeds, It Leads’ to borrow the title of Mathew Kerbel’s famous book. This implies that media in Pakistan is obsessed with the short end of the problem, or the symptom as it is quite rightly said. The challenge of social inequities, usually the root cause, rarely gets air time at best a personalized story or a documentary and then, move on to something more exciting such as a blast.

Source: http://www.tbl.com.pk/clashing-views-on-media-ethics-in-pakistan/

The future of media industry in Pakistan

The future can only be assessed on the basis of the present local media scenario and developments abroad in recent times. The current media explosion is obvious to all of us; however we must first distinguish the high growth ones, which currently, is the electronic media. The ground reality is that in a low literacy country like ours, audio- visual medium has a stronger impact on the masses than print media. Furthermore, those groups which hold a strong presence in electronic and print do hold a significant advantage over those who don’t.

Let’s come to the main issue related to media, with particular focus on electronic media content and take an honest look at what content do we really see on Pakistani channels. Almost all entertainment oriented channels are cheaper versions of Indian channels. Some of them are already heavy on telecasting Indian content, whereas others are busy copying formula programming that they feel is commercially successful. I am personally disappointed by the low self-esteem that seems to be depicted by our electronic media industry, the ripple effect of which permeates through Pakistani viewers.
I say this because only two decades ago Pakistani dramas were zealously sought by Indians, which are now nowhere to be seen. The question is what happened and where did we go wrong? I feel that the answer lies in the fact that we don’t recognize our strengths- rather, we believe in short cuts and getting influenced by others.

My final analysis on the subject—we must all wake up or be prepared to lose the battle. Whether we like it or not the media game is very big and the only thing that can sustain small players is quality content relevant to viewers.

Ahmed Kapadia
CEO, Synergy
Advertising
Source:http://www.ahmedkapadia.com/blog/press-interviews/opinion-the-future-of-media-industry-in-pakistan/

Pakistan’s Media War

Are we surrendering “Media War” without fighting?

In this world, where selfish realm has most of the time subjugated selfless ethics, nurturing a nation, that to (an ideological one) is in fact a complicated affair. This does not mean at all, that signifying the dogma of an ideological nation can be converted into its weakness, but indeed in-signification of the same through own wrongful deeds without understanding the importance of its presence in the roots can prove extremely fatal. On the other hand carrying the flag of ideology with light hands and without conviction can also make a nation falter. Just to elaborate, a famous commoner quote that Pakistan cannot be erased from this globe as it came in existence on 27th Day of the Holy Month of Ramadan, may sound logical to us as good faithful of Islam but then, where our test as an individual and as a nation lies?

I think this concept of a guaranteed prosperity, which definitely prevailed in the most part of our history, has worsened the capacity of character building of Pakistanis. 

At this point in time Pakistan is fighting wars of different attributes and intensities and if we peep through the corridors of history this is nothing exceptional to Pakistan, it holds good for every nation existing on this planet.

To fight these low intensity conflicts or high intensity wars on all fronts we should ask ourselves following:Why we are fighting?What we are fighting?And most importantly how we are fighting?

 The answer of “Why” lies in the basic complexion of human Psychology which always look towards attainment of authority with mere absence of any harnessing power. Individuals combines into a society and societies constitute nations, so the question comes into mind then “why as nation we except morality and justice for us from others”? People of Pakistan must realize it now-It is the SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST.The answer of “What” is even simpler we are fighting the need and greed to be fittest, possessed by other nations. It is indeed as simple as it is said “For greed, even all nature is too little……………….”

Certainly “how” need deliberate analysis of weapon systems available to us to fight and win.It is said and proved, number of times that wars are not won only through Armies or the military muscle alone-after witnessing the geniuses of power of media- flexing media muscle with precision for own interest is certainly a more workable and an economical option. One of the immediate deductions after this can be-“The road for Pakistan with free media should be unambiguous and less bumpy from now on…………….”

I feel very proud when our belligerent media rightly points out the evil deeds of devils roaming in our society polluting every walk of life. It is even more heartening to see exposed corrupt policemen, politicians, criminals and even sometimes highly respected independent judiciary and Army.

Media, which is now considered as one of the strongest element in the power corridors of Pakistan, must remember that making crowd a nation is a continuous and ongoing process. Responsibility to drive an average nation to supremacy requires a concentrated effort of state and media managers so that every individual should act like an institution in itself whish can catalyze this process of becoming nation and improving on and on.

When I was in my childhood, our silver screen and mini screen icons use to say a peculiar sentence “Pakistan’s Armed Forces are the guardians of geographical boundaries of our country and we are on guard for its ideological frontiers”. At that point in time, I use to laugh it out that how can one be compared with a soldier, who is always ready to lay his life for the country but after understanding the importance of strategic communication and its techniques, I had to alter my opinion especially when I heard this from somebody like Donald Rumsfeld (The Perception Management Factory of United States).

 “In this environment, the old adage that ‘A lie can be halfway around the world before the truth has its boots on’ becomes doubly true with today’s technologies…the longer it takes to put a strategic communication framework into place, the more we can be certain that the vacuum will be filled by the enemy”- Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, Remarks delivered at Harold Pratt House, New York, N.Y., Feb. 17, 2006.

There is yet another classic example for concise application of Strategic Communication technique when Ms Sonia Gandhi talked about the successful cultural invasion of India on Pakistan through her satellite channels. Our satellite channels are certainly doing a wonderful job to occupy media space, and in some case regaining it through brilliance in the field of Dramas and Teleplays. All credit goes to our entertainment channels like HUM, ARY, TV ONE and many more…………… but for improvement one has to be critical in nature.

It’s time to discuss our “Amman Ki Asha”, what a beautiful concept for solidifying the perpetual cultural onslaught by Indian media, completely in denial to the core ideology of Pakistan. Yes! One should expect this from enemy as said by Rumsfeld, but should we do it to ourselves?

As they say “Nazar main rehthey ho jab tum nazar nahin attey”, Yes indeed! Very logical in the context of terrorist activities conducted by TTP (Tehrik e Taliban Pakistan) and BLA (Baluchistan Liberation Army), the covert face of Indian Intelligence Agencies but tangent to what Mr. Jinnah fought for……….

The most astonishing fact about Amman Ki Asha was recently surfaced, when the slogan “LOVE PAKISTAN” was objected by Indian establishment and the observation was conveyed to Times of India in this regard. This incident has actually exposed the latent objective behind this conspiracy which can let us down yet again (God Forbid).

We should not forget 16th December 1971, who so ever was responsible for that, will be taken to task-certainly role of Indian Government tops the list-history, has always been able to find the truth and is extremely cruel in this regard, but commercial pollution of media must be stopped before putrefying our roots of ideology.

Failure of this potent weapon system (media), especially, if found parting its way with the enemy (may be unintentionally), for contaminating the ideology of Pakistan will lead to anarchy and chaos both in mind and soul of this nation. The war of survival is likely to suffer-it’s time to weigh between the priorities and opportunities.

Source: http://www.opinion-maker.org/2011/03/pakistans-media-war/

Impact of Social Media on Students

Social networking websites like Facebook, twitter, MySpace, youtube and etc. are very much common among youth. Social media has several impacts on students and their academic work as Students use social media websites for discussion and for study purposes. Social media has become a vital part in modern society. Social media is becoming increasingly important for this era, because of increasing global outreach potential offered by the internet. Students can contact, address and influence many other people at the same time all around the world, via various forms of social media.

Social media also have some positive points, as it helps people in online communities and enhance communication. Social media has been used in many ways in this era as it is the era of technology. Youth is learning fast on social media and using it for constructive purpose also. One can educate people about the society, good and bad, values, ethics and culture, if its use is preceded in a positive way. Sometimes, Students use these social media tools in their studies also. They talk about their lectures, subjects or a single topic of their syllabus with their campus community groups.

Many of teens, youth but also adults also use it. Many of them don’t know how to use it safe. Over the past few years, social media networks have become one of the most popular applications on the internet. Social networking sites attracts youth, teens specially students towards them. While chatting and talking to friends, students forget about the time. Somehow, it is wastage of time, by saving that time students can learn more by studying.

Social media is just like a trap for students as students get so much involve in it. For some teens and tweens, social media is a primary way to interact socially. In spite of gathering and going out with friends, students prefer social media to contact and make fun with their friends. New generation usually now love to spend their time in using internet and mobile phones.

Use of social media affects students so much, not only their studies but also their relations. A large number students log on to one of their favorite social media website so many times on daily basis. Some if the students keep using cell phones for texting and instant massaging.

For youth and students, it is not much beneficial as social media websites are not much safe and students who use social media get so much addicted to it and they forget about their other activities and responsibilities. Too much use of social media websites is risky for the students as they lose their personal data and information, they upload on the websites. Not only on internet but also when students meet each other in their educational institutes, they keep discussing about their activities and data uploaded by them and their friends.

World is moving and developing fast, use of social media is not much bad, but it is worse, when used in a negative way. For parents it is advised that, while students are using social networking site or any other social media tool, it is the responsibility of parents to watch over them and tell them how to use it in a good way. Do not make so much hard and fast rules for children, that they begin to feel being caged. Proper guidance and counseling will works to teach students, children and youth the best and positive use of social media.

Quality of Curriculum in Business Schools

One cannot help but wonder why the quality of Pakistan’s university education is looked down upon all over the world, when almost all other countries in our immediate South Asian neighbourhood are treated with far better regard. While how we fare outside Pakistan is a cause of concern, a much more alarming situation is faced by students in the local job market. In the increasingly competitive world of recruitment and selection, most university students fail to do well. Even those who are lucky enough to find jobs, end up losing them, or hit the glass ceiling. Causes can be traced to the six years of education that these students receive before trying their luck in the professional arena. Employers complain that fresh graduates hardly know what to do on the job in a situation which is completely different from what they are prepared for in college through learning from books.

One cannot but fail to lay some blame on the curriculum of business schools in Pakistan, as it gives a lot of information, but very little encouragement to students. They are hardly pushed to think independently, or tested with elements that they are likely to face while on the job, and the students eventually end up as ‘knowers’ but not as ‘doers’. This problem needs to be addressed immediately to keep Pakistan from having a complete generation of business students, who have been wasted by the very system that claims to work for their improvement.

Consumers trust advertising in print media more than other media

Despite important changes in media consumption in recent years, consumers continue to have most trust in advertising in magazines and newspapers. It seems the power of the printed word still rings true and has great value when evaluating advertising. When asked how much trust they attach to advertising in the various media, consumers gave magazines and newspapers a score of 63%, TV 41% and Internet 25%. What’s interesting is that so-called traditional media such as direct mail and catalogues also outscore social media and the Internet respectively.

When asked about the role of advertising in purchase decision making, almost seven out of ten said advertising in magazines and newspapers is most important to support purchase decisions. Proving the importance of direct mail, almost 90% of consumers value addressed and non-addressed mail above social media.
These figures prove the continued effectiveness of advertising in the various printed media. Advertisers benefit from the leading consumer trust in print media, as readers more positively evaluate their advertising compared to when it is placed in other media. And at the same time advertisements placed in print media play an important role in the purchasing process.
These results are based upon a pan-European survey conducted by VTT, the Finnish research institute. More than 700 consumers in 13 countries were asked about their media usage and their attitude towards advertising. The results also show four distinct consumer segments: Slow Bons Vivants, Busy Mix-and-Matchers, Tolerant Surfers and Youthful Digilovers. The Slow Bons Vivants represent 23% and are print users who associate digital media with their hectic working life. Busy Mix-and-Matchers (46%) easily shift between digital and print media and appreciate print media. Tolerant Surfers (19%) are digital media users with a positive attitude towards print media. Finally, Youthful Digilovers, the smallest segment (12%), are pure digital users who do not see the benefit of using print media.
Although advertisers are shifting budgets towards digital channels, consumers continue to have the highest trust in print and refer to advertisements in magazines and newspapers as a great source of information to support their purchase decisions. A recent survey from Ablock Plus, a browser add-on to block online ads, showed that 95% of consumers don’t trust online advertising and that 33% trust TV advertising. The latest figure is in line with the results from the VTT study and underlines the strength of print media

Welcome To The World Of Journalism In Pakistan!

Can you imagine being expected by the government to paint a bright, vibrant rainbow of its democratic growth when you have no brushes and only two pots of paint?

Welcome to the world of journalism in Pakistan! You will either be discovered finger-painting messy and chaotic pieces of work in order to please the government or trying hard to understand the core causes of confusion and anarchy in the country. You will be expected to come up with workable solutions to the never ending problems and suddenly end up behind the bars on wrong charges.

One of the many self-appointed Presidents of Pakistan publicly threatened two senior Pakistani journalists in front of several hundred Pakistani at a speech in New York on Sept 13, 2002. Earlier other journalists were threatened and even thrown out of the President’s public meetings, mainly during his promotion for the sham referendum. Many of these actions pass by without anyone making a note of them. In all such events, the journalist concerned happens to be a target of the enduring spate of democratically humiliating onslaught against the press in Pakistan.

Pakistani press is now becoming the victim and the government is suspicious of those journalists who portray the “wrong” side of government’s progressive and nation friendly policies of a “democratic” government.
These personal assaults on journalists are not restricted alone to the military dictatorship. R. S. Afridi is, even today, paying the price of messing with Nawaz Sharif. According to the Editor-in-Chief of the Jang Group, he was told by two higher-ranking officials to dismiss 16 journalists on Nawaz Sharif’s rolls. The Editor-in-Chief was strictly told that “nothing adverse should be written concerning their (the Sharif’s) loans, business, individual matters etc,”

The owners of The Friday Times, have been reporting phone tapping and other stalking since ages now. It has time and again been pointed out that Pakistan is an Egypt in making. Our ex-Presidents have sealed the fate of Pakistan. Once a Journalist working for an English paper very cleverly pointed out, “we do [our work] with a hand tied behind our back,” and if you are unfortunately a victim “you are guilty until proven innocent.”

Print media is just the only source that is not as much under the civilian dictators’ influence as the electronic media is. The thought of taming the press is an important part of the supervision our ruling party leaders are getting. Each and every effort to suppress the press has a piece of the big mystery. Worst of all we do not even know our left toe from our right when it comes to understanding what’s happening around us. Exactly like the reports and views on Radio and TV, the government expects the journalists to craft and design deception, distortion and dishonesty in its favor.

Generally the dictators suppose that the sinister invasion of the truth everywhere would let loose bitterness and resentment rather than satisfaction. Any attempt on part of the media to inform the public is seen to be unleashing a sense of peril than power and control.

An elected regime condemns itself to death if the majority of the citizens who have to decide between various choices make their decision in ignorance of reality, blinded by craze or mislead by fleeting opinions created by the controlled journalists. Press would most certainly not like to be disloyal to its duty by becoming an ingredient of a deceitful game played out by the government for its endurance.

The media geared to this particular purpose inhabit a tiny niche in the massive gathering of solely profit-making or partisan press. The distinction between speaking reasonably and talking gibberish is very obvious. In the same way, printing phony information and not allowing a newspaper from printing certain information are also very obvious acts. For an elected government it is wise to accept the hurdles than to try to remedy the pro-opposition journalist problems by power.

Certainly, a number of the partisan reporters are a part of committing the malicious ill of disguising personal judgment as information. But the government does not need to victimize the entire press to collective penalty because its agenda of not letting a typical Pakistani comprehend the whole story behind all that glitters is being damaged.

WAAR-struck: Ram Gopal Varma gushes over Blockbuster

Never before did Twitter’s limit of 140 characters per tweet seem so criminally inadequate than on Saturday, when multiple award-winning Indian director Ram Gopal Varma found himself scrambling for words in praise of the recently-released Pakistani blockbuster film ‘Waar‘.

The first of Varma’s series of tweets was ambiguous, leaving readers unsure if his claim of being ‘stunned beyond belief’ was sarcastic.

Saw pakistani film 'Waar ' ..stunned beyond belief..i just want to leave direction nd go to pakistan to assist its director Bilal Lashari
— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) October 26, 2013

 Things got clearer when the second tweet came in around 10 minutes later, with Varma comparing Waar’s tremendous first-day performance at the box-office.

Sharuk khan being the biggest star there nd chennai express having a record of 9 million on first day Bilal lashari's Waar collected 11.4
— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) October 26, 2013

In a confessional tweet which he later deleted, Varma admitted he had watched the pirated version of Waar, which has only gotten a limited number of screenings outside Pakistan.

Fr those asking hw I got 2 see Waar I mst confess nd apologize tht I saw pirated as I ws unable 2 resist aftr hearing about it frm many here
— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) October 27, 2013

But the director behind films like Sarkar and Company did slam Bollywood for being self aggrandising and refusing to acknowledge that Pakistan was churning out films that deserved attention.

After seeing 'Waar' i honestly feel us indian film makers should get off our assumed high horses and look at pakistani films seriously
— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) October 26, 2013

To top it off, the Bollywood star ‘saluted’ Waar’s director Bilal Lashari for a film that absolutely filled him with thrill.

Mr.Bilal Lashari wherever u r in pakistan I want 2 salute u..irrespective of anythng else I am student of cinema nd am thrilled wth ur film
— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) October 26, 2013

Mr.Bilal Lashari wherever u r in pakistan I want 2 salute u..irrespective of anythng else I am student of cinema nd am thrilled wth ur film
— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) October 26, 2013

Director Bilal Lashari should do a favour and send copies of his film.'Waar' to all us indian film makers
— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) October 27, 2013

Just had a long telephonic chat with Bilal Lashari ..am as impressed with his humbleness as much as I was with his film Waar
— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) October 28, 2013

Source:  http://tribune.com.pk/story/622921/waar-struck-ram-gopal-varma-gushes-over-lasharis-blockbuster/

Limits of the social media

WHAT is this social media, and why is it so important?

Variations of this question rang out all weekend as news spread of the Social Media Mela, a conference that brought Indian journalists, writers, and activists to Karachi to discuss with their Pakistani counterparts how the social media has affected various aspects of their lives.

According to Wikipedia, social media is, simply put, “web-based and mobile-based technologies which are used to turn communication into interactive dialogue among organisations, communities, and individuals” (also known as Web 2.0). It includes Twitter and Facbeook, but also blogs and microblogs, online communities, YouTube and any other space on the Web that is accessible to all and enabled by “scalable communication techniques” — meaning that it can be accessed as easily on a humble mobile phone as on a sophisticated laptop.

The conference illustrated how Pakistanis are using social media, integrating it into culture, politics, activism and education, amongest other disciplines and areas, in a positive and constructive way. Recognizing the potential of the social media to effect far-reaching change in Pakistan, the US Consulate organised last year’s social media conference but this year took a back seat and left it to the NGO PeaceNiche, run by Sabeen Mahmud. She and her team decided to make Pakistan-India relations a primary theme at this year’s event, and for many attendees, the highlight of the weekend was meeting the Indian guests who were able to attend thanks to former Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s personal influence in having their visas issued.

The conference had a laid-back, relaxed feel with a desi atmosphere. Speakers from a variety of organisations and disciplines, as well as appealing graphic designs, gave the mela a unique branding, with an army of young volunteers ushering guests around the venue and a buzz that lingered for several daysafter the event. During the sessions, attendees learned how the social media has been used to raise funds for a movie in India (‘crowdfunding’), enhance and support the learning activities in a school in Kashmir, effect political change through online petitions, create instant celebrities in the arts and media, engage Pakistani youth in the political process and raise awareness about media ethics, sexual harassment and human rights issues. The Indian guests returned home with many negative illusions about Pakistan countered, and crates of mangoes to share with their families.

But the conference was as much about the limits of social media as it was about what it can achieve. This was brought to light in Ali Dayan Hasan’s keynote speech on social media and human rights. The Pakistan director of Human Rights Watch said that the social media helped spread information quickly and was useful for recording human rights abuses, but policymakers had to listen and effect change in government — which the social media has not been able to achieve.

Raheel Khursheed, communications director for India’s Change.org, also addressed the issue of armchair activism enabled by the social media, saying bluntly that online activism was useless if it was not followed by real-world action. Beena Sarwar, a peace activist, echoed Hasan in her blog observations about the social media conference: “Political establishments have the power to change [the situation between India and Pakistan], if only they would follow the voice of the people.”

That voice is being expressed louder than ever on the social media, but is anyone from the government actually listening?

In Pakistan, there is an image problem in the context of the social media. Its proponents sometimes expect far too much of it; they are almost evangelical about its powers to change society and the political system. They will be disappointed by the fact that the social media mela did not solve the Kashmir problem, eliminate corruption, stop the killing of the Hazara Shias or the Baloch, or the persecution of Ahmadis and Christians. Such people need constant reminding that the revolution will not come just because people click ‘like’ on a Facebook link or retweet a popular politician’s messages.

By the same token, many don’t take the social media seriously enough. Its detractors are often those who simply don’t understand it. Take the example of Pakistani journalists who think that the social media is merely reporting about social events.

Jokes aside, mainstream media in Pakistan has practitioners who feel that the social media is no competition to traditional print or broadcast journalism, or lacks legitimacy as a medium. And those Pakistani politicians who are online and tweeting to their followers seem to think of the social media as a game or a popularity contest: who has the most ardent followers or who has the most abusive trolls.

The power of the social media lies in its ability to give a voice to people traditionally left out of the mainstream media, to hold political figures and governments to account for their actions and abuses, and to mobilise people to action in communities and across them.

But there’s still a huge gap between intent and action, and it will take several years for the social media scene in Pakistan to mature enough to have a tangible effect on governance and policy. Still, learning, observing and experimenting without fear is the most intelligent approach to understanding what the social media can and can’t do for us.

Media has Limited Freedom, say Journalists

The press is free to report on anything against the United States, India, women and minorities and that is the extent to which it is free. This was said by researcher and writer Wajahat Masood at the conclusion of a two-day seminar in Islamabad, said a press release.

“What we are not free to write is anything that is nearer to truth and objective,” said Masood, adding that the media in recent times has increasingly become a propaganda tool. The last session, where he spoke, took up the issue of media freedom in Pakistan. About 200 journalists from all over Pakistan took part in the conference.

The topic was incisive and attracted plenty of comments from the audience. Veteran journalist Ghazi Salahuddin, the moderator, said that media in Pakistan had still not figured out what to show and what not to do.

Shahzada Zulfiqar said there is no concept of media freedom in Balochistan, where national interests reign supreme

Earlier, in the morning session, participants discussed local media and its promotion. The session was chaired by National Language Authority Chairman Ahmed and featured experts such as Zulfiqar Ali, columnist Harris Khalique, and senior journalists Madad Ali Sindhi and Irshad Mastoi.

Sindhi described the emergence of Sindhi newspapers. He said that state of Sindhi media is no different from the mainstream media as far as the wages and behaviour of the owners is concerned.

Irshad Mastoi, a local journalist from Balochistan, said that media in the province is going through a dire state due to a number of threats to journalists. He said that currently only three newspapers from Balochistan are being published from various parts.

Khalique shed light on the inadequacies of English and Urdu medium. He said that going by the statistics, the mainstream medium of Urdu has been confined to urban centres and government offices. Raising another important point he said that vernacular media is more progressive and liberal than the mainstream media.