Journalism Pakistan
Journalism Pakistan
Even a win can't hide Pakistan's structural collapse in cricket فتح بھی پاکستان کرکٹ کے ڈھانچے کی تباہی نہیں چھپا سکتیJournalists stage walkout at post-budget briefing over government's dismissive attitude صحافیوں کا بجٹ کے بعد کی بریفنگ سے واک آؤٹ، حکومت کے توہین آمیز رویے پر احتجاجLegal storm brews as Dr. Nauman Niaz serves defamation notice on Shoaib Akhtar ڈاکٹر نعمان نیاز کی جانب سے شعیب اختر کو ہتکِ عزت کا نوٹسHRCP urges complete repeal of PECA, citing threats to free speech and civil liberties ایچ آر سی پی کا پی ای سی اے کے مکمل خاتمے کا مطالبہ، آزادی اظہار اور شہری آزادیوں کے لیے خطرہ قرارPFUJ condemns murder of journalist Syed Mohammad Shah, urges immediate justice پی ایف یو جے کا صحافی سید محمد شاہ کے قتل کی مذمت، قاتل کی فوری گرفتاری کا مطالبہState within a state? Police block reinstated Jang employees from resuming duties ریاست کے اندر ریاست؟ جنگ گروپ کے بحال شدہ ملازمین کو دفتر جانے سے روک دیا گیاMoeed Pirzada to report journalist Fakhar Durrani to FBI over alleged data theft معروف صحافی معید پیرزادہ کا فخر درانی کے خلاف ایف بی آئی کو رپورٹ کرنے کا فیصلہ

All's fair in Pakistani media

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published June 28, 2012 |  Saadia Khalid

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All's fair in Pakistani media

LEEDS: The widely used proverb ‘all is fair in love and war’ has an apt alternate version when it comes to Pakistan’s media, especially given the recent circumstances and events. It then becomes ‘All is fair in media and politics’.

We know for a fact that people have a short memory when it comes to politics; they vote for the same old candidates irrespective of their previous poor performance.

They condemn the current government for inflation, load shedding and disastrous law and order situation but they would still vote for them again during the next elections if not in the upcoming one.

Call it a manufacturing fault or attitude problem but this is how we have behaved as a nation and individuals for as long as one can recall. A person who had lost all credibility as the power minister is now the prime minister of the country. This is not a strange occurrence, especially when it comes to Pakistan and politics.

It’s no different in the case of the Pakistan’s media industry which has become hostage to suited-booted intellectual impostors. Nothing has changed even after the recent leaked off air videos which would have spelt the end for anyone’s career elsewhere in the world.

We either have a really short memory or are too tied up with daily life issues to give much thought to such things. Dunya TV that was under fire only weeks ago has bounced back, showing in ratings released by them that they are  ahead of Geo at certain time slots.

People have already forgotten about the staged Meher-Lucqman interview with Malik Riaz. It all seems to be part of a bigger game.  Meher Bokhari continues to carry on her aggressive ways at the same channel. Nasim Zehra, who had resigned, has taken her resignation back. Everything seems to have settled down quickly and smoothly.

And now that so called ‘doctor’, Amir Liaquat Hussain, is back with Geo TV just months after he was roundly criticized for using filthy language and insensitive remarks about women in one of the leaked videos that became viral in February.

The reason for his comeback is no other than the huge revenue that his sermons brought to the ARY during last year’s Ramadan transmission. The Geo management perhaps could not afford to let this opportunity pass by again and patched up with him, rehiring him and giving him additional designations and responsibilities.

And how would this go down with viewers?

Well, they would listen to naats and sermons and once gain be fooled into believing that he is a man of great character. With all certainty Geo would top the ratings during Ramadan.

Just like people forget the performance of their politicians, they will also forget about the mess in the media industry.

(The writer is a journalist based in England)

*The views expressed by the writer do not necessarily reflect the views of JournalismPakistan.com
 

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