JournalismPakistan.com | Published December 30, 2018
Join our WhatsApp channel
ISLAMABAD - Muhammad Ali Siddiqi, Dawn Readers’ Editor has provided the paper’s stance on some issues among them the decision to publish a story on the railway minister’s comment he made thinking the mikes in front of him were off.
He admitted that Dawn received flak for publishing that story.
Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed (pictured) unknowingly spoke out to his deputy, saying Prime Minister Imran Khan had asked him to take over the information ministry. He hinted the premier was not happy with Fawad Chaudhry’s performance.
That Dawn story received 160 comments online.
“All public figures — not necessarily politicians — are newsmakers. It makes news even when they say nothing when ‘saying’ was required. But if they do spew wisdom the cameras and mikes catch, the ink slingers will do their job,” Siddiqi maintained.
He quoted two incidents where the politicians discussed or said something not intended for anyone but were picked by mikes, and made big news.
“On Aug 14, 1984, President Ronald Reagan told the American people: ‘My fellow Americans, I am pleased to tell you that I have signed legislation to outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes.’
The president was, of course, joking as he prepared for his weekly radio broadcast. He thought his microphone was still being adjusted, but he didn’t know his words were being heard by the world. There was uproar, his rival candidate in the Democratic Party began tearing him apart, Siddiqi wrote in his column titled ‘Caught on camera’ published on Sunday.
The other incident was when “in November 2011, shortly before a G20 summit in Cannes, French president Nicolas Sarkozy described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a ‘liar’. The man listening to him, President Barack Obama, reacted in a way that showed his tacit approval of his host’s opinion of the Likud leader.”
Siddiqi also took up the issue of Dawn increasing its price. “One of our readers protested against the recent price hike and asked why Indian newspapers were cheaper. One reason is obvious: India produces its own newsprint; we do not.”
He also answered a reader who thought that Dawn’s weather forecasts go wrong. “Well, Dawn doesn’t make predictions on how the elements will behave on its own. Whether the winds and the clouds do or do not move according to the Met Office forecast, the credit (or discredit) goes to the weather-forecasting agency.”
Photo courtesy: treasure.com.pk
June 11, 2025: Pakistan celebrated a narrow win over Bangladesh, but beneath the jubilation lies a deeper crisis—from sidelined veterans to a collapsing domestic structure—signaling an urgent need for cricket reform.
June 11, 2025: Journalists walked out of the post-budget press conference in Islamabad to protest the absence of a technical briefing and the government's dismissive behavior, calling it unacceptable and intolerable.
May 31, 2025: Dr. Nauman Niaz has issued a defamation notice to Shoaib Akhtar over derogatory remarks made during a recent broadcast, reigniting a longstanding media feud between the two prominent figures in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has demanded the full repeal of PECA, citing its vague language, coercive powers, and threats to free speech and digital rights in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the murder of journalist Syed Mohammed Shah in Jacobabad, calling for urgent justice and improved safety for media professionals in Sindh.
May 26, 2025: In Rawalpindi, police allegedly side with Jang Group to block 66 reinstated employees from resuming work despite court orders, drawing sharp criticism from unions and press freedom advocates.
May 25, 2025: PFUJ condemns the Jang Group's decision to dismiss over 80 employees in Rawalpindi, calling it an 'economic massacre.' The union warns of nationwide protests if workers are not reinstated.
May 25, 2025: Daily Jang Rawalpindi has terminated over 80 employees, including female staff, despite multiple court rulings in their favor—raising concerns over labor rights violations and misuse of authority in Pakistani media.
May 19, 2025 PJS reports 219 Palestinian journalists killed in Israeli attacks since October 7, with 30 women among the victims. Over 430 were injured and 685 family members were killed. Read more on the systematic targeting of media in Gaza.
May 15, 2025 Discover the legacy of Samiullah Khan, Pakistan’s legendary "Flying Horse," whose breathtaking speed and artistry redefined hockey. From Olympic glory to World Cup triumphs, his story is one of myth, movement, and magic.
May 04, 2025 Algerian authorities suspend Echorouk News TV for 10 days after it used a racist slur against African migrants. ANIRA demands an apology, calling it a violation of human dignity.
May 04, 2025 NCHR and MMfD launch a journalism fellowship to train reporters on digital rights & gender inclusion in Pakistan. Supported by UNESCO, this initiative aims to bridge the gender digital divide. Apply by May 15, 2025!
April 23, 2025 Discover Dr. Nauman Niaz’s In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple & Triple Centuries 1876–2025, a profound exploration of cricket's most monumental innings, blending historical analysis with poetic narrative.