JournalismPakistan.com | Published May 24, 2012
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ISLAMABAD: Geo aur jeenay do (Live and let live) is one of Geo Television’s most popular slogans but the channel’s managers do not seem to practice what they preach, journalists say.
A latest round of sackings at Geo has abruptly left several employees jobless in these difficult economic times. This has angered many journalists, more so the National Press Club in Islamabad.
This banner (in the picture above) has been put up on the club premises giving vent to journalists’ feelings. Loosely translated, the message reads: “Shame on you for preaching others morality (and not actually practicing it).”
Geo sacked two reporters and a desk man in Islamabad last week who had each been with the channel for some four years. There were also reports of sackings at the channel’s Karachi headquarters.
In April, the management laid off its director programs and four producers from Islamabad centre.
Also in April, 16 staffers at sports channel Geo Super that included an editor, anchors and sub-editors were booted out.
The managers had gone for a major round of downsizing in Karachi earlier in March shutting down the Current Affairs and Creative Departments.
Back in 2010, Geo gave 80 employees the sack.
June 19, 2020: Urdu newspaper Jehan Pakistan has laid off four reporters and seven newsroom staff in Islamabad, shifting to an online-only format. The management has promised to settle all dues, including three months' wages, for the terminated employees.
May 03, 2020: ARY Digital Network announces a three-month salary cut to cope with the financial crisis due to COVID-19, exempting staff earning up to Rs100,000. DawnNews Television also reduces salaries by 10 percent.
May 01, 2020: DawnNews Television cuts staff salaries by 10 percent and halves fuel allowances amid ongoing financial challenges. This marks the third pay cut in a year, highlighting the severe impact on Pakistani journalists facing layoffs and delayed salaries since 2018.
March 05, 2020: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) condemns the sudden closure of the Daily Asian newspaper, which left 60 journalists jobless. PFUJ urges the government to regulate media licenses to prevent misuse.
October 02, 2019: ARY News and Aaj News Television have terminated 150 employees as part of a downsizing strategy, drawing condemnation from the IFJ and PFUJ. This follows previous layoffs at Dunya News, highlighting growing concerns over job security and unpaid wages for journalists in Pakistan.
October 01, 2019: Dunya Media Group has terminated over 80 employees from its Multan station, following similar layoffs in Lahore. The company plans to centralize operations with fewer staff. The move, which includes paying three months' salaries to laid-off employees, has faced condemnation from journalist unions and the IFJ.
September 26, 2019: Aaj News Television has laid off about a dozen employees from its Lahore and Islamabad offices, including assignment editors, reporters, and camerapersons. The terminations were reportedly abrupt, with no prior notice and no payment for three months' salaries as required by contract.
September 25, 2019: 24 News has terminated Sajid Mughal, their Malikwal correspondent, reportedly due to pressure from a political figure. Mughal had recently reported on an audio involving Muhammad Khan Bhatti, which led to his house being occupied and false FIRs filed against him. He claims his dismissal was without a show-cause notice or reason.
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