At breakfast, an eyeful of gore

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published December 31, 2012 |  S M Tariq

ISLAMABAD: Not everybody is an Ardeshir Cowasjee, I realize this and appreciate it. But surely the media in Pakistan, especially those in print journalism, could make a tiny effort to be aware that their work is read by thousands and that readers need to be treated with respect.

Also true that not everybody is a scholar of the English language or has the faculty to be precise and incisive while writing a report, but the fact is that half-baked, badly written and poorly edited stories leave a pretty awful taste in the mouth.

There is also the matter of content. Surely there must be considerations taken and discussions initiated by the editorial team when faced with subject matter bordering on the sensitive or graphic.

How can photographs of headless Pakistani soldiers slaughtered by the godless Taliban, children ravaged by bombs or drone attacks, lawyer's garlanding the murderer of a senior government official and, most recently, the ghastly picture of Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmed Bilour bleeding to death, be justified?

Just imagine opening the newspaper at breakfast and getting an eyeful of gore. It's not on. The onus of this must go to those individuals who claim to be journalists.

Journalists are and should be responsible for what they write. Information must be factually correct. The language of the report/story should be attractive and follow a logical course covering who, what, when, why, where and how. It must have a start, middle and a conclusion. If it is a report it should be factual and not fall victim to opinions, prejudices and agendas. It should contain verifiable and responsible quotes from valid sources related to the incident. Readers are not interested in what 'sources said'. They want the name of the person who made a statement. Facts have to be tied in with the individuals concerned.

It is always good if stories/reports have been researched and have background information. It is even better if this info does not come off the Net but is tied in with some relevant expert or analyst. This gives a story integrity and substance.

And it never hurts if the reporter does a follow up story. Readers are always interested in what happened after. If the picture of the headless Pakistani soldiers was shocking for most readers then so too have been numerous stories of murder, rape and death where insensitive language has been used and facts and research have been minimum or distastefully or graphically described.

Political stories too often leave the reader wondering as to what actually has been said. All the nuances, veiled indications and hints as to what could happen leaves the reader frustrated and, worse still, uninformed. The whole idea of reporting is to inform. Should sub-editors be blamed? Ofcourse. It is the job of a sub to ensure that the story is cohesive and language correct. However, if the reporter does not have the ability to explain him or herself then there is very little the sub can do. 

Certain basics just have to be followed even when it comes to deciding on photographs, like photographs of beheaded soldiers and dying ministers.

Unfortunately these days certain individuals who fashionably call themselves journalists, especially those in the electronic media, are more interested in making a fast buck getting caught up in a scandal which puts them in the spotlight Hollywood-Bollywood style in quick time. Being in the news is more important than being out of it!

Freedom of expression shrinks in Pakistan as PECA Amendments take toll: report

 April 30, 2025:  Freedom of expression in Pakistan is under threat, as the 2025 Freedom Network report reveals increased arrests, censorship, and legal restrictions following amendments to PECA, posing serious risks to journalists and democratic values.

Dawn urges Indian media to abandon war rhetoric

 April 30, 2025:  Dawn has criticized the Indian media's calls for war and condemned the banning of 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, urging a rational response after the Pahalgam attack that left 26 dead.

India bans 16 Pakistani YouTube channels following Pahalgan attack

 April 28, 2025:  India has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including major news outlets and individual journalists, following the deadly Pahalgam attack. Tensions escalate as Islamabad demands a neutral probe.

Coordinated or coincidence? Identical tweets by Pakistani journalists raise eyebrows

 April 23, 2025:  Pakistani journalists respond in unison to a post hinting at a possible Indian military strike. Citing the 2019 ‘Swift Retort,’ they warn of a stronger response if provoked again.

Sher Afzal Marwat launches personal attacks on journalists after PTI expulsion

 April 21, 2025:  After being expelled from PTI, MNA Sher Afzal Marwat launches personal attacks on journalists and Aleema Khan, sparking outrage on social media over his offensive remarks.

Journalist Sanaullah Khan alleges FIA blocking accounts of YouTubers and families

 April 21, 2025:  Journalist Sanaullah Khan reveals that the FIA has launched a financial crackdown on YouTubers by freezing the bank accounts of journalists and their family members—raising serious concerns over freedom of expression and legal process.

A launch in style: Dr. Nauman Niaz unveils 'In A Different Realm'

 April 20, 2025:  Dr. Nauman Niaz launched his fifteenth book, In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple and Triple Centuries 1876–2025, at an elegant Islamabad event, reflecting on cricket’s rarest feats and his journey as a scholar of the game.

Sindhi journalist AD Shar brutally murdered, PFUJ declares three-day mourning

 April 11, 2025:  Sindhi journalist AD Shar was brutally murdered in Khairpur, Sindh. His body was found dumped on Handiyari Link Road. PFUJ has declared a three-day mourning period and demanded justice.