JournalismPakistan.com | Published April 15, 2012 | Daud Malik
Join our WhatsApp channelSome headlines have become inseparable part of our genes, culture and of course the media. They automatically step forth as soon as they are needed. They are so strongly embedded that even an effort to replace them seems like committing ‘blasphemy’.
The ‘urge/call for unity’ is a must appearance. From time to time, the president and prime minister often ‘urge’ Muslims to unite. They also ‘urge’ party workers to get united against ‘undemocratic forces’ as and when a political crisis brews.
On expressing solidarity with Kashmir cause, every leader wants “just and peaceful solution” but never fails to mention it should be “in accordance with the UN resolutions and the wishes of Kashmiri people.”
Ironically people are constantly ‘found dead’. Sometimes they are even ‘found shot dead’. And promotional events, especially those arranged by the newspapers themselves, are always “thronged”.
A month back tent pegging, a popular cavalry sport, made a comeback to Islamabad after eight years. Galloping horsemen carrying a lance to pick up a small ground target was a spectacle for both electronic and print media.
Shots of horsemen succeeding in picking the symbolic tent peg were shown again and again by TV channels. On the other hand, newspapers made sure that they have the snap where the horsemen is about to or has just picked the ground target.
But when it came to describing the action-packed sport, the most they could do was to “enthrall spectators”.
On a musical night in Peshawar “memorable singing” had also ‘enthralled audience”.
Similarly Sufi singing “spread magic” in India last year, but didn’t forget – you guessed it – to “enthrall audience”.
If by any chance the audience is not “enthralled”, they are “mesmerized”. Sometimes even before the event is held, as a story in a national daily announced: “Music will not be silenced - a concert to celebrate Music Freedom Day - will mesmerize the fun lovers of the twin cities...”
Plays or any cultural performance also end up “enthralling” the audience. That is why last year “the artists, artisans and folk musicians” continued to “enthral visitors as a large number of people thronged the Lok Virsa at Shakarparian Hills to enjoy glimpses of Pakistan’s diverse and unique cultural heritage…”
And a classical singer in Chakwal also – for the nth time – “enthrals” audience.
(Daud Malik is a senior journalist who has worked for The News and Dawn)
March 24, 2025: Explore the 10 critical reasons why Pakistan's legacy media continues to disappoint, from political bias and corporate influence to digital transition failures and unsustainable business models in Pakistani journalism.
September 07, 2024: Pakistani media is under fire for its lack of investigative reporting, political influence, and censorship. With talk shows becoming monotonous and biased, the public is turning to digital platforms for real news. Read on to learn how Pakistani journalism is failing its people.
July 11, 2024: Explore the challenges and opportunities expat journalists face in the UAE, with insights from Imran Naeem Ahmad, a former Gulf News journalist. Discover the impact of censorship, career prospects, and the reality of working for leading newspapers like Khaleej Times and Gulf News in Dubai.
July 09, 2024: Explore the profound impact of censorship on Pakistani journalism. Delve into the challenges faced by journalists, the erosion of press freedom, and broader societal implications in a country grappling with media restrictions and government control.
July 08, 2024: Discover the critical role of local news in a globalized world and how grassroots journalism empowers communities, ensures informed citizenship, and strengthens our societal fabric in the age of global connectivity.
July 06, 2024: Explore the challenges facing print media in Asia, from digital competition to financial struggles, and discover how newspapers and magazines are adapting to survive in the digital age.
July 03, 2024: Discover how independent media outlets in Asia are transforming journalism by breaking barriers and shaping public opinion. Learn about the challenges and triumphs of these new voices in the media landscape.
June 28, 2024: Dive into an extensive exploration of the ominous challenges besieging Pakistan's print media sector. Delve into the heart of the debate on whether traditional newspapers can withstand the onslaught of the digital revolution.
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.