Inside DawnNews

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 27 May 2012

Zahid Mazhar, the new Editor of DawnNews, is reported to be planning a team reshuffle after several Islamabad-based journalists were asked to quit. Reports also cite tensions with talk show host Talat Hussain and possible hiring from Samaa.

Summary

KARACHI: Zahid Mazhar, the new Editor of DawnNews reportedly plans to bring in his own team after reports that at least four journalists from the Islamabad office have been asked to quit. Among them are Editor North Mubashir Zaidi, reporters Matiullah Jan, Azaz Syed and Abdul Shakoor Khan. Two others reporters are also likely to be asked to leave. Only last month, the DawnNews management sacked two desk employees and a reporter in Islamabad. On top of this all, there are also reports that Mazhar does not get along well with Talat Hussain, host of the talk show ‘News Night with Talat’. Insiders tell JournalismPakistan.com that the two have had a telephonic tiff in recent days prompting Mazhar to recommend Talat be fired because of his program’s low ratings. Talat, who joined DawnNews from Aaj TV in October 2010, is said to have refused to meet Mazhar twice when he came down to Islamabad from Karachi recently. The new team that Mazhar now wants to put together could come from Samaa and may well include Iftikhar Shirazi, who is the bureau chief there and reporters Ali Akbar, Sanaullah, Fahad Chaudhry and others.

KEY POINTS:

• Reports say at least four DawnNews journalists in Islamabad were asked to quit, with more possibly to follow.
• Those named include Mubashir Zaidi, Matiullah Jan, Azaz Syed and Abdul Shakoor Khan.
• DawnNews management had sacked two desk employees and a reporter in Islamabad last month.
• Insiders report disagreements between Mazhar and host Talat Hussain, including talk of firing over ratings.
• Mazhar is reported to be considering bringing in a new team, potentially from Samaa, including Iftikhar Shirazi and other reporters.