Journalism Pakistan
Journalism Pakistan
Freedom of expression shrinks in Pakistan as PECA Amendments take toll: report اظہارِ رائے کی آزادی محدود، پیکا میں ترامیم سے میڈیا کو شدید دھچکا: رپورٹDawn urges Indian media to abandon war rhetoric ڈان کی بھارتی میڈیا سے جنگی بیانیہ ترک کرنے کی اپیلIndia bans 16 Pakistani YouTube channels following Pahalgan attack پہلگام حملے کے بعد بھارت نے پاکستان کے 16 یوٹیوب چینلز پر پابندی لگا دی'In A Different Realm' offers a philosophical take on cricket's greatest innings ان اے ڈیفرنٹ ریلم کرکٹ کی عظیم ترین اننگز پر ایک فکری نقطۂ نظر پیش کرتی ہےCoordinated or coincidence? Identical tweets by Pakistani journalists raise eyebrows ہم آہنگی یا محض اتفاق؟ پاکستانی صحافیوں کے ایک جیسے ٹویٹس نے سوالات اٹھا دیےThe PSL paradox: pageantry or progress? پی ایس ایل کا تضاد: دکھاوا یا ترقی؟Sher Afzal Marwat launches personal attacks on journalists after PTI expulsion پی ٹی آئی سے نکالے جانے کے بعد شیر افضل مروت کے صحافیوں پر ذاتی حملےJournalist Sanaullah Khan alleges FIA blocking accounts of YouTubers and families صحافی ثناء اللہ خان کا انکشاف: ایف آئی اے یوٹیوبرز اور ان کے خاندانوں کے اکاؤنٹس بلاک کر رہی ہےA launch in style: Dr. Nauman Niaz unveils 'In A Different Realm' ان اے ڈفرنٹ ریلم کی رونمائی: ڈاکٹر نعمان نیاز کی کتاب Sindhi journalist AD Shar brutally murdered, PFUJ declares three-day mourning سندھی صحافی اے ڈی شر کا بہیمانہ قتل، پی ایف یو جے نے تین روزہ سوگ کا اعلان کر دیاAJK government registers case against newspaper and staff آزاد کشمیر حکومت کا اخبار اور عملے کے خلاف مقدمہJournalist Arzoo Kazmi alleges FIA threats, possible arrest over reporting صحافی آرزو کاظمی کا دعویٰ: ایف آئی اے کی دھمکیاں، رپورٹنگ پر ممکنہ گرفتاری

Journalism on frail foundations

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published June 03, 2012 |  Samina Memon & Yasira Habib

Join our WhatsApp channel

Journalism on frail foundations

KARACHI:  As journalists we should be happy that our profession is being propagated, promoted and strengthened. Logically, this would mean that more and better journalists will emerge in the future which would also lead us to believe that journalism in Pakistan will not be found wanting when benchmarked against recognized media powerhouses.

Therefore, the fact that yet another source of learning journalism is now taking concrete steps to establish itself should be greeted with enthusiasm and supported too. It should be a relief to know that students of journalism will no longer have to rely solely on universities, newspapers and television channels to learn their skills for now they also have the option of doing so at the Institute of Journalism which began functioning in Karachi in November 2011.

The Institute offers courses in news anchoring, current affairs anchoring, article & feature writing, social media marketing and analysis of financial statements.

All very encouraging of course when viewed from afar and if one does not happen to visit the Institute’s website: http://iojpakistan.wordpress.com/ which is not informative at all. Several buttons do not work or have no content.

The slogan of the Institute itself is incorrect. What does ‘See the history making’ mean?  Should it not read, ‘See history in the making’?

A video posted on the site begins by saying: “Dont (Don’t) read history, see the history making – be a journalist.”

The first sentence of text introducing the institute gets off to an erroneous start too. It reads: “Institute of Journalism is committed for building up the journalistic skills within oneself.”  It should read: The Institute of Journalism is committed to building up the journalistic skills.

There is more. For example, in its Objectives segment the site proclaims: “To provide platform to enter into the field of journalism with proper and relevant education.” It should read: To provide a platform to enter (‘into’ deleted) the field of journalism with proper and relevant education.

And in the Opportunities segment one is told: “To meet the media professionals and journalist during the course duration.” It should read: To meet (‘the’ deleted) media professionals and journalist(s) during the course duration.

It would be easy to carry on forever, but really… is this where students are going to learn the skills of journalism, story telling and better writing?

What is really disturbing is that the Institute held a media conference last week which according to the Cybo Tainment was a Gregarious event from IOJ. Gregarious?!!!

This coming from an institute that is partnered by the sinking newspaper Pakistan Today, the Youth Affairs Department of the Government of Sindh, Apna Karachi FM 107, Brandz Pakistan and has a ‘Blog partner’ in Journalist Pakistan.tk.

The Institute has now been given the responsibility of organizing and hosting the conference annually.

According to their online information the conference which concluded last Friday was supposed to bring the viewers, readers, critques, media professionals, (and) journalists on one platform and (the) word will fall out among them!!

According to the website the conference covered Challenges Faced by (the) Media Industry of Pakistan, - Media Ethics, A Youth training on “Leadership”, Media Glamor and Media and Politics.

But in reality the conference focused on:  Media & Politicians, Media and Anchor Persons (Most of us journalists were not aware until this revelation that anchor persons are not media. No wonder then our anchors and show hosts don’t behave like journalists), Leadership in Media and Media & Public Relations.

We are informed that: In the first session of this conference which is called “Media and Politicians” Mr Faisal Sabzwari, Mr Mujahid Barelvi, Mr Agha Massod and Mr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig expressed their views on the current behavior (of) Pakistan private channels.

In the second session of this conference which was named “Media and Anchor Persons”, Mr Ahmed Shah discussed the current attitude of the anchor persons of private television channels and his speech was one of the best speech(es) of this (the) conference.

We can carry on infinitum, but we won’t.

We wanted to make a point: If this is the kind of journalism one should expect from the Institute, the purpose of its establishment is already lost. What is worse, most of the participants at the conference were students who paid up to Rs1200 to attend in the hope of learning something valuable. All they got was talk.
 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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'

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

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.

Newsroom
'In A Different Realm' offers a philosophical take on cricket's greatest innings

'In A Different Realm' offers a philosophical take on cricket's greatest innings

 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.​

The PSL paradox: pageantry or progress?

The PSL paradox: pageantry or progress?

 April 22, 2025 Once a beacon of hope for Pakistan's cricket revival, the Pakistan Super League now grapples with stagnation and moral compromises. Can this cultural symbol reclaim its lost soul?

Italian newspaper embraces AI, praises its irony and insight

Italian newspaper embraces AI, praises its irony and insight

 April 21, 2025 An Italian newspaper, Il Foglio, successfully published a month-long AI-written insert and praised its irony and analytical abilities, while affirming that AI will complement—not replace—quality journalism.

Nominations open for IPI’s 2025 Press Freedom Awards

Nominations open for IPI’s 2025 Press Freedom Awards

 April 03, 2025 The International Press Institute (IPI) and International Media Support (IMS) invite nominations for the 2025 World Press Freedom Hero and Free Media Pioneer Awards. Recognizing courageous journalists and innovative media, the awards will be presented at IPI’s 75th-anniversary World Congress in Vienna. Submit your nominations by April 30, 2025.

Journalist burned alive while reporting Kathmandu protest

Journalist burned alive while reporting Kathmandu protest

 April 01, 2025 Photojournalist Suresh Rajak was burned alive while covering a violent protest in Kathmandu. The IFJ and its affiliates condemn the attack and call for an urgent investigation to hold the perpetrators accountable.