JournalismPakistan.com | Published July 10, 2012 | Saadia Khalid
Join our WhatsApp channel
Gone are the days when actors were the sole participants in the race for the ‘No. 1’ position for attention. Television anchors today are very much part of this game but in a different way; they don’t dare claim their ambitions as openly as actors, but do get their message across between the lines.
Bollywood and Lollywood actress, including Reema, Meera, Katrina, Kareena are the top participants of this game while previously there were Madhuri, Sri Devi, Anjuman and Saima. One actress would claim to have the highest number of fans while the others would criticize her for not having appropriate acting skills. One would point finger at the other for flashing too much flesh and the rest would indulge in taking her to town.
Some actresses would strive hard to achieve the top position through underhanded means while others would do it by tactfully developing ‘strong relations’ with directors and producers. Some would try to achieve it by letting it be known that they would be available for steamy scenes in the movie while others would deliberately set off a rumor about an affair or impending marriage.
The public would be quick to judge, saying ‘cheap tricks’ was all such actresses knew.
But what would we call it if the same tactics are being used by the majority of anchors in various news channels? Obviously it’s not a professional requirement. As far as one understands it is their desire to be at the top that makes them adopt such an approach.
There is literally a tug of war going on between the anchors and hosts of various TV channels. They constantly accuse each other of being spies, agents, ruthless and having no moral, professional or religious ethics.
It has also become a matter of routine for an anchor in his program to disagree with the opinion of a rival anchor and then go to great lengths to prove it is he who is correct. Their desire to influence is so strong they cannot tolerate it if they think their viewers do not believe what they do.
Sometimes this contest becomes so intense they even taunt rival anchors and when that individual responds with an insult, the whole process goes one step further.
Anchors on one television channel spent around 10 minutes criticizing an analyst and proving it was they who were right and not him. It was a tit-for-tat and spiteful act as the same analyst had criticized them in his own program on another channel.
Each TV anchor and host tries to prove that whatever knowledge and views he has about various international and national affairs is the best while the rest is just rubbish. I have heard one TV anchor talking about his vast experience in journalism and then criticizing others for having ‘planted agendas’ or being puppets.
We have also witnessed during the recent mediagate scandal that top TV hosts accused each other of having black money. Talat Hussain made public his assets while questioning the assets of Najam Sethi. Meanwhile, Sethi did the same in his program. So the mud-slinging game continues.
But just who is No 1?
Most people say these so-called hosts and anchors are ‘dramabaaz’. They truly believe that anchors are actually acting out scripts on the screen. If such tactics could lead to the No. 1 position then Kareena Kapoor’s ‘Kurbaan’ would not have been such a flop despite the steamy scenes it contains.
Instead of going at each other and making a mockery of their profession and themselves, it would be so much better if these egoistic peacocks would concentrate instead on their jobs and what is actually needed.
(The writer is a journalist who has worked in Pakistan for several years. She is now based in England)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.