Anwar Iqbal laments the loss of responsible journalism with Wajid Ali Syed’s resignation

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 17 November 2024 |  JP Staff Report

Wajid Ali Syed has resigned from Geo News, prompting Anwar Iqbal to reflect on the decline of responsible journalism in Pakistan. This event marks a significant shift in the media landscape as professional standards wane.

Summary

ISLAMABAD—Wajid Ali Syed, a seasoned journalist with Geo News, has resigned, marking what veteran journalist Anwar Iqbal describes as "the departure of yet another dedicated journalist from an already lonely field." Iqbal, in a reflective post on social media, lamented Syed’s exit as part of a larger decline in professional journalism, emphasizing the industry's shifting dynamics as traditional journalism gives way to an era of unpaid, voluntary contributors.

Iqbal observed that with the exit of professionals like Syed, the hallmarks of responsible journalism—fact-checking, editorial oversight, and accountability—are at risk. "When journalism becomes a passion project rather than a profession, the obligation to be consistently accurate diminishes," he wrote, cautioning that without compensation, contributors may lack the incentive to uphold rigorous standards.

Reflecting on the shifting landscape, Iqbal noted that as "citizen journalism" rises, so does the potential for blurred lines between truth and opinion, posing challenges to objective reporting. “Farewell, my friend, and farewell to the era of responsible journalism,” he added, suggesting that journalism as a structured profession is fading, giving way to a “free-for-all” landscape.

Syed’s resignation signals another chapter in the ongoing transformation of Pakistan’s media industry, where seasoned journalists continue to leave, leaving behind an uncertain future for professional journalism.