Censorship! The News drops Talat Hussain's column again

JournalismPakistan.com | Published: 28 May 2018

Talat Hussain's column was not published by The News due to his refusal to comply with editorial demands. This incident brings attention to issues of censorship and manipulation in journalism in Pakistan.
Summary

ISLAMABAD – Senior journalist Syed Talat Hussain said on Monday that The News had not published his column after he refused to make changes suggested by the editorial staff.

In a tweet, he announced: “The News did not publish my regular column today. I had declined to incorporate changes in the article conveyed by the editorial staff…”

According to Talat, who hosts the program Naya Pakistan on Geo News, his article was about, among other things, a thickening web of systematic censorship and manipulation in Pakistan.”

Talat also posted his rejected column along with his tweet.

It is not the first time The News dropped his column. In April, the paper refused to publish his article on the disqualification of PML-N leader Khawaja Asif.

Photo: Twitter (@TalatHussain12)

Key Points

Talat Hussain's column was dropped after he declined changes suggested by The News.
This is not the first time his column was rejected by the paper.
Hussain highlighted systematic censorship in Pakistan in his rejected article.
He publicly shared his tweet about the incident along with the unpublished column.
Hussain is known for hosting the program Naya Pakistan on Geo News.

Relevant Topics

Talat Hussain

THE News

Censorship

Journalism

Pakistan

Editorial

Ask AI: Understand this story your way

AI Enabled

Dig deeper, ask anything — get instant context, background, and clarity.

Language

Format

Tone

Audience

Focus

Reading level

Length

The AI generates results based on your selected options

Your AI-generated results will appear here after you click the button.

Disclaimer: This feature is powered by AI and is intended to help readers explore and understand news stories more easily. While we strive for accuracy, AI-generated responses may occasionally be incomplete or reflect limitations in the underlying model. This feature does not represent the editorial views of JournalismPakistan. For our full, verified reporting, please refer to the original article.

Explore Further

From regulation to resignations: Pakistan's media fault lines

April 19, 2026: Pakistan's media faced regulatory scrutiny, leadership changes and digital consolidation, highlighting industry stress and rising international recognition.

Five stories showing pressure on Pakistan media

April 13, 2026: Five incidents show growing legal, economic and state pressure on Pakistan's media, from cybercrime cases and opaque ads to layoffs and access constraints.

A global story, locally missing: Pakistan media under scrutiny

April 12, 2026: Pakistan's media received global attention during Iran-US talks in Islamabad but mostly ran agency tickers and official optics, exposing gaps in beat reporting.

Islamabad Talks: Access is the first casualty of journalism

April 12, 2026: As US-Iran talks in Islamabad concluded, journalists reported that tight security and enforced perimeters limited direct access and source engagement, constraining real-time reporting.

Pakistan journalists flag access issues at Iran-US talks

April 11, 2026: Pakistani journalists say they faced restricted access and unequal accreditation at Iran-US diplomatic events, citing limited communication by media teams.

Pakistan opens visa-on-arrival for foreign journalists

April 10, 2026: Pakistan will allow visa-on-arrival for foreign journalists and delegates attending the Islamabad Talks 2026; local media reportedly face restrictions on live reporting.

Pakistan assembly queries on ad spending go unanswered

April 07, 2026: Lawmakers received no answers from Pakistan's Information Ministry on media ad spending, raising concerns over transparency in allocation of public funds.

Pakistan journalist health scheme sees low uptake

April 07, 2026: A government health insurance scheme for journalists recorded low uptake, with only 187 of 4,537 enrolled media workers accessing benefits since July 2024.

Newsroom

Lawsuit against The Atlantic fuels press freedom concerns

April 21, 2026 Kash Patel's defamation suit against The Atlantic has intensified scrutiny of legal pressures on journalists and raised concerns about press freedom.

Meera walkout puts focus on Irshad Bhatti's interview ethics

April 20, 2026 Irshad Bhatti's podcast interview with actor Meera drew criticism after he pressed personal topics and Meera walked out, sparking debate over media accountability.

One article, no newsroom: Viral piece sparks debate on Pakistan media

April 20, 2026 Dan Qayyum's viral article drew one million views in days, igniting debate about independent creators' reach and what it means for Pakistan's newsrooms.

Asia press freedom: A week of pressure and progress

April 19, 2026 Across Asia, journalists faced growing legal pressure, expanded surveillance and attacks on media outlets, even as a key appointment boosted gender diversity.

Five reasons slow news days strengthen journalism

April 19, 2026 Slow news days give journalists time to verify facts, pursue in-depth reporting, and reduce errors, strengthening overall newsroom accuracy and long-form storytelling.