Dawn appoints ombudsman

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 10 August 2014 |  JP Staff Report

Dawn has appointed Muhammad Ali Siddiqui as its first Readers' Editor to address reader complaints. This initiative aims to strengthen trust and accountability in journalism in Pakistan.

Summary

ISLAMABAD— In a significant step toward strengthening media accountability, Dawn has appointed an internal ombudsman to address readers’ complaints and concerns, becoming only the second newspaper in Pakistan to introduce such a mechanism.

The newspaper announced Sunday that it had named Muhammad Ali Siddiqui, one of its most senior editorial staff members, as the first Dawn Readers’ Editor(DRE).

“The idea is to attend to our readers' complaints and to respond to them professionally in a manner that would address the matter that directly concerns the complainant,” Dawn stated in its announcement.

The creation of the ombudsman position is designed to bolster trust between the paper and its readership at a time when questions about media transparency and credibility are increasingly pressing in Pakistan. The role of a readers’ editor or ombudsman is a globally recognized practice, commonly seen in leading international newspapers such as The Guardian and The New York Times.

The Express Tribune was the first newspaper in Pakistan to adopt this tradition when it appointed the late Fakhuruddin G. Ebrahim, a highly respected jurist, as its ombudsman. Dawn’s move now marks a major reinforcement of ethical journalism standards within the country.

According to Dawn, the Readers’ Editor will serve as the “investigating authority to whom all clarifications, contradictions, corrections and complaints will be referred, and it is he who will take note of any alleged violations of Dawn’s code of ethics, which is based on the internationally recognized journalistic values and ethic, and which have always been upheld and guarded by Dawn’s team of media persons.”

The DRE will review complaints, examine possible breaches of editorial standards, and share his recommendations with the Editor, who will make the final decision. This two-tier process aims to ensure that grievances are heard fairly while maintaining editorial independence.

Media analysts say the appointment reflects a growing awareness in Pakistan’s media industry of the need to institutionalize accountability mechanisms that bridge the gap between journalists and the public they serve.