Journalism Pakistan
Journalism Pakistan
Even a win can't hide Pakistan's structural collapse in cricket فتح بھی پاکستان کرکٹ کے ڈھانچے کی تباہی نہیں چھپا سکتیJournalists stage walkout at post-budget briefing over government's dismissive attitude صحافیوں کا بجٹ کے بعد کی بریفنگ سے واک آؤٹ، حکومت کے توہین آمیز رویے پر احتجاجLegal storm brews as Dr. Nauman Niaz serves defamation notice on Shoaib Akhtar ڈاکٹر نعمان نیاز کی جانب سے شعیب اختر کو ہتکِ عزت کا نوٹسHRCP urges complete repeal of PECA, citing threats to free speech and civil liberties ایچ آر سی پی کا پی ای سی اے کے مکمل خاتمے کا مطالبہ، آزادی اظہار اور شہری آزادیوں کے لیے خطرہ قرارPFUJ condemns murder of journalist Syed Mohammad Shah, urges immediate justice پی ایف یو جے کا صحافی سید محمد شاہ کے قتل کی مذمت، قاتل کی فوری گرفتاری کا مطالبہState within a state? Police block reinstated Jang employees from resuming duties ریاست کے اندر ریاست؟ جنگ گروپ کے بحال شدہ ملازمین کو دفتر جانے سے روک دیا گیاMoeed Pirzada to report journalist Fakhar Durrani to FBI over alleged data theft معروف صحافی معید پیرزادہ کا فخر درانی کے خلاف ایف بی آئی کو رپورٹ کرنے کا فیصلہ

Imran Riaz's arrest sparks debate in Pakistan on who is a journalist

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published July 08, 2022 |  Daud Malik

Join our WhatsApp channel

Imran Riaz's arrest sparks debate in Pakistan on who is a journalist

ISLAMABAD—The arrest of television anchor and vlogger Imran Riaz Khan has opened a fierce debate about who is a journalist in Pakistan.

Many journalists and others hinted in online posts and tweets that Khan should not be considered a journalist but a worker of a political party—in this case, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf.

However, the arrested journalist's supporters sprung to his defense. They pointed out the alleged support of journalists for various political parties and their diatribes against the military establishment in the near and far past.

Over the last 20 years, the journalistic landscape has changed dramatically, especially after Pakistan opened its airwaves. We witnessed a surge in the number of private TV channels and radio stations, along with the arrival of a new generation of journalists who became the face of journalism in the country.

Most of the time, they have been noisy, blabbering, self-righteous, with no regard for facts and figures. They became part of every political dispute and took sides without regard for objectivity in their reporting. As journalists, particularly the leading ones, have become partisan, they have been liked and disliked in line with the political party they support or oppose.

The question of who is a journalist comes up from time to time, especially when journalists go to the polls of the National Press Club in Islamabad. The list of the NPC members is vetted by all the contesting parties annually. Now NPC has decided to go for electronic club membership and the subsequent voting during the elections, with the cooperation of NADRA.

The journalists who seemed reluctant to accept Khan as a journalist tried to highlight that the YouTuber did not support them when they faced the music, especially during the tenure of PTI. They pointed out his overt support for the military establishment in the near past.

However, his supporters and PTI workers see him as a crusader for press freedom and democracy. But journalists, especially after the private TV channels took over the leading role in informing or misinforming people about events, have become somewhat passionate about their political affiliations, which also allegedly involves the question of financial benefits.

The law on the protection of journalists, passed by the National Assembly during the government of PTI, defines who a journalist is. It says a journalist in Pakistan is "any person who is professionally or regularly engaged by a newspaper, magazine, news website or other news broadcast medium (whether online or offline), or any person with a substantial track record of freelancing for at least three years for any newspaper, magazine, news website or other news broadcast medium."

It also defines a media professional as "any other person regularly or professionally engaged in the collection, processing and dissemination of information to the public via any means of mass communication, including cameraperson and photographers, technical supporting staff, drivers, and interpreters, editors, translators, publishers, broadcasters, printers, and distributors."

This is quite a broad definition, which makes many of us journalists, including Khan and others who, in the past, have had to face the rough state hand.

Looking at the political polarization, it seems that every journalist thinks they are the last of genuine journalists on the face of the earth. The others are the lackeys of the political parties and the establishment.

The political division between journalists will continue to widen. Calls for restraint have fallen on deaf ears. The editor's office is dead, and the owner's office is in complete control of the media landscape in Pakistan.

Technology has helped journalists find their voice and disseminate even when not part of mainstream journalism. This has given them another kind of independence where they are all in all. They have no qualms about the official policy.

It seems the day is not far when journalists will be routinely telling each other they are outside the pale of journalism. Hence everyone would be a journalist but would not consider colleagues and others a journalist.

 

Even a win can't hide Pakistan's structural collapse in cricket

Even a win can't hide Pakistan's structural collapse in cricket

 June 11, 2025:  Pakistan celebrated a narrow win over Bangladesh, but beneath the jubilation lies a deeper crisis—from sidelined veterans to a collapsing domestic structure—signaling an urgent need for cricket reform.

Journalists stage walkout at post-budget briefing over government's dismissive attitude

Journalists stage walkout at post-budget briefing over government's dismissive attitude

 June 11, 2025:  Journalists walked out of the post-budget press conference in Islamabad to protest the absence of a technical briefing and the government's dismissive behavior, calling it unacceptable and intolerable.

Legal storm brews as Dr. Nauman Niaz serves defamation notice on Shoaib Akhtar

Legal storm brews as Dr. Nauman Niaz serves defamation notice on Shoaib Akhtar

 May 31, 2025:  Dr. Nauman Niaz has issued a defamation notice to Shoaib Akhtar over derogatory remarks made during a recent broadcast, reigniting a longstanding media feud between the two prominent figures in Pakistan.

HRCP urges complete repeal of PECA, citing threats to free speech and civil liberties

HRCP urges complete repeal of PECA, citing threats to free speech and civil liberties

 May 30, 2025:  The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has demanded the full repeal of PECA, citing its vague language, coercive powers, and threats to free speech and digital rights in Pakistan.

PFUJ condemns murder of journalist Syed Mohammad Shah, urges immediate justice

PFUJ condemns murder of journalist Syed Mohammad Shah, urges immediate justice

 May 30, 2025:  The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the murder of journalist Syed Mohammed Shah in Jacobabad, calling for urgent justice and improved safety for media professionals in Sindh.

State within a state? Police block reinstated Jang employees from resuming duties

State within a state? Police block reinstated Jang employees from resuming duties

 May 26, 2025:  In Rawalpindi, police allegedly side with Jang Group to block 66 reinstated employees from resuming work despite court orders, drawing sharp criticism from unions and press freedom advocates.

PFUJ slams Jang Group's 'economic massacre' after mass firing of over 80 workers

PFUJ slams Jang Group's 'economic massacre' after mass firing of over 80 workers

 May 25, 2025:  PFUJ condemns the Jang Group's decision to dismiss over 80 employees in Rawalpindi, calling it an 'economic massacre.' The union warns of nationwide protests if workers are not reinstated.

Labor rights trampled: Daily Jang defies court, terminates over 80 employees

Labor rights trampled: Daily Jang defies court, terminates over 80 employees

 May 25, 2025:  Daily Jang Rawalpindi has terminated over 80 employees, including female staff, despite multiple court rulings in their favor—raising concerns over labor rights violations and misuse of authority in Pakistani media.

Newsroom
219 Palestinian journalists killed in Israeli attacks since October 7, PJS reports

219 Palestinian journalists killed in Israeli attacks since October 7, PJS reports

 May 19, 2025 PJS reports 219 Palestinian journalists killed in Israeli attacks since October 7, with 30 women among the victims. Over 430 were injured and 685 family members were killed. Read more on the systematic targeting of media in Gaza.

Pakistan's Flying Horse: How Samiullah Khan changed hockey forever

Pakistan's Flying Horse: How Samiullah Khan changed hockey forever

 May 15, 2025 Discover the legacy of Samiullah Khan, Pakistan’s legendary "Flying Horse," whose breathtaking speed and artistry redefined hockey. From Olympic glory to World Cup triumphs, his story is one of myth, movement, and magic.

Algerian TV channel suspended for 10 days over racist slur against African migrants

Algerian TV channel suspended for 10 days over racist slur against African migrants

 May 04, 2025 Algerian authorities suspend Echorouk News TV for 10 days after it used a racist slur against African migrants. ANIRA demands an apology, calling it a violation of human dignity.

NCHR and MMfD launch Fellowship to Empower Journalists on Digital Rights & Gender Inclusion

NCHR and MMfD launch Fellowship to Empower Journalists on Digital Rights & Gender Inclusion

 May 04, 2025 NCHR and MMfD launch a journalism fellowship to train reporters on digital rights & gender inclusion in Pakistan. Supported by UNESCO, this initiative aims to bridge the gender digital divide. Apply by May 15, 2025!

'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.​