The dark side of journalism: staged interview sparks outrage

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 16 June 2012 |  JP Staff Report

A staged interview featuring Malik Riaz conducted by Dunya News anchors raises serious ethical concerns in journalism. The incident has sparked outrage on social media.

Summary

ISLAMABAD: There is no doubt in anybody’s mind about what Dunya News anchors Meher Bukhari and Mubashar Lucman did; they were willing participants in a staged interview featuring property tycoon Malik Riaz. Leaked footage amply proved the interview was enacted. This was morally and professionally wrong.

Morally wrong because it was dishonesty on their part, as they willingly went through a carefully orchestrated charade when they could have refused. Morally wrong because thousands of viewers had entrusted them with a responsibility which they abused.

Professionally wrong because they ignored the very basics of journalism by facilitating and participating in lies, i.e., misreporting and promoting personal and second-party agendas. Professionally wrong because they destroyed whatever little integrity Pakistan’s media had by ignoring the guidelines recently set up by PEMRA and a think tank constituted by the major media houses They did wrong.

But what has followed is equally wrong. The social media networks are having a field day facilitating comments and remarks that should not be entertained at all, no matter what this duo has done. Just check out the home pages of Meher Bukhari’s program, Crossfire, and Mubashar Lucman’s Khari Baat.

There is a barrage of filthy abuse and vulgar insinuations, and suggestions targeted at them and their families. Various parts of their anatomy have been discussed, not to mention what should be done with them, etc. Even their parents have not been spared abuse. On Facebook and certain blogs, insinuating slogans across photo-shopped posters have popped up like mushrooms.

They are neither funny nor appropriate; just a reflection of the social degeneration we exist in. Elsewhere, the ‘List of 19' that have reportedly received favors, land, and cash from Malik Riaz in the millions have already been dubbed ‘media whores’. Parallels have been drawn to dirty politicians, suspect judiciary, paid-for actors, and tainted cricket players.

The so-called online forums and ‘Google Groups’ have been the biggest culprits/recipients as well as vehicles of such abuse. Condemnation is one thing, abuse is something else altogether. These groups and their moderators need to show some responsibility.