When journos become part of the circus

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 9 June 2012 |  Daud Malik

The article critiques the role of senior journalists in a high-profile scandal involving Malik Riaz and the chief justice's son. Questions around their credibility arise as they navigate their relationships with influential figures.

Summary

ISLAMABAD: It is now bordering on the absurd. Media has become a vehicle for bringing forth perhaps one of the biggest scandals in the country’s history but not without questions being asked about its credibility.

It is strange and incredulous that four or five top notch journalists have said ad nauseam on almost every talk show how they visited the property tycoon Malik Riaz at his home – clearly telling us they are ‘special’, a breed apart. They go on to add how the tycoon showed them the ‘incriminating’ evidence against the son of the chief justice.

But none of them was able to get their hands on the evidence, telling us the tycoon didn’t allow that. Still they first became part of the ‘whispering campaign’ and then came out with the ‘evidence’ which perhaps led to the chief justice taking suo motu against his son.

If these ‘senior journalists’ with their self righteous and patronizing attitude made it clear they are superior having had the privilege of being invited by the tycoon himself, on the other end of the spectrum are those who were not so privileged.

They didn’t have the honor of saying again and again how they heard ‘whispers’ and then the tycoon’s phone call came, and they went and they saw the ‘holy grail’ and came back believing the son is no good. So the other side is spitting venom on those who met the tycoon, asking what if he (the tycoon) told the court no dossier exists and no video.

Right now it seems a wish, which if it came true could turn all the attention to the ‘privileged’ journalists and questions might be asked about their credibility. It’s also an assumption, perhaps based on the fact that the case is too high profile and brings into focus too many sensitive players with consequences too scary to discuss that the central character may himself back off.

But irrespective of the fact what’s the outcome of the case, the sadder part is that very ‘senior’ journalists seem to be losing all sense of being journalists. They have come across as a mixture of showmen-cum-vigilante, with little regard for journalistic norms. Their self-righteousness is repelling.

Sadly, the big names in journalism are already telling the talk shows about the tycoon’s disappointment with ‘other journalists’ for taking ‘goodies’ from him and still talking against him. Where this circus will end?

The senior journalists have to ask themselves what they want - recognition based on their work or quest for goodies and that too with the tag of a ‘fighter’ for press freedom, always talking about the rights of the poor but only rubbing shoulders with the rich. Losing credibility will be the biggest loss for the media.

People will continue to see the talk shows, the aggressive posturing, the patronizing and know-all tone, but they will understand journalists have become part of the circus. (Daud Malik is a senior journalist who has worked for Dawn and The News)