Pakistan Government, Local Media Owners, Courts Also Responsible For Troubles of Journalists
I got mixed response from my earlier mail titled "Foreign Media Also Responsible For Deaths of Pakistani Journalists."
Majority blamed me for an agent of ISI and establishment but some appreciated it. Many were supportive of truth, liberty, freedom of expression and other nice slogans without realising ground realities and consequences in a police state like Pakistan.
All of the non-journalists bashed me for writing this piece, as they have nothing on stake. They want others to fight for them, pay for it, while they keep themselves away and safe.
Other sections of society should also risk their lives for betterment of society.
I think that government is also responsible for troubles of journalist community. Keeping their stomachs empty is integral part of their information policy so that they can bar them from independent thinking and keep them busy in making both ends meet.
Pakistani Courts also put their weight behind the owners adding to miseries of journalist community, many judges would personally call owners as soon as they are approached by staff—what a shame.
Similarly, the media owners should also share the blame. They look everything purely from business point of view which is very selfish attitude. The ever-increasing influence of marketing staff in every news organisation is enough to prove it.
Many media owners would stress ethics and honesty among staff without considering it practical for themselves. They think that journalists and their families are super humans that survive without food.
Whatever majority of journalists in Pakistan get in the name of salaries is in fact a small, humiliating and irregular stipend which can be termed alms/donation at best.
This double standard works well for owners but it's hard for journalists to accept and their is no institution that can help them out.
The situation leaves majority of reporters/sub editors with little options but to explore other venues to provide for bread and butter to unfortunate families.
Such areas may include serving other private and government organisations/individuals, indulgence in PR activities, working for foreign media, begging and black mailing.
They are not paid properly yet they hide the fact that they are serving others due to negative mindset of journalist community towards PR professional. (God knows when PR professionals would be considered as humans and respectable segment of society).
Once I asked a friend that why is he hitting Pakistan and Islam in every news filed to foreign media. He said that foreign media has helped his family to migrate from inferior good to superior. Once his salary was OK to meet expenses, now it is not for personal entertainment.
"This is a whirlpool from which I cannot come out even if I try" was his last justification after which I preferred to close the topic.
It is an undeniable fact that almost everyone is aware of the situation which has resulted in many problems. Many would not accept any journalist as son in law, as they know that it amounts to playing with future of their daughters.
Will there be any end to suppression?
--
Tariq Khattak,
Columnist, Feature Writer,
Editor Pakistan Media Group &
Editor Commerce, Pakistan Observer,
Ali Akbar House, G-8 Markaz, Islamabad, Pakistan.
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Thanks a lot.
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