Dear Saleem sahib
I was compelled to write after reading your angry comment on the Pakistani media and the provocative suggestion PLEASE GO BACK AND LEARN WHAT IS JOURNALISM.... my first reaction was at last! At last there is evidence of life within media and all have not been subsumed by issues of employment and getting on in media! I thank you for this.
As a senior journalist who worked with a prominent English language daily for a good 4.5 years and because of my personal love for the profession, I encouraged, trained and discussed written work with journalists who were talented and creative. But, I found suddenly post 2006, with the new channels hitting the airwaves and new entrants in the publishing and broadcasting world, that a new animal disguised under the label "journalism" had taken over the profession.
Indeed a new life-form had evolved away from what was considered good reportage, a cross comparison and verification of fact which more or less stuck with conservative truth rather than flamboyance, shock and horror and outright abuse of all the values that are associated with a noble but traditionally ill-paid profession.
Journalism was the new vogue in "isms" and anyone who could pretend at being bilingual in media speak threw in their hat into the ring.
Today more than 4 years down the road, we have actors straight off the Pakistani circus line up for a media job, posing as news anchors and so-called articulate moderators of topical shows. They do Breakfast Shows, ill researched Lifestyle weeklies and opinion forming situationers with "experts" in strategy, diplomacy, bureaucracy and so on but without the technique to interrogate or facilitate discussion. Much of the time it is without the relevent editorial vetting procedures or responsibility that comes with programme control and management. Suddenly wannabe models are starlets, image and the flamboyance of awesome attire and jewels, suits and ties included, are wrapped in with the attempt at being suitably serious when not screaming and shouting above the melee of panel guests.
Are there, I ask (with all due respect and courtesy) our media brethren and my fellow senior professional colleagues any standards? That, over the years - despite publishers' stronghold on recruitment - have they done anything or grouped together to form:
a) Media council comprised of experienced and senior journalists, media managers who have a background in media ethics and quality. In the UK this body is the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) which oversees standards, covering the required courses and if someone lacks sufficient training then it is provided through an institute approved by the Council
b) Put in place any vetting procedures or instruments to ascertain that an intern or certain media person has now passed the desired training and obtained necessary professional experience to apply for a "media card" or certification by another name which in turn is professional requirement to get a job in publishing, broadcasting or related media work? Or even a Union Membership. In the acting world, Actors to get ahead must be members of Equity and card-holders to prove their credentials.
c) Other than attending journalism or media courses at university many get into media with just that or whom they know. However the practical is not the same as the theory. So what about on the job training that instils what to do and what is a complete 'no-no' in this profession? This can only be assessed by the experience of those charged with the task be they editors, programme controllers and veteran media folk.. so do we have a body that awards certification to practice e.g. like dental hygenists, beauticians, lawyers and medical personnel so while you may know everything in theory but in practice we must indeed follow a set procedure that gives both knowledge and technical knowhow?
We have instead a so-called FREE MEDIA, which roughly translated, means powerful media owners can hire and fire without external interference of journalistic competence or requirement because someone's son or daughter wants to get into media...or because its a pretty face (male or female) and can yabber away on air to hold an audience captive and so the ratings can be sustained. Ratings give neither substance or quality control. In turn these overnight wonders become household names
I can name several here but will not as the issue here is not criticism but how do we get professionalism with quality.
Not everyone can become a Christianne Amanpour, Zeinab Badawi, Stephen Sackur, Riz Khan, Oprah Winfrey, David Frost, Sandy Gall. The context of course is different. These are western journalists who have had extensive formal training and experience – BBC, Reuters, CNN, etc., and who are well profiled on the world stage but each one has excelled in adhering to journalistic methods, received technique and a certain modulated modesty in their public interactions. In Pakistan, yes, the media is young and the relevant experience or context not available unless you get it in the course of your work. We have trained journalists like Hamid Mir, Talat Hussein, Quatrina Hussein and non journalist entrants like Ayesha Tammy Haq and then come the long list of 'others', previous academics and political analysts who are suddenly staking their claim to fame. However I am sure you will agree that it is very easy to distinguish a professional from the arrivistes who are there just because…
But unless, the system of selection of media personnel is revised and formalised so that set criteria and acceptable industry standards are set and complied with, we will carry on ad-libbing like some mad comedy of errors script to continually make fools of ourselves and what we put out in terms of Pakistan on the international media stage. Ultimately it does impact on how we are perceived and Pakistan's capabilities and image.
I trust my comments will be received positively
To: Pakistan-Media@yahoogroups.com
CC: Media-Tribe@googlegroups.com
From: jamilbhatti222@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 5 Jun 2011 00:59:29 +0000
Subject: Re: [Pak-Media] Pakistani Media destroying the nation
I do agree with u completely.
Jamil bhatti
Isbd
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone using my Telenor Persona connection
Whether it is Osama bin laden, war or terror, foreign threats or drone
strikes, certain pakistani news channels (especially Samaa) are not bothered
about these issues. These are not issues in their perspective. Just watch
Samaa tv news agenda and my claim will be easily proven. These channel are
knowingly ignoring the issues faced by this country. They are purposely
showing ridiculous things. What are these channels trying to show? Do they
want our nation to forget real issues? Looks like they want the nation to
think about dating, bollywood movies, fashion, trends, mockery of Islam,
husband wife petty disputes, and different types of dances and music. What
are these morning shows (Maya khan) about? Sex, marriage drama or ridiculing
cultural and religious norms? Is this is left to discuss in a poverty and
terrorism ridden country like Pakistan? Do they have the right to destroy
national integrity? This is shameful and criminal. Their agenda should be
uncovered as well as the funding. They are mocking and ridiculing Pakistan
not the government but Pakistan as a state. There are no journalistic rules
applied in their news agenda. I mean there is literally fabrication of news
reports and even perform drama. PLEASE GO BACK AND LEARN WHAT IS JOURNALISM.
All sort of music runs behind reports on serious issues. They are destroying
national fabric. Their agenda must be uncovered.
Muhammad Saleem
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Thanks a lot.
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