A Scary Tale of
Sorry Pakistani Journalism, told by an Editor
By
Salim Bokhari
JOURNALISM
IN Pakistan has perhaps progressed at the same pace as has democracy-courtesy
numerous Army-led regimes and then of course the oppressive attitude
of a few democratically elected governments which never liked
criticism either.
It would, however, be unfair if I do not point out the fact that
print media in Pakistan remained predominantly monopolized by
hardly a few large groups-may be less than five to be more precise.
While limited readership and dismal literacy levels significantly
added to the plight of working journalists and salaried/non-owner
editors unfortunately, absence of effective trade unions in this
vital sphere played an important role in compounding the miseries
of journalists to a great extent too.
And then regimes in power promulgated numerous ordinances to curb
the freedom of expression of those holding a pen in hands. Quite
poorly paid working journalists thus lost courage to a great extent
in bringing to light hundreds of otherwise unpublished governmental
scams as people running these leading newspapers could not afford
winning the wrath of those at helm of affairs.
If ever any owner or employee dared to challenge any Government,
he had to pay the price somehow, as a lot of support for the state
flowed from none other than the working journalists themselves.
Had people been properly paid since the inception of the country
and had any academy to train journalists been established then,
people getting trained while on job might have had better morals
and ethics.
But then poverty takes its toll as humans, no matter in which
country they are, tend to be more vulnerable than the affluent
to fall preys to any charm that may come their way.
Each government, in Pakistan, has been successfully instrumental
in luring most men with pens, but despite all these odds, they
still are journalists and editors both who are not afraid writing
the truth, even if it is between the lines.
Criticism,
like always, is only 'permitted' on general issues and on less
powerful departments. Sacred cows, like always, continue to remain
privileged and beyond the 'venom' of the pen. And then a decade
or so back, recurring press and publications laws with different
names, led to a mushroom growth of periodicals and newspapers.
And I dare add here that emergence of such newspapers was only
possible because the main aim was to publish pieces which suited
the State whims rather than caring for their own repute.
But again, such papers also matched the mental frequency of a
good chunk of the society which is still struggling to acquire
decent literacy levels. English journalism, however, is yet to
be plagued with the menace of yellow journalism or even if it
is, the damage is largely under control.
Those who once set sails for newspaper offices to unearth the
ills of the society and the rulers, may have succeeding in thwarting
the designs of the quarters known to discourage such elements
to some degree, but again there is a limit to everything and journalists
hailing from this category, are now doing a simple job rather
than pursuing journalism in its true spirit.
And when I air these observations, I am talking of the majority-keeping
the handful of exceptions in view which do not count being in
minority.
So discouraging is the scenario for this minority that it is left
in a situation where it sometimes begins doubting its beliefs
and believing its doubts-totally unsure whether bread was important
or to languish as an unsung hero should be the motto.
I can be ashamed but not afraid portraying this eye-brow raising
scenario of journalism in Pakistan standing on this podium in
front of you all simply because facts just do not cease to exist
only because they are ignored.
Overall, the situation for working journalists in Pakistan is
quite adverse and even if an honest journalist somehow manages
to escape the eye of the rulers, he can hardly afford to fight
a case of retrenchment in any court of law against the mighty
barons controlling the print media.
Unconfirmed jobs sans post-retirement facilities, social pressures,
family obligations, the ever-surging unemployment graph in the
country and ineffective labor laws are the points which every
journalist does ponder during his career and we all know that
if journalists start paying heed to any of the afore-stated expediencies-he
is not bound to reform the society through his writings.
And when I say all this, I certainly do not want to blame the
entrepreneurs behind the show for this state of affairs because
they have to care for their 'valuable clients' and 'powerful admirers'
after having invested hundreds of millions into this industry.
Surviving on the mercy and sweet will of the owners, journalists
thus cannot fight on two fronts as both state and entrepreneurs
cannot be tackled at the same time by a man made of flesh.
I have tried to my best of ability not to sound dramatic during
my presentation but it is a fact that now, owing to poor salary
packages and insecure careers, relatively better and forward-looking
families are afraid of pursuing their children to enter into this
profession-meaning thereby that better blood too is ceasing slowly
but surely from coming into this profession.
The passion to become a journalist by choice is dying down fast
which signifies that the country might soon be devoid of committed
writers and reporters if the damage inflicted to the social fiber
is somehow not rectified within the next five years or so.
When you know you can be kicked out for no fault of yours at times
and when you are well aware that once you are sent packing owing
to one reason or the other, you will not find a single shoulder
within any trade union or any court of law-you are sure to lose
the knack of being a reformist as soon as you get the awareness
in this context.
Even the best of documented reports in Pakistan, like anywhere,
cannot reach a journalist unless some vested interests are not
involved in his support. So, like any other newspaper in the world,
we can make one party cry and the other happy by publishing a
so-called scoop.
Access of journalists to classified files and documents on his
own, can only be possible if he is not only paid well enough but
is also without the pressure of filing reports regularly by the
industrialists-many of whom have 'unconsciously' started believing
in quantity rather than quality at times as-perhaps unnerved by
the rising competition in print media. Unless people do not have
a right to appeal against their ouster and unless journalists
are not offered post-retirement financial security, I am sure
things will deteriorate instead of improving.
And once you are financially secure, you are liable to take more
risks and may manage to squeeze in 'classified' information for
the welfare and awareness of the society for you can afford coping
up with the aftermath of such a story. If the stakes are high,
risk to lives may also be there and there have been incidents
when journalists were given a 'practical presentation' (read punishment)
for being truthful.
The writer is Editor of Pakistani Daily “The News”.
This paper was read at the SAARC Editors Conference in Dhaka on
Nov 2.
