Media gather at the gates of the Mehran naval aviation base after troops ended operations against militants in Karachi May 23, 2011. Troops recaptured Pakistan's naval air force headquarters on Monday after a 16-hour battle with Taliban gunmen who had stormed the facility in the most brazen attack since the killing of Osama bin Laden. - Reuters Photo
First there were the blasts and then there was a fierce battle. As the events of May 22, 2011 unfolded, the nation received an in depth account of the happenings at PNS Mehran Base, Karachi, due to the continuous reporting by the media.
Fighting the militants, Lieutenant Yasir Abbas, Khalil-ur-Rehman, Javed Ahmed, Mohammad Fazal, Kashif, Amjad, Asghar and Mohammad Ali from Pak Navy, while two Ranger Commandos Akhter and Khalil Ahmed, were martyred in the attack.
While the Pakistani media gave minute by minute updates, it still has along way to go before it matures and is able to tackle reporting of such incidents. Our electronic media in particular needs to learn to control its emotions and not go haywire when it becomes overwhelmed with information which is usually the case when one is reporting on such an event.
The most important thing that needs to be taught to the Pakistanis media is the right of privacy of someone who has lost a loved one. While covering the Mehran Base attack, one reporter was present at Lt Yassir’s home in Lahore hours after he had lost his life. The reporter was prodded by the news anchor to get a ‘reaction’ from the family. He managed to get the grandfather to comment grandfather, but that didn’t seem to be enough for the anchor, who was probably being prodded by her producer, and she asked him to get the mother’s reaction, to which the reporter replied she is in no state to comment. Even this didn’t deter the anchor and she said “can you talk to the sisters.”
Doesn’t it seem callous to be pushing your mike into the face of a grieving mother? What possible question can you ask her over the loss of her only son? Does one have to be taught to respect ones privacy and told to allow someone to mourn their loss without shoving them into the limelight? Unfortunately, we as a nation have no sense of privacy, therefore we have no respect for this either.
It’s high time that our reporters, anchors and their producers need to be trained on how to handle such an incident. They should be taught the difference between timely and accurate reporting and sensationalism. They should be taught not to give out sensitive information which could help the miscreants and prove detrimental to the security forces. They must also be taught that good reporting does not mean going overboard and crossing sane boundaries.
During various occasions when the security forces have been launching operations against terrorists, our media has gone of the tangent and in the race to be the first to report may have helped the wrong side. This has happened during the GHQ attack and the CID centre attack in Karachi to name a few. Our reporters divulge too much sensitive information and their anchors and producers keep prodding them to get more. Of course it is their job to find out the facts, but there are certain cases where these facts should not be immediately revealed.
All over the world, the media is seen reporting various events but on some sensitive occasions the media is kept away, on the other side of the police line. This is not the case in Pakistan. Our media has no concept of this. In fact, when they are told to keep a distance, they make it sound as if they have been insulted and keep lamenting this fact. There are but a handful of journalists who are mature enough to understand the delicacy of reporting sensitive incidents.
And just because of their ‘zeal’ to report first, our journalist cause more mayhem and panic then anything else. Remember the bomb blast in a car front of PACC in 2004. When the first blast occurred our untrained media went close to the site to get better photos only to become victims of a second blast, which was to cause more damage than the first. This manic run to the site was only due to the fact that most of our media people don’t get any training to handle their important but dangerous assignments.
Then there was this ‘senior’ anchor person who was doing her show live from CID centre in Karachi and she was live on air actually giving out the actual locations of terrorists who had been arrested that day. And it was being said that the CID centre had been attacked because of them. By giving their exact location, this journalist was actually leaking sensitive information that could be helpful to the terrorists.
Our channels would be well advised to give their team a set of rules so that it doesn’t become an embarrassment for them when in their frenzy to report an event, especially a sensitive one involving terrorists, they don’t lose sight of logic, reason and the respect for others in the overwhelming situation. Do report but with respect and sensitivity.
Annie Sibtain Rizvi is a freelance journalist and tends to ponder over the socio-political happenings with an empathetic outlook.
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You raised the very serious issue, our media are running only their business and they wait for such serious incidents for insensitive reporting.Media should follow the rules and ragulation of journalism.
for God sake act responsibly ….!!!
I agree. I have never watched Dawn news but other *major* Pakistani news channels give me a headache whenever I try watching them so I don’t. For example, what is it with playing bollywood songs during news headlines? Really, someone needs to tell the movers and shakers of the *major* news channels to see– and learn from– how news organizations like CNN or BBC run their channels.
hese days what we witness in journalism is very similar to an ultra loud punjabi movie. in order to attract more audience the channels are applying tactics to create a sensation. what is needed is more of a serious reporting. it shoud be just reporting. the channels should quit the attempts to create a drama out of a crisis. we have got enough of ugly scenes already in our lives
A very pertinent topic highlighted very deftly.When covering the crisis situations mature and thoughtful reporting is needed. Instead, about our media’s coverage one wonders at times on whose side are they. Media must self regulate or it should be regulated and soon
Bad news makes good press.
It is time these talk shows are boycotted by all those who are invited as participants, the viewers must voice their disdain for such acts – send letters, sms, emails to the owners,sponsors, producers, anchors etc. condeming their attitude .
Excellent article. There is one particular channel that has gone overboard with sensationalizing every bit of news (a articular channel that even has an urdu letter as its mascot). I have no clue as to why they are trying to copy Indian media channels. One particular case was when Pakistan Cricket Team lost all their matches in the tour DOWN UNDER. This channel made an insulting song for our cricket team, which was intended to be funny. The irony is that this same channel was most active in praising the same team a few months earlier when they had won the 2009 T20 world cup. Our media was one of the most vibrant in the world. Its sad that certain channels, in an effort to beat their competitors, have lost their way.
I am a witness of an event, the Russian plane crash in a naval establishment in Karachi. The very first thing whcih I did just after seeing the plane in flames in the air and then crashed, was that I called up Edhi ambulance service and then I rushed toward the direction. What I saw there was the media people and vehicles blocking the gate and road and the ambulances were blocked. Then I helped the security personnel to clear the gate and road. What the reporters were asking me was that that whether it was a passenger plane or cargo, I asked them that why don’t they confirm it from the Air traffic control.
Very well written, Indian TV channels were like this few years back (i am talking about good channels), but now they don’t do this very often. There are very few 3 grade news channels, who do this even now.
The worst question asked by a report of a TV channel to a grieving mother or wife of a dead person is “ab aap ko kaisa mehsoos ho raha hai” of the channel.
Wish we could ask them the same question to the TV reporter when they lose someone close to them.
I agree with all the points raised in this article and would like to add that I was disgusted to see dead body of Chechen lady dragged with a rope shown on one of the news channels which is a disgrace I sent a protest but they still carried on showing the same clip. They should and must be told to respect the dignity of a dead person no matter who he or she is. Another example of insensitive questioning was of Mukhtaran Mai by two very famous Anchors. The line of questioning was so insensitive and disgraceful. There should be some sort of control over these so called Anchors.
Correct.
Our media also needs to learn some manners.
Specially, the running commentary on the incidents. They must keep some difference between an incident of human casualties and a hockey match.
100% true…..Annie you have raised the issue which is very critical and must be addressed by media people who are just pushing each other in a rat race and hurting people emotionally who are already hit by terrorism.
Well said! Indian media is already deaf.
well written. Our media seems to thrive on conspiricy and Sensatiolisim. Remember when the PLO took israeli olympians hostage?German media showed the police climbing the walls guess what the hostage takers were watching and then they killed the hostages. We do the same.
it seems like war between Anchors with little ethics
very true. i was thinking about the exact same thing. thanks for the article.
Couldn’t agree more.
Sadly, the media in Pakistan tends to steel the spotlight for itself and the gory incidents have just become the fuel for it to keep on projecting itself.
But hopefully the required level of maturity will come with time where we find the right balance between freedom and decency.
Every one in Pakistan consider taking law in hands is necessity
such as beating two yougmen to death because the law is not enforced. When I was in school in Pakistan no body taught me how to respect the rights of others. When my children started
going to school in USA every child report card has column of citizenship. Every year teacher report to the parents/guardian
the behaviour of child with others. Please introduce in the educational institution and stress on this subject in media.
I hope it will produce some positive fruit.
Pakistan media is immature, insensitive and inconsiderate. The field reporter are probably the most immature, while the need is of total maturity as they are the face of the channel. Yes, I saw the program on Dunia questioning the grandfather. Even the questions were offensive? What in the hell do you mean “Aap kay kia Tasurat hain”. the man just lost his grandson. If we watch the talk shows, instead of a logical discussion to put a point forward the politicians fight like animals, lie to each other and to public, and the Anchors have no control. Honestly I have stopped watching TV between 7-11 pm.
Very true…. very nicely put!
Our media (specially three channels, u all know which ones) has no understanding whatsoever of “National Interest”. Not just these incidents…. they do this every evening in their talk shows… thus bringing the foreign investment to hardly any.
I remember the time when there was only PTV…. apart from its bias… yet the bright side was that it used to have those famous sayings from Hazrat Mohammed (PBUH), Quaid-e-Azam, Iqbal and many others, there were national, patriotic songs…… I grew up with those and a part of me recalls that in my this life, noble sayings helps in many ways!….. such a shame that with the growth of media many have forgotten the values….. so no more those now,,,, just adverts or live commentary.
We have too many news channels, and it has became a cut-throat competitive business. Any hint of regulation or a code of conduct is met with an uproar of curbs being put on the media, especially from a certain channel that loves to be “sab say pehlay.”
Until there is enforceable regulation from PEMRA/legislation, this will keep happening, because no channel can afford to back down. We need to realize that some curbs on the media ARE necessary, and happen in all societies, for the good of country.
Very well said. I hope they take it as a positive advice.
AWESOME!! Something which I had been wanting to say for months. Excellently and comprehensively said. And truly, this is simply a reflection of our society’s vicariousness. What would be prodding the producer in the first place to nag the anchor and reporter and so forth to ask for all those unnecessary details? If we ourselves didn’t think prying and worming your way like that into someone’s privacy is ok, then these mediapeople won’t need to satisfy that need.
these are ethical things which our media should focus on….you have raised a mind boggling issue madam. wounderful
Good point. I have been thinking this thing for so long now and i thought someone might come up with some sort of solution for this but all is getting worse. In fact, talking about the political talk shows, i am too much disapointed with well renowned journalists like Kashif and Talat who continously keep bringing same people who does nothing but blaming each other. But of course these anchors need their bread and butter too i guess, but too much butter is bad for health guys!
very well written.
Very well said said, we unfortunately have become immoral and inhuman about everything but ourselves. We need to be taught morals, respect and dignity. God help us Pakistanis…..