Journalists are also public figures and should be open to scrutiny
By Omar R Quraishi
I respect Umar Cheema and have known him professionally for many years. He's an outstanding reporter and has broken many a story, not least the Panama Papers, in conjunction with the ICIJ (International Consortium of Investigative Journalists).
Now he's reported extensively on Imran Khan's third marriage, specifically that he denied that his nikah took place in early January 2018 and that it took place before he iddat period of his third wife Bushra Maneka had ended. This understandably created quite a stir among many people, not least among Imran Khan's shrill and boisterous supporters -- and in fact among many people who don't necessarily support the PTI but thought that the reporting was in poor taste.
Umar Cheema has already explained his reasons for doing so here saying that the media had a right to report on public figures and how their personal decisions reflected on their public lives.
Of course, he is correct -- it isn't in fact the right of the media to report on public figures and to scrutinize their decisions and actions, it is in fact its duty. The reason is simple: if actions and decisions taken by such individuals - even at the personal level - have a bearing on their overall character and/or contradict their public pronouncements then the general public has a right to know.
That said, journalists should also accept a basic fact -- something that is not widely accepted, at least in Pakistan. And this is that journalists and the media as a profession and a field of work should also be open to scrutiny and public comment.
After all, if we as journalists are going to examine and scrutinize the actions of public figures, or hold government, judicial or military officials to account, and speak 'truth to power' as it were, we should also be prepared for the scrutiny of our own actions. If we are going to comment on the plots given at discounted rates to officers of the armed forces, we should be willing to accept criticism from the public if journalists are given plots at discounted rates, or other favours.
To a great extent, journalists are also public figures, especially people like Umar Cheema (or even myself) and we should be open to a scrutiny of our professional lives and actions. After all, the media in Pakistan - as in any democratic state - is a power unto itself, and if speaking 'truth to power' is a principle that we journalists should abide by, then we also need to hold a mirror unto ourselves.
By Omar R Quraishi
I respect Umar Cheema and have known him professionally for many years. He's an outstanding reporter and has broken many a story, not least the Panama Papers, in conjunction with the ICIJ (International Consortium of Investigative Journalists).
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| Umar Cheema |
Now he's reported extensively on Imran Khan's third marriage, specifically that he denied that his nikah took place in early January 2018 and that it took place before he iddat period of his third wife Bushra Maneka had ended. This understandably created quite a stir among many people, not least among Imran Khan's shrill and boisterous supporters -- and in fact among many people who don't necessarily support the PTI but thought that the reporting was in poor taste.
Umar Cheema has already explained his reasons for doing so here saying that the media had a right to report on public figures and how their personal decisions reflected on their public lives.
 |
| A pic of Imran Khan's nikah to Bushra Maneka -- released to the media on Feb 18, 2018 |
Of course, he is correct -- it isn't in fact the right of the media to report on public figures and to scrutinize their decisions and actions, it is in fact its duty. The reason is simple: if actions and decisions taken by such individuals - even at the personal level - have a bearing on their overall character and/or contradict their public pronouncements then the general public has a right to know.
That said, journalists should also accept a basic fact -- something that is not widely accepted, at least in Pakistan. And this is that journalists and the media as a profession and a field of work should also be open to scrutiny and public comment.
After all, if we as journalists are going to examine and scrutinize the actions of public figures, or hold government, judicial or military officials to account, and speak 'truth to power' as it were, we should also be prepared for the scrutiny of our own actions. If we are going to comment on the plots given at discounted rates to officers of the armed forces, we should be willing to accept criticism from the public if journalists are given plots at discounted rates, or other favours.
To a great extent, journalists are also public figures, especially people like Umar Cheema (or even myself) and we should be open to a scrutiny of our professional lives and actions. After all, the media in Pakistan - as in any democratic state - is a power unto itself, and if speaking 'truth to power' is a principle that we journalists should abide by, then we also need to hold a mirror unto ourselves.
Dear Omar R Quraishi, I appreciate quite logical and rational point that you raised and completely endorse and back it for launch of accountability across the board amongst the journalist community.
ReplyDeleteBut, I have certain observations.
Number one: Coming towards the end of your argument, you expressed your reservation about giving plots to journalists on concessional rates. I think its unfair.
Unlike these pampered journalist and anchors of mediocre intelligence, a whole lot of journalists par excellence is struggling to do objective journalism in the face of low wages and hurdles in the way of their independence to do their work in a objective manner. The majority of these poor journalists are struggling to make both ends meet, and a plot on concessional rates is, perhaps, their only earning during their life-long struggle, which is given officially rather than under the table as a bribe.
Yes, what you should raise, is the plots given as a bribe to these 'privileged journalists' as bribes; or even award of a plot on concessional rates along with poor journalists.
Number two: There should be complete investigation; laying of responsibility and award of punishment of those who exploited the poor journalists and victimized them in the name of laying off/down-sizing, non-paying of salaries, underpaying them, not giving them due raises and increments, not implementing Wage Board Awards (Constitution of 11th Wage Board Award is already due, whereas only 8th Wage Board Award is implemented so far - a grave constitutional violation).
Number 3: The media magnates should also be included in this accountability i.e. their assets, their agendas, their anti-workers policies.
Number 4: The agenda behind creating divisions within journalists i.e. formations of so many Unions of Journalists and empowering press clubs should be exposed. The interests of governments, media owners and the back-stabbing journalists, who became tools of these two powerful stakeholders, must also be exposed. These blacksheeps within journalists' communities were, in fact, the main culprits as they not only are accomplices of media owners in exploitation of ordinary journalists but also one of the major reasons of decline in the standard of journalism in Pakistan.
Warm Regards
Amer Malik
Senior Journalist
The News International
Lahore.