Agenda for Pakistani Press

Dr. Hasan you point out a very important issue here. The press, both English and Urdu, has had a habbit of reproducing the `leaders` statements and translating foreign human interest pieces for their weekend edition. The business of journalism seems to be occupied by those who simply take dictation at press conferences and publish them as news. Mr. Irfan Husain (Mazdak) published a column in the Nov 21, 1998 issue of Dawn under the title ``A critique of the critics`` which spoke of the same problem.

Every once in a while I come accross `news` report that say things like, dictator Nawaz Sharif did/said such and such. During Bhutto`s time I`m sure similar `news` report were issued about her. Such partiasn view may belong in the opinnion section; but to incorporate such charged and incorrect words does not suit any respectable journalist. Obviously my point here is not the Sharif/Bhutto is a saint or a sinner, simply that journalist (from copy writers to editors) must differentiate between facts and personal beliefs.

By the way, the url for Mr. Hussain follows:

http://www.dawn.com/weekly/mazdak/981121.htm