Problems of Urdu publications highlighted
KARACHI – Various problems and shortcomings being faced by Urdu newspapers vis-a-vis their journalist staff specially those related to their working conditions, were discussed on May 25 at length on the second day of the national conference on Urdu Journalism organised by the KU’s Department of Mass Communication.
Sindh Secretary, Information, Mehtab Akbar Rashdi, presiding over the first working session of the second day, said that a journalist should be a person who could be able to report facts while rising above his ethnic, political and sectarian affiliations.
Senior journalist Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Shami said that allegations of corruption against newsmen would be baseless until a comprehensive analysis of newspaper contents is carried out on scientific lines.
He said the term ‘Lifaafa Journalism’ had been originated owing to the mutual confrontation and animosity of politicians who levelled allegations against each other of bribing newsmen for getting favourable coverage.
Farooq Adil, deputy editor of a local weekly, said that introduction of computer-based new technologies in Urdu dailies had enhanced their resources and channels of newsgathering.
He said it was only after adoption of computers in Urdu journalism that idea of a news agency providing Urdu news service came true that had once considered an impossible task.
He said the application of Internet and modems had rendered tele-printers and telex machines obsolete for the newspaper offices.
Adil said the Internet had also opened several new channels of newsgathering for newspapers in the form of websites of international media and wire services.
He said through usage of modern technology news items of correspondents from far-flung areas were communicated more efficiently and accurately.
Dr. Seemi Naghmana, Chairperson of MCD of University of Balochistan, said the Urdu newspapers had not projected and shaped the public opinion in a careful and honest manner throughout history of the country.
She said the opinion pages of Urdu dailies had mostly been used for promoting the vested interests of influential political sections of the country.
Yousuf Khan, a senior reporter of a local Urdu daily, said that news items in Urdu newspapers based on political statements, crime and violence, were certainly not the self-creation of journalists but reflection of the incidents, norms and attitudes of society.
He said the journalistic staff of Urdu dailies should be provided opportunities of training and refresher courses for making them abreast of latest theories and technical jargons of the relevant subjects.
Tahir Najmi, editor of a local Urdu newspaper, said the matters related to circulation of newspapers were obscured like a vital trade secret and even editors were kept in dark by the owners of the publications.
Prof Dr. Shafeeq Jalandhari, former chairman of MCD of University of Punjab, stressed the need of investigative reporting in the Urdu journalism.
Source: The News
Date:5/26/2004
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