Re: Media Tribe> Foreign Media Responsible For Killing of Pakistani Journalists

Great comments all around.  Freedom of speech is not absolute, and extra-judicial murders are abhorrent to civilisation itself.

The fourth estate has a watchdog role -- what the public should be aware of in order to make rational decisions about their lives and their leaders.  When the powerful start to deceive, the truth should be known.  Even then, operational details and names are hidden, even by Wikileaks.  In fact, Wikileaks was a phenomenon due to Western media becoming too cosy to power, a fact that has since been acknowledged, even by the New York Times.  

The New York Times declares boldly 'All the news that's fit to print' with the clear realisation that there is news that is not fit to print.

Intelligence agencies carry out tit-for-tat operations to keep us OUT of war -- it shows the intelligence level and operational readiness of the other side without going into full-scale war.  KGB-CIA shenanigans kept the Cold War cold.  All intelligence agencies fund and keep militant organisations to do their dirty work.  ISI is very good at what it does, and is an intelligence agency worthy of a nuclear power, and necessary for such a power.  Again, some dirty games of intelligence agencies keep us out of full-blown war.  They keep the American and Indian agencies in their place.  They are not angels, and we would not want them to be either.

The ISI, as part of the government, should be held accountable by the media, but its operational details should not be relieved.  The most a journalist should do in such situations when he/she feels that a broader principle may be compromised is to go abstract and outline the principle at stake.  A golden rule -- how would a US reporter write about the CIA, or the Hindustan Times about RAW?

Operational details are just titillating details that have no purpose in educating the public.  While Saleem was a great reporter, and he laid bare an issue, which Ghaznvi has discussed here (http://www.qern.org/en/rapidly-changing-al-qaeda-endgame-pakistan-0), his crossing the line may have left not choice for the people who regularly put their lives on the line for us.  Still, if it was the ISI, it was wrong.

It is a delicate balancing act.

Regards,

Akber

2011/6/1 Tariq Khattak <tariqgulkhattak@gmail.com>

Foreign Media Responsible For Assassination of Pakistani Journalists

 

Foreign media and organisations will always say that freedom of expression and free journalism is something alien to Pakistani society.

They know that yet they push young reporters to file stories that land them/their families into problems. Many pay the ultimate price to boost the sale of foreign media.

Many reporters are aggressive by default; encouragement makes them more insistent. However, grey-haired /white-haired editors are not/should not.

Editors should not see damaging stories from purely business point of view; rather they should mull all the consequences.

Journalism should not be lost to commercialism.

The killing of Saleem will be forgotten after some time; the mystery (Whodunit) will never be resolved, Asia Times, like other media businesses, got publicity and will find people to become fuel of their lust to become popular.

But what about his family and kids, who will fill the gap in their lives. They have lost him forever. He will never come back for them.

I can bet that his anniversary will go unnoticed and many more would have paid by then.

Time will tell who was behind this crime, or any journalist can---

I feel obliged to request my colleagues to exercise calm and restraint.. every truth should not be unmasked. Some secrets are best when kept to chest.

May Allah bless Saleem and all other martyrs and give vision to the rest to discharge duties while remaining safe.

The statement of US Sec. of State Ms Clinton is encouraging but will it help the slain reporter, the unfortunate widow or orphans.

Money is very important thing but not most important thing. We should not do anything/everything for money and fame.

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Tariq Khattak,
Columnist, Feature Writer,
Editor Pakistan Media Group &
Editor Commerce, Pakistan Observer,
Ali Akbar House, G-8 Markaz, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Cells: 0300/0333-9599007, Ph. 051-2852027/8. Fax 2262258

 

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Dear All,
It's a common platform for journalists and all others who are interested in knowing about the issues that are sometimes not reported. This group favours philosophy of progress, reform and the protection of civil liberties. Please share and educate others. The owners and managers of this site do not necessarily agree with any of the information. It is an open forum and anyone that register can post whatever they like. Mails sent by members and non-members are subject to approval. However, we are not responsible in any way for the contents of mails / opinion sent by members. We do not guarantee that the information will be completely accurate. If you find content on this site which you feel is inappropriate or inaccurate, incomplete, or useless you are most welcome to report it or contradict it.
Regards,
Group Manager