JournalismPakistan.com | Published April 15, 2012 | Daud Malik
Join our WhatsApp channel
Some headlines have become inseparable part of our genes, culture and of course the media. They automatically step forth as soon as they are needed. They are so strongly embedded that even an effort to replace them seems like committing ‘blasphemy’.
The ‘urge/call for unity’ is a must appearance. From time to time, the president and prime minister often ‘urge’ Muslims to unite. They also ‘urge’ party workers to get united against ‘undemocratic forces’ as and when a political crisis brews.
On expressing solidarity with Kashmir cause, every leader wants “just and peaceful solution” but never fails to mention it should be “in accordance with the UN resolutions and the wishes of Kashmiri people.”
Ironically people are constantly ‘found dead’. Sometimes they are even ‘found shot dead’. And promotional events, especially those arranged by the newspapers themselves, are always “thronged”.
A month back tent pegging, a popular cavalry sport, made a comeback to Islamabad after eight years. Galloping horsemen carrying a lance to pick up a small ground target was a spectacle for both electronic and print media.
Shots of horsemen succeeding in picking the symbolic tent peg were shown again and again by TV channels. On the other hand, newspapers made sure that they have the snap where the horsemen is about to or has just picked the ground target.
But when it came to describing the action-packed sport, the most they could do was to “enthrall spectators”.
On a musical night in Peshawar “memorable singing” had also ‘enthralled audience”.
Similarly Sufi singing “spread magic” in India last year, but didn’t forget – you guessed it – to “enthrall audience”.
If by any chance the audience is not “enthralled”, they are “mesmerized”. Sometimes even before the event is held, as a story in a national daily announced: “Music will not be silenced - a concert to celebrate Music Freedom Day - will mesmerize the fun lovers of the twin cities...”
Plays or any cultural performance also end up “enthralling” the audience. That is why last year “the artists, artisans and folk musicians” continued to “enthral visitors as a large number of people thronged the Lok Virsa at Shakarparian Hills to enjoy glimpses of Pakistan’s diverse and unique cultural heritage…”
And a classical singer in Chakwal also – for the nth time – “enthrals” audience.
(Daud Malik is a senior journalist who has worked for The News and Dawn)
March 24, 2025: Explore the 10 critical reasons why Pakistan's legacy media continues to disappoint, from political bias and corporate influence to digital transition failures and unsustainable business models in Pakistani journalism.
September 07, 2024: Pakistani media is under fire for its lack of investigative reporting, political influence, and censorship. With talk shows becoming monotonous and biased, the public is turning to digital platforms for real news. Read on to learn how Pakistani journalism is failing its people.
July 11, 2024: Explore the challenges and opportunities expat journalists face in the UAE, with insights from Imran Naeem Ahmad, a former Gulf News journalist. Discover the impact of censorship, career prospects, and the reality of working for leading newspapers like Khaleej Times and Gulf News in Dubai.
July 09, 2024: Explore the profound impact of censorship on Pakistani journalism. Delve into the challenges faced by journalists, the erosion of press freedom, and broader societal implications in a country grappling with media restrictions and government control.
July 08, 2024: Discover the critical role of local news in a globalized world and how grassroots journalism empowers communities, ensures informed citizenship, and strengthens our societal fabric in the age of global connectivity.
July 06, 2024: Explore the challenges facing print media in Asia, from digital competition to financial struggles, and discover how newspapers and magazines are adapting to survive in the digital age.
July 03, 2024: Discover how independent media outlets in Asia are transforming journalism by breaking barriers and shaping public opinion. Learn about the challenges and triumphs of these new voices in the media landscape.
June 28, 2024: Dive into an extensive exploration of the ominous challenges besieging Pakistan's print media sector. Delve into the heart of the debate on whether traditional newspapers can withstand the onslaught of the digital revolution.
April 11, 2025 Sindhi journalist AD Shar was brutally murdered in Khairpur, Sindh. His body was found dumped on Handiyari Link Road. PFUJ has declared a three-day mourning period and demanded justice.
April 10, 2025 The Azad Jammu and Kashmir government has filed a case against The Daily Jammu & Kashmir and its staff for alleged fake news, drawing condemnation from PFUJ and IFJ, who demand immediate withdrawal of the FIR and an end to media repression in Pakistan.
April 08, 2025 Journalist Arzoo Kazmi alleges that Pakistan's state agencies, including the FIA, have blocked her CNIC, passport, and bank account while threatening her. She calls it a direct attack on journalism.
April 07, 2025 The Islamabad High Court has directed IG Islamabad to produce journalist Ahmad Noorani’s missing brothers, as the Ministry of Defence denies custody. SIM activity was traced in Bahawalpur, and investigations into their suspected abduction continue.
April 07, 2025 Journalist and Raftar founder Farhan Mallick has been granted bail by a Karachi court in a case concerning anti-state content aired on his YouTube channel. He still faces separate charges related to an alleged illegal call center and data theft.