Written By: Omair Alavi

Dr. Khaleel Chishti enjoys his wife’s cooking…. Meera refers to Reema as aunty on twitter… Opener Nasir Jamshed got injured during the camp … These are a few one-liner stories that were aired as breaking news on different TV channels during the past 3 days, making those who hate media, loathe it. Do we really care whether Dr. Chishti likes his wife’s cooking, do we really want to know what Meera posted on twitter or do we really know who is Nasir Jamshed? No, we don’t, but thanks to the media, we are made to know of these happenings as Breaking News.

Before there was TV, there was the print media and believe me, the above-mentioned stories wouldn’t have been featured in more than a 4-line box item, that too on the back page. In those days, breaking news was made known to public via special numbers of newspapers like Awaam and Public, and people didn’t take them seriously because they were not meant to be taken that way. But thanks to electronic media, every news item is now a breaking news item, and the news channels take it as their responsibility to make people know what they think they should know.

Who cares amongst the general public of Pakistan what Nicolas Sarkozy’s wife Carla Bruni is going through as her husband is about to be ousted as the French President, who wants to be informed of UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon’s fracture which he attained during a football match or whether Jaya Bachchan has assets more than her superstar husband Amitabh! These news items were aired in the ‘During a Prime Time’ bulletins of the country’s best news channels, yet they could have been avoided as well.

During a recent interview of film actor Mustafa Qureshi, I asked him how he saw the news channels in Pakistan. The soft-spoken thespian minced no words in criticizing the media, terming them pro-India and anti-Pakistani. He said that we celebrate the birthday of Katrina Kaif by airing it as a news, yet we don’t do justice to our artists who are living in poor conditions without any support from the government. And I agree that he had a point that we all should think about.

In a country where prices of everyday items are increasing day by day, where people don’t get to eat twice a day, where the rich and getting richer with the passage of time, what good can the breaking news be for the public. They are simply ploys to increase the ratings of TV channels, and nothing else. If the media is really interested in making a difference, they should ditch their ‘me-first’ attitude and come out with investigative reports, something that made Kamran Khan the idol of young journalists in the country. They would be surprised to find out that there are many issues out there that need their attention, and solving them can make things better for Pakistanis in general, and Pakistan in particular.

Show: Pakistani Profiles

Host: Hibah Naz

Guest: Ali Safina

Description: Ali Safina is an energetic and multi-talented Pakistani. He is a radio, video and disc jockey who is in love with music. You must know him as Taakaa from the drama serial Takay Ki Aeygi Baraat and from the TV program Milk Sheikh. Find out where his career all started from and what his new projects are.

Language: Urdu

Name: Shahid Masood

Occupation: Anchor Person/ Journalist

Websites: None

Detailed Profile: Shahid Masood

Wiki Page: Shahid Masood

Dr.Shahid Masood is a famous Pakistani Political Analyst, Columnist and TV Anchor. He had been worked as Senior Executive Director and The Chief of ARY ONE WORLD. Dr.Shahid Masood is the anchor of Meray Mutabiq which is a famous show on Geo TV these days. He started his career as a journalist from Quami Akhbar. Dr. Masood also worked as The Chairman and Managing Director of Pakistan Television and advisor to Mr.Yousuf Raza Gillani (Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Name: Zhalay Sarhadi

Occupation: VJ/ Actress/ Model

Websites: None

Detailed Profile: None

Wiki Page: None

Zhalay Sarhadi is the niece of Khayam Sarhadi. Her classic Pakistani Beauty and great height is an real advantage for her to be on ramp. Zhalay is still remembered as the host on Shadi Online. 

Name: Beena Sarwar

Occupation: Journalsit & Filmmaker

Websites: Beena Sarwar

Detailed Profile: None

Wiki Page: None

Beena Sarwar is a writer and filmmaker who has been active in  women’s rights, human rights and peace movements in Pakistan. She was the Features Editor of ‘The Frontier Post’, Lahore, founding editor of weekly ‘The News on Sunday’,  and is on the Editorial Board of monthly Himal Southasian, Kathmandu.

Beena has made several documentaries since she was doing her Masters in Television Documentary she has also worked as a producer with Geo Television news and was Op-ed Editor of The News before going on to Harvard University as a Nieman Fellow and Fellow at Harvard University’s Carr Center for Human Rights Policy.

Name: Khurram Fahad

Occupation: News Person

Born On: 1- Feb

Websites: None

Detailed Profile: None

Wiki Page: None

Khurram Fahad started his career from Costa Coffee and is currently the Executive Assistant to Director News & Current Affairs, Samaa T.V . During his 4 years of career, he has worked for different organization including Geo and Sun Tv as News Anchor.