Mass communication: Veterans warn budding journalists about pitfalls

Media summit discusses the importance of deciding one’s career path early.

KARACHI: The attraction of the media as well as its issues and pitfalls were discussed as professionals gave an insight into the industry to the students hoping to enter this field.

‘Transforming Youth Media Summit 2014’, an innovative career-oriented summit, was held to discuss the challenges and opportunities in the field of mass communication. ‘Unlimited Boundaries with Responsibility’ was the theme of the event and it gave the participants, including students and professionals, the opportunity to realign their thinking about the requirements for choosing the right career field and to inform them about journalism. Sui Southern Gas Company’s Shahbaz Islam said that most students choose career paths without having any long-term goal in mind. “Today, students don’t have a goal when they decide what to study as their career choice.”



“Students think there is glamour in electronic media and that it is an easy job but working in this industry is more difficult than what it seems to be,” warned anchor Sana Mirza while sharing her personal experience, giving an analogy of the media industry being akin to a bed of thorns.

Adding to Mirza’s comments, media expert Dr Sajid Hussain said that students don’t work on becoming eloquent — a precursor to success in the electronic media — and are rather just attracted by the media’s charm.

According to journalist Afia Salam, social media is an emerging medium and its correct use is really important in journalism. “Social media can be used in both negative and positive ways —  it should be used to spread awareness.”

“Hatyar dalna apka kam hai, humara nahi [you are the ones who should be laying down their weapons, not us],” were the words of a journalist in jail to a policeman, according to journalist Mazhar Abbas, who also spoke at the event. Abbas was attempting to highlight the problems faced by journalists and how they have to often stand in defiance of authority.

Drama director Kazim Pasha talked about how the drama industry has evolved during his lifetime. “Drama is an effective medium which is directly related with public emotions, so it should be done properly with good scripts,” he added.

The event also featured appreciation certificates for the best group to be selected from the participating universities of Karachi. Each selected group will have to submit their presentations on the best documentary, the best radio report, the best feature on extremism in the media and the best photographs on child labour.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 17^th, 2014.