What makes Times Now Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami tick? His “Newshour” programme that runs on prime time portrays him as some sort of inquisitor. On many occasions, the inquisition is directed at Pakistan and Pakistanis in the most derisive way possible.
No effort is spared to ridicule, criticize or berate Pakistan and its government. Goswami never lets journalism or ethics get in the way.
It is no surprise that the programme enjoys very good ratings and its host is loved and admired by many. One can think of a similar host and programme on this side of the border as well. Hate gets ratings.
What came as a surprise was that of all the people who decided to attend this hate-fest was none other than PPP spokesperson Qamar Zaman Kaira. If nothing else, Kaira could have asked someone in the media whether this was a good idea.
After all, there are several other Indian channels that one can be interviewed. The hosts may ask difficult questions but at the end of the day are courteous and as ethical as South Asian channels can be.
What ensued in the Arnab-Kaira show was predictable. Accusations and general rudeness from Goswami made Kaira stage a walkout. But this wasn’t the parliament. It was a TV show.
And Kaira did exactly what Goswami wanted. Ratings soared. Once again it was seen that the Pakistanis had no answers to the “hard hitting” TV host from India.
My sympathies for Kaira sahib. I think the former information minister is one of our better politicians. I remember once he apologised to me at the Karachi Press Club when his official vehicle was blocking the access to the parking lot. Unlike his provincial government counterpart who wanted to trash me for daring to challenge what he saw as his prerogative, Kaira sahib actually said sorry. His middle class background makes him dear to us.
In other ways, however, Kaira sahab is not an exception. One cannot fully understand the obsession of Pakistani politicians and others to appear on international TV shows no matter what the situation or how dubious the channel.
Who can forget the Hard Talk interview of Sartaj Aziz, then foreign minister, after the Kargil debacle. Sartaj Aziz blundered and eventually became incoherent because he had no sensible answer for what had happened.
The interviewer, Tim Sebastian, who I met in London this year, won an award for that show. I reminded Mr Sebastian about the interview. He just smiled. Unlike Goswami, Tim Sebastian did not have to resort to cheap tactics. Sartaj Aziz’s over-eagerness to appear on BBC was enough to embarrass us as a nation.
Our PM is no exception. He has no time for any journalist he sees as intelligent. Around him gather his fawning scribes who paint him into a glorious leader “worried to death about the future of Pakistan.” One possible exception is that he also loves to give interviews to Indian journalists, especially those who speak Punjabi. Maybe it’s time I started learning Punjabi too.
While denying interviews to local media houses with the possible exception of one, he recently granted an interview to Barkha Dutt, a popular anchor who made her mark during the Kargil crisis. She is the same journalist in front of who Sharif once called Manmohan Singh a “dehati.” So much honesty, but at what price.
And yet Indian journalists will tell you that in their country the pecking order for meeting high officials is exactly the opposite. The Indian PM rarely has time for foreign journalists. In almost all instances, successive Indian PMs have only spoken to local journalists. Maybe our politicians are afraid of the embarrassing questions they may be asked by one of their own. I wonder why the Indian PM doesn’t have that fear.
At home, this fawning of our PM is done at taxpayer expense. Last year, when the PM came to Karachi, he indicated his desire to meet local journalists. At the same time, the press information department flew in 40 journalists from Lahore and Islamabad. In the mela, no one from Sindh had a say. Its time for the PM to stop listening to what he wants. And for a media policy where only the designated spokesman speaks and the rest keep quiet. Right now it’s exactly the opposite.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 29th, 2014.
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COMMENTS (45)
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In Defense of Arnab Ji +++++++++++++++++++++++ For all his faults Arnab has a lot of strengths as well. Watch him cross examine a corrupt or dishonest person.He conducted an interview of Rahul Gandhi ( available on You Tube) that must have substantially contributed to the defeat of Congress in the recent elections. Recently Air India ( loss making counterpart of PIA in India) was caught hosting a large party for its employees.Arnab not only exposed the wastage of tax payer money but also reduced the Air India representative to tears.
Good to see our friends from India condemning the unprofessional attitude of their own media personality. This shows that there are fair people on both sides of the border who are willing to accept their mistakes - which is the foundation for a great future.
Meanwhile Arnab has found his new prey. He's in America torturing American panelist. So much that yesterday the other Indian American has to touch him on hands to tell him to calm down hes worried a physical fight may break out between the two lol. @saeed 1. because we categories things in right and wrong, facts,legality not religion,country,color, etc for every issue. Including the issues we both don't agree on. But you guys paint it religious where as we 95% have not even read or read religious text and don't view things that way. 2. We come from guest is equivalent to God culture. Rude to rude people. But kindness is always responded in kind. Arnab is rude to all people Irrespective good doesn't sit well with us simple.
@Arjun Reddy: I have stopped watching his shows anyways. In a debate he never allows a person to speak who has a counter opinion and like bad mannerred person he keeps bugging in a sarcastic tone. He does not know that he is offending his own audience. The panelists may be getting paid and may tolerate his nonsense, but not the audience. Journalism is not about imposing one's own ideas. Their job is to present the facts and in a debate or analysis allow all aspects of the matter be known to the audience. If his job is to increase the TRP of his channel, let him talk about Deepika Padukone's cleavage.
@WB: WB 'water bottle' Here is something, read carefully: What about when YOU make anti Islam, anti Muslim Anti Pakistan comments? You are a visceral Pakistan, Islam, Muslim hater. Your history of comments shows that. And any regular reader here, knows that. Try Indian hindutva websites.
I agree with Kamal Siddiqi. I watch Arnab Goswami's News Hour show as Comedy show . Pakistani politicians should not appear in TIMES NOW.
@saeed:
"i must appreciate our Indians friends for showing unbiassness in matter of arnab-Kaaira episode…we may belong to different countries and different ideologies but we must remind ourselves continuously that we are HUMANS first and Pakistani and Indians latter…."
Saeed, we are mostly unbiased in every matter.
The problem is Indian muslims have a lot of self inflicted problems. When we mention that we come across hating Indian Muslims.
Pakistan has millions of rotting problems. When we mention that we come across as hatemongers.
Regarding Kashmir also we come across as hatemongers when we tell the unbiased truth.
So, the problem lies a maximum of times with you Pakistanis and not with most of us Indians. You see this again is unbiased truth. But by saying that you'll think I'm a hater.
You forget to mention your ex president Gen. Musharraf.
@Aseem: first thing it's one on one interview,surprisingly he more serene in his one on one interviews than his newshour shows...even with his timid voice he never let his questions unanswered and raj thackerey still threatened to walk away at least thrice...talk about irony...it's the facts that makes goswami tick....
for those arnab haters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laXS-ySZvcA
i must appreciate our Indians friends for showing unbiassness in matter of arnab-Kaaira episode...we may belong to different countries and different ideologies but we must remind ourselves continuously that we are HUMANS first and Pakistani and Indians latter....
@Lt.Gen. MMS V (R):
I agree with you partially.
TOI is a cheap tabloid and not an honest source of news.
However, Arnab was bad even when he was a part of Star News.
@Gp65: Why waste your breath on @Rangoonwala? He copies and pastes the same comments over and over again. Reminds me so much of Arnab.
@Rangoonwala: Your post is completely unrelated to this one about Arnab Goswami and Qaman Zaira in specific and rude anchors in general. Secondly, Modi did not walk out of a press conference but out of an interiew with Karan Thapar whose lack of professionalism has even led other guests to walk out of his show. That man is as rude as Arnab but unlike Arnab he does not always stick to facts.
Unlike Pakistan where 2 video channels were gagged for weeks recenly, such things do nit happen in India nor are the journalists who torment those in power shot at. Thus dissent is not throttled. But it does not mean politicians need to allow self appointed media moguls to treat them rudely.
@Arjun Reddy: Integrity as journalist? Have you seen Arnab interviewing Bal Thackeray and Raj Thackeray?? He looked like a "bheegi billi" before them. what kind of a journalism is this to not allow your panelists to speak? He just stops the ideas and counter ideas and its very frustrating to watch his show and thats why most sane people have stopped watching his show. His audience are similar to the audience of Zahid Hamid. Times group has anyways lost respect among serious readers.
@Gp65: Shining India Rising India Vibrant India Lord Modi has arrived. Heard 75 hindu women fainted in Madison Square Garden. While the weeping adoring crowd looked on in jaw hanging adoration at the Saffron Lord. Finally the darshan part was over. The Vermilion Lord has walked out in two press conferences. Because of very tough questions. See,..at press conferences, you are expected to answer questions. Not walk out because you no likey the questions Bad for the image of Modi. Bad for BJP. Bad for India.
I do not watch Arnab Goswami, I think people watch this show only for entertainment and not for content.
@Arjun Reddy:
The qualities you seem to admire in Arnab Sir, are not desirable in a journalist. A good journalist should report facts; not his own views.
As a staunch believer in freedom of speech, I do not blame Arnab but the few simplistic sods who tune in to watch his spit-a-thon. I just hope his "guests" get paid a lot because I can't imagine anyone surrendering their dignity to one man. Obnoxious as he is though, you can see in some interviews that he actually turns docile depending on who is in front of him.
@Lt.Gen. MMS V (R): Ah... The good old Times. Those were the days, ToI in the morning, R. K. Laxman's common man cartoon with a cuppa of hot tea and The Illustrated Weekly of India on Sundays. But this Sunday when the newspaper boy flung in ToI instead of Deccan Herald, I promptly threw the entire paper into my trash without reading a single page.
@Abdul Malik: K is not a fantasy, if it were hundreds of thousands of Indian troops would not be posted there to suppress local population. It is a blot on India. Indian brute force and military power has managed to hold control, but such a control exists also in Gaza. Perhaps Gaza is also a fantasy.
well.people over here overwhelmingly against arnab and his antics ....whatever you say he single handedly changed the face of the journalism in india which otherwise filled with congress touts and corporate sidekicks..he is alone responsible for rahul gandhi's political demise,his team solely responsible for bringing out the truth behind cwg,adarsh scam...well he gets carried away sometimes but he always talks with the facts and we do make fun of his style but we never question his integrity as a journalist.
to know the real goswami :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYeeXVR_Vl8
I saw that interview, as expected, Goswami was rude and his demeanor was insulting to his guest. Qamar Zaman Kaira tried to argue with him a bit but then had to leave because that's what Goswami does, he infuriates his guest, puts them in a defensive position and as a result his rating goes high. I remember him trying to do the same thing with Musharraf as well, but Musharraf is Musharraf, Musharraf suppressed Goswami's verbal charade with facts. I also remember watching a video where an Indian politician (i don't remember the name) was actually talking about Goswami in very bad words.
But yes, if a politician or any other prominent personality is going up on Goswami's show, they should know that Goswami lacks ethics of a journalist, that would not be a big deal, the bigger deal is, he lacks the objectiveness of a journalist, which hurts both the image of journalism and journalists.
I thank Mr. Kamal Siddiqi for this write-up. I would have penned it myself if I were not a mere old soldier.
Arnab is actually a very good journalist and TV presenter, but it was a mistake on his part to leave highly respected NDTV and join the Times of India (TOI) run Times Now TV channel. TOI will do anything to make money, and so will Arnab Goswami it seems.
Times of India, once respected in India as much as The Times is in England, is not the paper it used to be; just because of the greed of the present owners. They have ruined it. Have you heard of a newspaper without a Front Page? TOI is that one paper in the world with up to four full-page ads hiding the supposed Front page. The greed of TOI is understandable but the stupidity of the advertisers is astounding; they fail to realise that the expensive full-page ads hiding the Front page are resented by he readers and never seen. Newspapers are for news with a few advertisements strewn around, but with TOI it is the other way round, so much so that the search for news is getting harder by the day. I have given up TOI after as long as 60 odd years of being an avid reader, and I cannot tolerate the antics of Arnab Goswami.
TOI loses readers to gain advertisers, but Times Now TV gains viewers, and thus ad revenues by the hard work of Arnab Goswami; and he is very good at it if you watch his antics. Will an ordinary Indian ever switch off a TV Channel that makes Pakistani Generals, Air Marshals and Admirals look like clowns? Never!
Why do so many Pakistanis offer themselves as Kurbani ka Bakra to satisfy the greed of TOI, Arnab and Times Now?
I agree Arnab is very rude. I may not agree with Zafar Hilaly But he dishes out to Arnab in Arnab's own way.
This know it all guy is an Oxford graduate,but one can only say that he is a disgrace to Oxford.He lacks the knowledge to question his guests,and covers it up by rudely interrupting his guests.His bias is shown when he doesn't break in when a guest his going along with his line of thinking.When a Pakistani guest poses a counter question,which he cannot answer,he throws it to the Indian guest speaker(Mahroof).A good interviewer would allow the guest to complete his argument and then poke holes in his argument.As some one on this forum had suggested that he treats even Indians the same way,its simply not true.He did not interrupt Modi,or Raj Thackeray,but he was constantly interrupting Rahul Gandhi.Of course ,he dare not play any games with Modi or Thackeray.Pre -election he favors the BJP and after that he is neutral.
Yes Arnab is popular, I myself have tuned in to Newshour when I feel bored. But does anyone take Arnab seriously ? Agree with Raj - USA would love to see Zaid Hamid vs Arnab anytime.
I hate Arnab. His program is a pain to ear. When he talks 90pc of times and does not allow anybody to speak it's not my cup of tea to like his program. -an Indian
I agree with Gp65 that Arnab is quite rude to Pakistanis but this is not exception to rule as he doesn't spares Indians as well who are also in the firing line if they show disagreement to his views. However, I support his aggressive posturing against top Pakistani retired defence personnel/ambassadors who try to defend cross-border terrorism which is totally unacceptable to India.
He is rude especially to pakistani guests. Some times I love him, some times I hate him. Some times he is too nationalistic instead of being objective. Of course your peerzada replies him in his language. Don't know why some pakistani guests come on his show knowing that they will be abused by him. I guess it is for money
Arnab is a embarrassment to Indian journalism.I have my sympathy when I see same Pakistani (and Indian) faces turning up again and again in his shows.
Arnab is playing to Indian audience, where Pakistan Bashing gets ratings and popularity. As an Indian who follows the official version on Kashmir, he was adamant that this is dispute which keeps on haunting his country, otherwise why should they post over 150,000 troops to suppress the local population. India proudly proclaims itself to be a democracy and it would do its democratic credentials a lot of good, if they agree to hold a fair referendum in Kashmir as was done in Scotland.
NS is an embarassment the moment he opens his mouth. This guy has turned PML-N in to a provincial party with support in Punjab only. No right to rule the country.
Arnab is rude but you are wrong in assuming he is only rude to Pakistanis. He is rude and overbearing across the board. This has nothing to do with India Pakistan but his style which frankly I find quite unpalatable.
Anyone willingly going on his show should be aware of what to expect.
Conversely there have been Indian journalists who were very rude to Modi and distorted what he said, sometimes outright lying about what occurred. Those journalists no longer have access to Modi.
That is the way to deal with such rude journalists - by refusing o accept their initation.
By the way, there are many such journalists in Pakistan too - I am sure you know that.
Dear Pakistanis: Arnab is not India. I see him as a pompous windbag who doesn't have the good manners to let the other guy finish. It isn't really an interview he conducts with his victims (Indians too) but a monologue with the interviewee as his sounding board. He has, however, met his match now and then if what i have read in the Net is true. Like with Raj Thakeray. I have stopped watching his shows - and they are no more than shows - long ago.
Arnab is rude and this Kaira may be a gentleman. But this debate misses the crucial point. Pakistanis will have difficulty defending Pakistan in any hard hitting authentic international TV shows because of all the lies, deception, incoherence and foolishness driving Pakistan's foreign policy (mis)adventures.
Its so refreshing to see such positive remarks from Indian side, a sign of maturity. Lets build a peaceful sub-continent for our generations to come.
i agree with most opinion above. It's not just Pakistani, Arnab has habit of bashing everyone on his panel and not let them speak, cuts them off rudely and shifts to next person to answer totally dismissing the previous talking person. Its totally obnoxious, rude and annoying and to watch him and his monologue bashing others.Too much noise with all speaking at same time as he cuts all off and goes on with his own rant. Don't know who the Pakistani politician was, but he should have chosen some other program or channel.
Dear Author, can u pls indicate where on the net I can aatch the Tim Sebastian Hard Talk interview of Sartaz Aziz......Shukriya.
I respect Mr Qamar Zaman Kaira.as he is well manner person. I .love watching his debate on Pakistani Channel. I also admit that Arnab is not journalist or anchor person as he still need to learn ABC of that. He is highly rated Ad seller. I apologize as Indian to you.
I would like to apologise to Mr Kaira ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ We may hate each other but thats no reason to overlook civility.
I saw this interview and agree with this author. Arnab Goswami was very rude, shouting and very insulting to the calm and polished Qamar Zaman Kaira. I have high regards for Mr. Kaira and agree with this author that he should not have opted to appear on the interview. After Bilawal's foolish statements it will be hard for anyone to defend. May be Mr. Kaira thought that he would try to calm the situation but, Goswami did not give him a chance. It was very unprofessional and cheap of Goswami to do that.
P.S.: it is my wish to see Goswami interview Zaid Hamid. It would a great fun to watch.
Goswami is nonsense. People may like him here but they never appreciate him
I am an Indian and I hate arnab for his jingoistic journalism. Don't watch that show.i used to watch it but then I realized this show lack substance and only believes in bashing every person in the panel.one advice if U R watching this show please decrease the volume or watch it as comedy show. I think it is better than comedy night with kapil/cartoon network