This split between ‘news’ and ‘editorial’ appears to be a case of intellectual schizophrenia.
ISLAMABAD: This is with reference to your report of July 28 titled “‘New era’ dawns in ties”, filed by your correspondent, Aditi Phadnis, from New Delhi on the talks between the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan. I have to say that the report is surprising, to say the least. In reality, no such breakthrough has taken place in this week’s India-Pakistan talks which would justify a respectable newspaper such as yours to carry such a sentimental headline. I should add that the headline of this front-page report is in sharp contrast to your editorial of the same day, titled “Inching forward”, which also happens to be on the same subject. The latter, however, offered a much sober analysis of the talks — this split between ‘news’ and ‘editorial’ appears to be a case of intellectual schizophrenia.
Unfortunately, in Pakistani Urdu and English journalism, the use and misuse of idioms and cliched expressions have created a situation which is causing the near-death of the written word. In this context, your newspaper is a surprisingly fresh change; a young publication that is trying to set a new standard for intelligent, credible writing. Please don’t let this standard down.
Moeed Pirzada
Director World Affairs, PTV
Published in The Express Tribune, July 30th, 2011.
