Amid increasing censorship and decreasing revenues, some career journalists are finding it harder than ever to continue in the media industry. And with mass layoffs and hiring freezes at media houses, many are finding that the choice has already been made for them.
The South Asia Press Freedom Report issued by the International Federation of Journalists notes that from May 2018 to April 2019, roughly 2,000 journalists and other staffers were laid off by media houses. Those who remained employed worked in a state of uncertainty, pushing through perpetual anxiety fuelled by the fear of further firings.
A Karachi journalist, Abdul Wali Khan, has been laid off twice in his decade-long career and has quit his job as many times due to taxing work hours and limited salary.
There were several moments over the years between jobs that Khan considered walking away from the profession altogether, and now, as newsrooms shrink and media houses tighten purse-strings citing decreasing revenues, Khan has decided it’s time to make the shift.
With a master’s degree in mass communication from the University of Karachi, a career in journalism seemed the next logical step for Khan. He worked as a sub-editor, feature writer and reporter for various newspapers and covered entrepreneurship, technology and social issues. His career overlapped with the revival of 3G technology, advent and growth of digitalisation, e-commerce and social e-platforms in Pakistan.
Frustrated with the long hours, threats to job security, limited income and increasing challenges in the media landscape, Khan’s family urged him throughout his journalistic career to leave the profession and work for himself instead.
It was difficult to meet the expenses of a joint family when inflation kept rising but Khan’s salary was decreasing. After losing his job and succumbing to family pressure, Khan seriously considered starting his own business.
A new path
For one of his pieces, Khan had interviewed a pizzeria owner and upon indicating his interest, he was invited to experience the kitchen and learn how to make pizzas. Khan studied at the pizzeria for four months at the time and now he found himself wondering what he could do with those skills.
A quick survey of a residential area in Landhi showed that despite the large population, there was no good pizza place or a food centre that met Khan’s standards of hygiene and cleanliness.
And so, with the support and initial investment of his family, he opened a pizza and fast food restaurant in a small space in 2016. And quickly, he was able to pay his employees more than what he had earned at his last job as a journalist.
This wasn’t the first time that the food industry had piqued Khan’s interest. Previously too, when between jobs, Khan had considered opening a biryani outlet and had worked at a restaurant at Burnes Road to master the dish but that interest was left confined to his home when he found another job in the media industry.
The fear of letting go of a regular paycheck, even if the salary was low, had him doubtful initially, said Khan. But once he got past the fear of failure and risk of investment, he found starting his own business much more rewarding and within eight months, had found surer footing.
Leading the way
During his university days and for some time after, Khan had also worked as a teacher, and once he launched his own business he found that his experience from back then and the knowledge he picked up on during his years in journalism, aided him as an entrepreneur.
In the four years since he opened his food centre, Khan has prioritised cleanliness and hygiene and tried to adopt socially responsible practices such as using recycled paper bags instead of plastic bags, striving to inculcate the same values in his employees and customers.
His eatery offers a variety of fast food items and caters to school and office canteens in the area.
Khan is now actively working towards promoting training and entrepreneurship among his employees and the public at large by conducting workshops and urging people to find the courage to invest in themselves.
That said, he adds, one does not get immediate results and cannot expect to make money overnight. “It takes both courage and patience to run a business.”
This story is part of a weekly series that seeks to bring to light the unsung heroes of Karachi - the hawkers, traders, doctors, teachers, engineers, lawyers and daily-wage labourers. It is they who make Karachi the city of lights.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 16th, 2020.
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