‘Know your subject before you comment’

TV anchors discuss what is holding media ethics down.

ISLAMABAD:

Speakers at an interactive session agreed that anchors should have in-depth knowledge of the issues they talk about on their shows. The session, “Freedom of media in the current political scenario”, was organised by South Asian Women in Media on Friday.

Fauzia Shahid, a senior journalist, said that TV talk shows on political issues are widely viewed and can help the common man understand what is happening in the country.

However, she said that anchors should be responsible and have a thorough understanding of what they are talking about. Fauzia added that due to the internet and other new technologies, anchors rarely bother to rely on “real” research, such as reading books and journals.

Fauzia said it is the responsibility of anchors to mould public opinion rather than forcing their guests into pointless arguments just to raise the show’s ratings.

However, Fahad Hussain, a TV host, defended his fellow anchors, saying that TV anchors set their content and sell their goods according to the demands of the market.

As an example, Fahad said that he would not dedicate a show to India and China, despite their importance to the world economy, because such content will not attract the attention of viewers.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 17^th, 2011.