Quick draw

Manzar Imam picture fiasco points to the need for greater media responsibility.

The frenzy for instant news we are seeing around the world, and perhaps all the more so on the multitude of TV channels which dominate screens both in India and Pakistan, can lead to extremely unfortunate errors. One was made by the Indian TV channel India TV on February 24 when it ran a picture of slain MQM MPA Manzar Imam mistaking him for one of the terrorists by the same name believed to be responsible for recent twin bomb attacks in the Indian city of Hyderabad, which killed at least 18 people. Of the terrorists named as having been responsible for that attack, one was called Manzar Imam — a member of a group known as the Indian Mujahideen.

The broadcast of MQM’s Manzar Imam’s picture in his place would obviously be highly embarrassing for his family and party. The unfortunate Mr Imam was himself a victim of terrorists, killed on January 17 in Karachi. Following protests from the MQM and a demand from Interior Minister Rehman Malik, the said channel has apologised. But of course, the damage has already been done, with the image going out to audiences of millions.

Of course, this was an unintentional error. It has happened before in newspapers around the world and on TV channels. Nevertheless, it points to the need for greater media responsibility, especially as far as the highly tabloidised electronic media goes. The quest for instant news is leading to too many errors and acts of basic insensitivity. Indeed, our channels at home, too, should learn a lesson from what happened and find ways to tighten up quality and reliability. As things stand now, these are generally low. The electronic media, notable in countries where literacy is low and reading habits fading fast, reaches a huge volume of people each day. This makes it all the more imperative that it exhibits proper ethics and ensures it does not act to mislead viewers in any way.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2013.