The writer is an independent journalist, who graduated from the University of Iowa. She is now studying Political Science at the University of Texas, USA
I am not accusing media outlets of being mediocre, but it seems that every news story creates so much sensationalism, every talk show appears to be a clamorous affair, with anchors putting the guest speakers in a boxing ring and giving them a reason to fight with their topsy-turvy analysis. As for talk shows, the more I watch them the more I think that those who produce them believe that creating a noisy, blame-each-other style of discussion will make them ‘journalism heroes’. Although journalists all over the world celebrate International Media Ethics Day, the Pakistani media still seems to lack an industry-wide media ethics code. Special interests, and above all sensationalism, continue to compromise objectivity and transparency in the media.
Journalism is more like advocacy. A journalist cannot just inform the public and lay off, rather he or she helps the community to address the problems and provide solutions for a sustainable and healthy democratic society. And if a journalist just relies on ‘he said/she said’ kind of journalism, he or she cannot fulfil the role of advocacy journalism. They have to be honest with their profession and work on a broader framework. They cannot satisfy themselves only by informing the public. Rather, they have to empower and mobilise them.
This goal can best be achieved by employing investigative journalism practices. Despite the scary picture of today’s reality, which is all about the declining trend of investigative journalism practices, we have a number of reasons to be hopeful for a better replacement to the traditional investigative model. Following the recent debates on Pakistani news channels lamenting investigative journalism think tanks working in Pakistan, I would like to compare this with the US model of investigative journalism. First, the rise of non-profit investigative journalism institutes is a ray of hope for the continuity of quality journalism. In the United States, a number of such institutes have been already proved successful such as www.propublica.org, www.iowawatch.org and www.wisconsinwatch.org.
Similarly, in the UK, the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, which was set up with funding from philanthropists David and Elaine Potter, has a team of between 20 and 25 journalists. The bureau’s profile has been raised by its involvement in the WikiLeaks stories.
The second most important aspect of investigative journalism is social media itself. There are a number of people, including professional journalists, who have started putting out credible information on their blogs and websites when the mainstream media fails to report and investigate an issue. And this is happening not only in the US; it is a worldwide phenomenon.
Novice Pakistani journalists, who don’t know the concept of investigative journalism, should take a look at the Western models of investigative journalism. The Centre for Investigative Reporting in Pakistan is also one of the examples of such investigative journalism practices that has recently burgeoned in producing investigative reports that have received acclaim from various media circles.
Not only is investigative journalism going through a transformation, it is now almost impossible for power players to maintain exclusive control over the spread of information. WikiLeaks will always serve as an example for such transformation.
Furthermore, according to some reports, non-governmental organisations, such as Human Rights Watch, and other NGOs, are actively involved in gathering data and putting credible information on their websites. These acts serve as alternatives to investigative stories. Whether it’s corruption, human rights, the environment, climate change, illegal resource exploitation, child detention or a wide range of other important issues, campaigners have been shaping the news agenda through their use of investigative techniques to an ever-greater extent.
At the local level in US states such as Colorado, Iowa, and Wisconsin, watchdog journalism projects are helping audiences and serving as an investigative journalism model for media scholars to consider.
Journalists in Colorado have launched two projects aimed at increasing the quality and quantity of watchdog reporting throughout the state, according to the Poynter Institute. The projects — Colorado Data Commons and CitizenAtlas — have received a $336,900 from the Knight Foundation. The projects are just two of the 19 projects that won this year’s Knight Community Information Challenge, an annual contest that helps location-based foundations meet local information needs.
In Pakistan, we need to focus on creating institutes of investigative journalism that are cost-effective and sustainable because of the content produced using investigative journalism techniques. This will lead to a media landscape in Pakistan that rises above the noisy, back-and-forth provocations of today and, instead, keeps a watchful eye on power and corruption for the benefit of the community.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 23rd, 2014.
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Who is so faithful to the country, to report facts on corruption in Government Departments.
I think the bigger question at the moment is more general: who will stand up for journalism on the whole in Pakistan? It's professional journalists and the reputation of their trade who are the real losers in this tussle between the military, politicians, and the profiteering owners of media houses. Journalists themselves have to stand up for their professional values through existing professional forums, self-regulate their conduct, and come up and comply with agreed norms of professional behavior before outside solutions are imposed on them by less-than-liberal outside actors.
Investigative journalist have a short life expectancy. There are "red lines" that cannot be crossed. . Ever ask yourselves why nobody bothered to investigate the Salala tragedy or even questions the official military position that the USA decided one day to kill Pakistani's because it was upset that it was losing the Afghan war? Why the Pakistan military refused a joint investigation or how the Pakistan military could complete it's own investigation within minutes/hours? Never a mention of the documented long history of NATO complaints of Pakistan soldiers shooting at them across the border. And to my knowledge not one Pakistan newspaper ever printed the results of the American investigation. . How about the infamous Raymond Davis affair. After the initial reports that the victims were armed and tied to the ISI suddenly the reports issued by every newspaper looked like they were written by one guy. No mention of ISI - no mention of weapons. It's also interesting that no Pakistan journalist has ever bothered to pick up the phone and call Raymond Davis or follow up on reports that he was investigating Saeed - alleged strategic asset of the ISI. . And of course there is OBL. Not one newspaper wants to focus on how OBL could live a decade in Pakistan - how he could live in a military town outside the Pakistan Military Academy or why the govt/military have made no attempt to find/prosecute those who were helping OBL. And how about the infamous missing Abbottabad report? . Answers are simple. Self Preservation.
May I ask the learned writer had she written anything else he/she said when she was working in Pakistan? Some Pakistani journalists particularly this lady just forget their few years small he.she said contribution after they get an opportunity and that too through sheer luck to study abroad. Actually it's solely meant to please their foreign masters and nothing else.
There needs to keep a difference between a Journalist and an investigator. A journalist shall act as a postman without any of his opinion added to an event covered, not even adding sympathies to a tragedy neither adding sensations. Commentators and columnists are also not journalists.
Unfortunately "journalists" wear various hats, investigator, prosecutor, jury, judge, petitioner,police, politician and above all they label themselves as 'holier than thou'. What value in reality programs such as FIR, Target, Sar e Aam etc. add to society? and then these journalists assume that with a mic and a camera you can raid any ones bedroom too and we have seen such programs on air. All such commercial ratings based programs should be labelled as entertainment and shown on entertainment channels rather than on news channels.
I have objection on the writer for marginalizing Pakistani journalists only, what is happening on CNN & FOX News, they are as sensational and as senseless as you rate Pakistani channels, in fact Pakistanis as a habit copy west in every sphere of life and so are our Journalists following CNN & FOX and other channels.