Pakistan’s media reinforcing nation’s paranoia

[Lockheed F-16]

Pakistan’s media reinforcing nation’s paranoia

* Report published in Time magazine claims rumour reported as fact has become epidemic in Pakistan

Daily Times Monitor

LAHORE: Sections of Pakistan’s media are reinforcing the nation’s paranoia at a critical time when the country faces a threat to its very existence, a report released on the website of Time magazine has claimed.

Written by Aryn Baker, the report claims that during a recent gathering of Pakistani journalists, foreign correspondents based in Pakistan, and visiting representatives of the Washington-based think tank Centre for American Progress, the journalists criticised US concerns that Pakistan was failing as a state. The report quotes on journalist as claiming this was part of US propaganda “to weaken us, so the US can fulfil its agenda to break Pakistan into pieces”.

Epidemic: According to Baker, rumour reported as fact has become an epidemic in Pakistan. Quoting a recent article published in a leading English-language daily, the report states that it took e-mailed comments to a Fox News website to concoct a scenario in which a secret US commando force was ready to infiltrate Pakistan to secure its nuclear weapons. Noting that the story mentioned no sources, Baker says it fuelled hysterical discussions on TV chat shows and cemented a national conviction that the Americans want to eliminate Pakistan’s “Islamic bomb”. Another leading English-language daily claimed former prime minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated on the orders of the special death squad formed by former US vice-president Dick Cheney, sourcing the story to an interview by an unnamed Arab TV channel with American investigative journalist Seymour Hersh. Hersh immediately denounced the report as “complete madness” to the Daily Times. Yet, Information Minister Qamar Zaman did not rule out the possibility.

Baker states that when former president Pervez Musharraf permitted private TV stations to broadcast news in 2002, the journalist argued increased competition would force the emergence of an ethical and responsible media corps. He stated that he also assumed that consumers would gravitate toward truth. Instead, he notes, the bulk of Pakistanis seem comfortable with sensationalism and xenophobia — as reflected by an April Gallup Pakistan poll revealing 76 percent of Pakistanis “believe Pakistani media [are] unbiased to a great or somewhat extent”.

Richard Holbrooke, the US envoy to the region, is working on a media plan for Pakistan that would develop the government’s ability to disseminate information via new technologies such as cell phones. However, Baker argues, this is not enough. He states that the Pakistani press can only live up to its potential and give the nation the media it deserves if it takes a good look at itself and examines its level of professionalism.

 

[BaburCM]

What a stupid Yanks. Now they are lecturing the media what to report and what not. So much for supposedly being the beacon of freedom of speech. What a hypocrites. The Yanks are trying to impose their lies and distortions through the Pakistani media to brainwash the common man. The Pakistani media, however, is doing the opposite. Heck, bring it on the paranoia reporting. We need some sensational Fox news style reporting in Pakistan. Let's create fear in the hearts and minds of the people. That's exactly what we need at this time. We need a sustained campaign to counter any anti-Pakistan venom being spread all across the Western and US media in particular. Yep, we need more xenophobic reporting. The media needs to get nasty and hostile to achieve their objectives. Even if that means spreading lies in the interest of the greater good. I'm all for it.

 

[ajpirzada]

so only those are rit who are speak their language....
but we dont need Fox type reporting. we are fine with wat we have got. though it wont be bad if our reporters are slightly more careful

 

[zubair723]

About MEDIA:
NEVER BELIEVE IN WHAT YOU READ & ONLY HALF OF WHAT YOU SEE

 

[kidwaibhai]

this coming from the people who were so gullible that they were dooped into the iraq war. it is amazing how they can over look there humongous failure and lecture our media. they also enforce paranoia of there own people look at how they report on pakistan, iran and arab world.
their arrogance and stupidity has blinded them

 

[muse]

Kidwaibhai


I usually read you, however; I am suprised by your comment - are you suggesting that the quote below is false, not true??

Report published in Time magazine claims rumour reported as fact has become epidemic in Pakistan

Yes, the U.S media certainly played a part in the duping of the public with regards to reasons for going to war against Iraq, however; does that automatically mean that the quote above and report that follows it is not true??

We should examine things by our own measure, right is right regardless of who says so or doesn't, don't you think?

 

[kidwaibhai]

muse,
i completely agree with you that the pakistani media has its faults, there are many incidents of rumors being reported as news. but what angered me, to be honest with you is the tone of the article. the US media when it comes to reporting about others countries falls short.
the only media outlet i think that are really very proffesional and non bias is the BBC and to an extents aljazeera english

 

[muse]

Kidwaibhai


I strongly encourage you to familiarize yourself with perhaps THE SINGLE MOST POWERFUL element of power, that is, INFORMATION OPERATIONS.

If I may, I would suggest to you that there you are not reading these pieces correctly, rather you are not analyzing it correctly - if you should read these in the context of information operations, you may find that they reveal much, even as they seek to influence opinion in a "shape" phase.

Owning the "truth", winning acceptance of the "narrative" you present, can reveal much about the direction you have chosen aqnd the motivation for choosing that direction, motivation for not choosing another direction -- do all of us a favor, become a expert at information operations and learn from this operation.

 

[kidwaibhai]

i am very much interested in learning about this topic in the summer break would you recommend some books that i might read.
i think that the army has learned a little bit of information operations wouldn't you agree with me?

 

[muse]

Indeed I would, however; the idea is lost on other organs of the state, but I assure you that it is not lost on the Islamist terrorists -- just pay attention to how they tell their story, how they seek to "own the truth" -- you and I point to their acts of terror, to their use of religion as motivation and justification - no sooner, an enabler will come on and say, "yes, BUT..." this will be followed by the argument that the islamist terrorists exists because the failed state made him a terrorist and that he will stop being a terrorist as soon as his objective is met.

The other narrative you will come across is the islmaist terrorist is kicking *** - and the reality is... however; you will note how cleaverly the terrorists will tap into a general discontent within Muslims about their position in the world, they will tap into the feelings that leave muslims belittled and point how they are fighting the righteous fight -

You will never, NEVER, see them address the FACT that the foremost victim of theirs is the ordinary Muslim -- Notice, have you seen anything in the media which suggest that Talib have any regrets about killing innocent civilians in bombings? Have you everf heard or readin the media any regret for using children as live bombs?? Coincidence you suppose? Ever wonder how it came to be that ordinary Pakistanis could not decide between right and wrong and good and bad? coincidence? No sir, long years of work, after all why does AQ have it's own media arm??

may I request you first familiarize yourself with pieces on the internet ?

I should also request you keep in mind as you read on the internet, how different it OUGHT to be from vulgar propaganda.