GEO is as GEO Does
GEO News continues to confound me. It’s worthy of praise and a major source of irritation. Part of the Jang Group, it features some interesting talk shows and is usually first to break news in Pakistan.
But all too often the issue of journalistic responsibility escapes the mind of its editors.
Its absence is visible in what I call the “GEO bump.” If there’s a terrorist attack, GEO automatically adds 25% to the casualties.
It’s also visible in the GEO news ticker. The ticker a test arena for highly speculative, even conjured up stories. Its English translations are always funnily worded. Surely, even an intern from GEO English could serve as a volunteer copy editor.
Then there’s its editorial policy, which seems to change every other day. No one typifies GEO’s ADD-induced editorial policy than Hamid Mir. The real question about Hamid Mir is: Is he dumb or so smart that he plays dumb so well? One day he’s supporting the judges; the next day he’s mouthing PPP talking points on parliamentary sovereignty. There has to be some sort of rationale behind the madness.
And finally, just to show GEO’s anything goes approach toward news, yesterday on the seventh anniversary of the September 11 attacks, it broadcast both an Urdu-dubbed version of Loose Change, the 9/11 conspiracy theory documentary, as well as its regular Voice of America content! I think that says it all.
A more sober — sometimes too sober — alternative is Aaj TV. Its rise in the past year has been the result of the quality of its news reporting and public affairs talk shows — an encouraging sign for those who hope for a free, responsible press in Pakistan.
Competition and a public that demands media accuracy helps provide a check on tabloid journalism. There are a over a dozen other television news channels to choose from in Pakistan. The list grows seemingly daily. Let’s hope Pakistani viewers do their part and make the right choice with their remote controls.
Arif, you know many people, now a days, are GEO addict … just like me.
We may know that GEO exaggerates, but we can’t live without it.
And unfortunate thing (for those who don’t like GEO) is that such Geo Addicts are pretty much in numbers : – )
Dear Arif. Nice post. The private electronic media in Pakistan is about six years old and most of the reporters, anchors were newspaper reporters and editors. The element of sensationalism has been introduced in the growing electronic media by the reporters of Urdu newspapers. It is built in an Urdu language reporter. Plus hardly anybody (or may be a tiny fraction) is trained or have received education at the university. Most of the people learn the tricks of the trade from seniors, just like a mecahnic trains his “chota”. So what can you expect from chotays dominating the channels out there. I hope that the media would improve after some years provided people also learn and show maturity and responsibilty.
Aamir, yes you’re right. Right now the politics of Pakistan and its surrounding countries is far more dramatic than any movie writer could script it. And as much as there is to criticize about the channel, there is a reason why you, I, and so many others have GEO on for much of the day. It’s the best outlet for the drama…but all too often, it’s just dramabaazi and exaggeration/misreporting.
Masroor, thank you. I agree with you totally about the private electronic media being a natural outgrowth of the Urdu print press. GEO’s flaws are shared with other publications in the Jang Group. And the weaknesses do spread out into the larger Urdu print press, but I find the Jang Group’s volatility particularly striking.
great post! i loved masroor’s comment about chotay – its exactly how it is in our media. i think you can understand better if you relate it to how we get work done at any workplace in pakistan… people just do whatever sticks and leave the rest to fate. our media is exactly like that. we need a charter or code of conduct if the media is to retain its credibility
Arif,
I think you are missing the point.
Like the best Lectureres at Univeristy and the best teachers at school,Hamid is playing the ultimate devils advocate in order to promote a debate.
Likewise, Geo’s editorial policy,or lack thereof as you say, is what exactly how an independent media outlet should be. Neither taking one side of an argument or the other, but advocating both arguments firtsly to inititiate a debate,but secondly and most importantly, by not taking a definitive position, the reporter is doing exactly that, reporting.
They are putting forward both sides of the debate and as the viewers can not make out which view the presenter is for, they are forced to consider both on their merits and come to an informed decision, without having been lead there by the presenter…which would of course be akin to propoganda.
The media is such a powerful tool, therefore its power has to be harnessed and directed very carefully and I for one, believe that Geo is doing a very job and in as much as can be expected, is doing a good job.
Razwan
London