Let us look at some headlines from Thursday's papers that reflect the state of the country. "Rs 50 billion lifeline for stock market." Call for urgent review of war against terror", 15 troops killed in Swat ambush", Pakistan has sought help, says IMF", Balochistan peace must for oil exploration: Zardari", Kabul admits holding talks with Taliban", Summit on crisis next month."
These are some indicators of the kind of mood the country is in, and the mood and content of the TV channels. But there are other stories also that are shaping our lives. There is the lawyers movement, and the first anniversary of the November 3 emergency imposed by former President Musharraf is due next week.
There is relentless, countrywide loadshedding that reflects the energy crisis which is crippling the economy. There is a very worrying law and order situation, and of course there are numerous other indicators which imply that Pakistan's scenario is grim, and cheerless, right now.
TV ANCHORS: We seem to have reached a stage where discussion has been initiated in some significant measure on the state of the electronic media. This is what was discussed over Dawn News on Tuesday night in a programme called 30:30 that is handled by Hammad Haidar. Javed Jabbar, a former Information Minister and columnist Nadeem F Piracha were the two participants speaking out their minds.
Interestingly the focus was on TV channels, and the role that Radio channels are playing was overlooked. Infact this is what happens frequently when electronic media is discussed here. That the Radio channels, especially the FM channels are playing a substantial role in enabling people to talk from politics to personal problems and that too live is something that doesn't appear to be getting the attention it deserves.
In looking at the state of the electronic media the major focus was on the point of the freedom of the media that is evident in the country. What is significant is that there are being heard in the media and in society such strong voices contending that the media alone is the cause of what is happening in the country. That the media is responsible for the ills and the chaos of this society. It is so absurd an argument that it ought to be ignored.
The obvious question that comes to mind reads like this. Was everything alright in the country, including the fall of Dhaka, when there was no freedom of expression, or when it was at its bare minimum? Was everything going well with this country when there was no freedom of expression? Or would everything come to normal, and would Pakistan become a problem free, healthy state and society were the freedom to, loose its freedom, and if media men did not point out what was wrong, or if they did not ask the awkward but necessary questions?
There are so many questions that come to mind on this theme. But I would like to refer to a mental health conference in Karachi held last week in which a principal speaker, Brigadier Mowadat Rana, advisor to the armed forces of Pakistan on psychiatry while speaking on the subject of psychotrauma, argued that the TV channels in the country were exceeding their mandate visavis freedom of expression, and attributed the present restlessness and chaos in the country to the manner in which the TV channels were functioning.
In particular he was unhappy with the news and current affairs presentations by the private TV channels, and said that two TV anchors namely, Syed Talat Hussein and Hamid Mir were to be blamed on this count. What was disappointing was the fact that the audience clapped at this and even over lunch there was conversation amongst varied professionals on how, in their opinion, the freedom of expression was being misused for commercial goals.
It is pertinent to state here that there is a section of society where questions about the performance of the private TV channels in particular and the media in general are being raised. The role played by the TV channels instead of being appreciated is being targeted for unfair criticism I wonder why this is happening.
I have noticed that media critics are indulging in a sort of anchor bashing, which is unrealistic. TV anchors are perhaps like newspaper columnists in a limited sense. They have their personal following, which reflects varied sections of society and their preferences.
Good news anchors lend depth, diversity and richness, to their subjects, and enhance the appeal of programmes. If our TV channels have created such good anchors, and indeed they have, it is something to be admired, and acknowledged, instead of envying them or criticising them, making them scapegoats for the wrongs of strategic individuals and institutions in the power structure.
I would like to return to this theme. Right now it is necessary to take notice of a letter to the editor of a national daily (Dawn) on the subject of "credibility of TV channels" which appeared on 23rd October. The letter is worth reading and two paragraphs read thus:"
In my view the irony is that top print media journalists have become TV anchors, including some journalist leaders , they demand freedom for print and electronic media day and night but they utter no word when TV channels issue baseless breaking items and wrong news".
The writer from Karachi further says that "Are there any rules of the game for these channels or is it free for all? This is no press freedom, sir. Is this mad race for breaking news justified... Is there any code of ethics for them? Will any judiciary ever take notice?"
In another article that appeared in Dawn on 23rd October on the subject of "breaking News" in which it is said that "what is needed though is not just less trigger -happy breaking news but news that despite being bad doesn't paint a picture of doom. Fear has never mobilised this nation, it has only let our brightest minds flee abroad."
I have a feeling that the small chorus of criticism against private TV channels that have established credibility, and their popular presenters and anchors who have become household names, may be heard more in the days ahead.
Perhaps there are some quarters in the country that are unhappy with the growing strength of the media, the TV channels in particular. We may need to return to this theme in the weeks ahead.
HASAN NISAR'S CHAURAHA: The often angry and always outspoken well known Urdu columnist Hasan Nisar who is always worth hearing for his views, even if one disagrees with him, has come up with a very interesting programme called Chauraha. This is also the name of his column in the daily Jang. He has been appearing on the channels in various panel discussions, and now plays the role of a compere/anchor.
The programme has individuals from all walks of life---from the learned to the ignorant, from the economist to the common man, who discuss the issues of the every day living, and the ambience created is that a street corner. Chauraha, which means crossroads, is depicted through the set that is created for this conversation, which is not high row and high tech as some panel discussions are want to be and have to be.
The programme on Sunday (19th October) that I saw in my channel surfing had one participant saying that it was necessary that the people get disappointed because that is when they can be driven to stages where they will ensure that society changes. Of course there was the familiar bitter, sarcastic tone that Hasan Nisar is known for, and at one point he said that it seems that even the astrological stars are not standing by us in our difficult times.
One of the participants in this meeting was an astrologer, who also said that after 1971, the year 2008 was the most difficult for this country, and there were still a couple of months to go. He was hopeful that 2009 would be somewhat better.
Interestingly there was also a reference to President Asif Ali Zardari and his date of birth and the astrologer said that he didn't know it, and that there were more than a couple of dates that were believed to be the actual ones.
The noted economist Qaisar Bengali was also one of the participants until he had to leave midways as he had to catch a flight for Islamabad. There was a retired Tehsildar and a retired Thanedar in the round table lending to the discussions, as much realism as was possible.
POETRY ON THE CHANNELS: At a time when our TV channels are understandably focusing on politics, and economics, and the mood of the news and current affairs channels is grim and gray, and tense and turbulent, it is asking for too much to desire literature on the channels. Waqt TV has a literary programme, which appears interesting at times.
But that is not the point of focus here. It is "Bazmey Shairi" that I saw on the Metro One channel, which seems to have improved in its overall programming content. I noticed that the news and current affairs programmes on this channel have become absorbing as compared to what they were earlier this year.
This particular Bazme e Shairi was evidently a repeat telecast, as there were repeated references to the monsoon season, which has come and gone. But it was still worth watching. The compere was a young mild mannered, soft-spoken, Quratul Ain, whose gentleness of expression did not diminish the firmness with which she spoke. And there were two poets for this programme, namely Nida Ali and Rafi Khayal, both of who were interesting and knowledgeable.
The conversation between the three young participants centred on poetry, and mushairas, and also why the Aalmi Urdu Mushaira in Karachi did not invite the younger and lesser-known Urdu poets to recite.
Why was the same old list of poets repeated year after year, was a complaint that poet Rafi Khayal had and added that it was because he was financially not so well off, and did not have the social status and influence of other poets that he was not being invited to the major mushairas any more. He claimed that sometimes poets were asked to pay Rs 10000 each to be able to recite in these major mushairas, and added that he would infact want to be paid to recite in these events.
Nida Ali, had forgotten to bring her handbook which had her poetry and therefore had to rely on her memory for the poetry that she recited, but added light-heartedly that she could instead take on the responsibility of carrying on a long drawn conversation. She said that she had a reputation of being talkative, and did not mind it either.
In the context of pseudo poets and bogus literary people, Nida Ali, who had a sense of humour as well, she said that Hazrat Ali had said that "jhoot Ki Umr Kam Hoti Hai, Jald Purana ho jata Hai". The young poetess also recited her poetry from time to time.
Poet Rafi Khayal, whose collection of verse, "Tujhey Kya Maloom" has also been published recently, recited his ghazal of the same name, which has also been rendered by singer Ghulam Abbas.
TAHIRA SYED: It was a pleasant surprise to see the singer Tahira Syed on the ARY Digital morning show on Wednesday (22nd October) in which she conversed effortlessly and gracefully, besides rendering briefly that unforgettable Malika Pukhraj classic "Abhi Tau Main Jawan Hoon" also.
Not only was the anchor Shaista Wahidy thrilled to be talking to Tahira Syed but even the viewers who phoned in were excited that they were able to talk to Tahira Syed. The singer who has almost four decades of professional singing to her credit, said that she would accept any offer that came from India, and recalled that she had recorded some music there, quite some time ago. Tahira Syed looked impressive, as always, and spoke with a blend of reserve and casualness, which contribute much to her overall dignified presence.
MY FAVOURITE COMMERCIAL: Sometimes I don't like some of the TV commercials. The reasons are many and of course I can be subjective. At times the concept is hackneyed, at times the execution is bland, and at other times it is all too lacking in aesthetics. Even the most commercial of commercials can be aesthetically appealing, from beginning to end.
That the television commercial is vital and integral to the economics of the media, and TV channels in this case is too obvious to be underlined. So it doesn't matter if some TV commercials put off other TV viewers and me. No names, please.
However there is one commercial that of the Everyday milk power that is used with tea. I like the commercial as it not only marketing a product but also reflecting a rather lovely relationship between a young husband and wife. I am sure the commercial is well known,but it still merits some detail here.
The young husband apparently goes off to work without telling his wife. So when he returns he makes the tea, and says sorry to her, as he sits alongside. She asks him what was he sorry for. He says it was for having gone to work without informing her he was leaving home. So she says that "you have learnt how to make good tea, while making up for your mistakes and persuading me successfully (the Urdu word is "manana" that she uses.
He responds promptly by saying that "you have brought in the magic by the use of the milk power " This is followed by body language that reflects an inner harmony between the couple, and the wife's happy facial expression is so feminine. And this is something that is often lacking, in the commercials that show women of all ages .In showing women as being confident and daring, what has been lost is the quality and appeal of being womanly and feminine. Take your choice. (nusratnasarullah0@hotmail.com)