How to Lose Integrity and Titillate Viewers
A three-minute segment from a recent episode of Kal Tak, a talk show on Express News hosted by Javed Chaudhry, has been making the YouTube rounds. A discussion, if the television equivalent of a bar-room brawl can be termed as such, between the PPP’s Firdous Ashiq and the PML-Q’s Kashmala Tariq ensues, with newly-appointed Nation editor Shireen Mazari playing the role of a bystander. The video is embedded below and is in Urdu but I cannot provide a translation as doing so would possibly violate Newsline‘s guidelines against the use of foul language. Suffice to say one of the epithets Ashiq bandies about is “Heera Mandi”, a somewhat ironic turn of phrase given Ashiq’s involvement in a dancing scandal.
Now, as aficionados of former law minister Wasi Zafar are well aware, it is hardly uncommon for politicians to indulge in behaviour that would lead to their immediate resignation in other countries. Firdous Ashiq is not the first politician to hurl abuse on national television, and given the poisonous role the electronic media has played in lowering the national discourse, many others will follow.
In fact, it is the role the media plays in fostering and facilitating such level of debate that needs to be roundly criticised and wiped out. Javed Chaudhry had ample opportunity – about two minutes – to cut Ashiq’s mic. Instead, he let her libel Tariq before weakly offering a protest against her language. It is drama such as this which gives a show ‘buzz’, leads to higher ratings and, most importantly, more advertising revenue. The formula is simple: book two politicians who hate each other, sit back and earn a fat pay cheque.
In my post on the media, both local and international, misquoting Pervez Musharraf’s remarks on the use of US aid I had refrained from passing judgment on whether it was media sensationalism or sheer laziness that led to their incompetence. In this instance, there is no reason to withhold opinion. The only reason to allow such behaviour to continue is the media’s insatiable hunger for controversy.
As an aside, congratulations must be offered to Firdous Ashiq and Kashmala Tariq for showing noted hawk Shireen Mazari to be the voice of reason in this televised farce.
The opinions expressed in this article and the views shared by readers in the comment forum below do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance or policies of Newsline.
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i used to work at a show rather similar in format. only we would do reports, and book guests we thought were of substance, and ask questions that would offer ideological labyrinths to the guests. i don’t think i met anyone ever who remembered anything about the show beyond our female anchor.
most of my family wouldn’t watch my show, and would watch capital talk etc because we never had masala to match this.
makes you want to weep.
KK: Glad you found your way here. Always loved your comments on Rs 5. There are some channels that have got the correct talk-show formula (Dawn News and Sama come to mind), but these happen to be among the least popular and financial successful channels. While it is important to blame the talk-show hosts and the channel’s management, I guess we also need to blame ourselves for preferring sensationalism over substance.
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