i have stopped watching tv because of these,absurd kind of talk shows and other programs.These talk shows have Pessimistic approach, hence these are making people sick and hopeless day by day.

I think there are are more than a hundred channels to chose from including news, movie, entertainment, sports etc. However, however much one might malign the old PTV which I grew up with, I have never ever seen the quality of entertainment provided by the PTV in their dramas and comedy programmes like Fifty Fifty, Ankahi, Tanhaiyan, Waris, Dhoop Kinaray etc even during the time of the strictest censorship regime imaginable. Now, instead of such brilliance we have to contend with a poor alternative in the form of the various talk shows for entertainment purposes. Anyone who thinks that these talk shows are anything but cheap, roadside entertainment has to be deluded.

I would also like to point out one thing that always irritate me while watching these news chanels i.e., they all are busy in showing NEGATIVE things for example Bomb Explosion, Accident, Pathetic conditions of Government Infrasture (hospitals, educational institutions, Electric Supply, etc) no one is trying to potray what is really happening around us other then these negative approaches. Every chanel feels proud that they have exclusively broadcasted some bad news first and they keep on showing it again and again.

What I mean here is that they should have a balanced approach, in addition to all the negative happenings broadcasts they should also include what a normal citizen of our country facing in his daily life like there are different good things also which need to be appreciated like how in these economic conditions some organizations are showing progress in their field or how people are enjoying there life in different cities of Pakistan busy in Fun Fairs, School Prize Distribution, Sports etc.

If talk shows are really that bad in your opinion, then how come you went and became a part of the said show? If you say that any journalist can become an analyst these days, then don’t you think the same verdict could apply also in your own case? sorry but it doesn’t make sense.

Dear Sheyma

Great topic once again

While i agree most of the things in your article, i must also say we are lucky today that at least we have these channels and media is still learning and trying to do its job.

As i know we have more than 50 channels today but i remember the days growing up in Pakistan in early 80’s when we had only one Channel PTV and government of the time, ruled us with the name of Islam and fed whole nation with Jihadi slogans, fruits of which we are bearing today as a nation.

We should also show some positive side of Pakistan as well – all is not negative.

There are many Pakistanis i know who started with humble jobs and became highly successful respected Entrepreneurs. So showing on a Channel how an Engineer became a CEO is great, i’m sure our younger generation will learn something from such stories.

Great topic. Thanks to an overdose of news channels and programmes it is amply clear that in Pakistan (or at least in Karachi) one does not have to have achieved very much to become a public figure. We need to stop settling for mediocrity. A start would be a change of faces. Difficult perhaps in the context of entertainment related context but at least for business and political shows I see no reason why channels hesitate to invite academics (with a research background) who are knowledgeable about the topic of discussion.

One of the good points about media is that we now have to some extent public accountability of our leaders. However some media agencies tend to be biased when they see $$$.
Media needs to play very responsible, truthful and unbiased role. They also need to act accordingly based on the situation surrounding us.

I remember when there was earthquake in 2005, and a building fell down in Islamabad, media created a big hype, and announced that everybody should go there and help. So everybody went and there was huge traffic jam, and ambulances had tough time getting through. Most of the people probably had good intentions (the TV crew and the public), however there was no discipline or proper direction and it was also a new situation faced by media.

Furthermore media should do positive reporting as indicated by many other posts.

The irresponsible use of the freedom that was given to the media is indeed sad. What is most irksome is that the media talk shows reinforce a minset that is inimical to the larger interests of the country i.e. generally Pro-Taliban and viciously anti-American. Damn the consequences of such recklessness as long as the networks roll in dough.

It will take some time before these talk show hosts and shows mature. The stuff said in the argument is pretty much universal. Even in USA, there are talk show host that can not differentiate between facts and opinions, and confuses the audience. So its part of human nature to exploit facts – not a good thing though. It will take around 10 to 15 years before our news channels would be capable of competing with Al Jazeera or Sky News….it will grow slowly. The government can not ban the media forever now, the genie is out of the bottle

In India, we have round about 30 news channels(vernacular+english) showing the kind of news we’re just not interested in! I mean come on 24 x7? day in, day out with graphics that hit you in the eye.

Certain anchors speak so loudly and they won’t even let the panel speak at all.

There needs to be some amount of censorship too, while covering certain major events like mumbai attacks etc!

Some channels cross all limits of disgust with no objectivity left!

The media storm has very recently taken its birth in Pakistan, it will certainly require time to reach the desired level of maturity. In the process we need to encourage, support and guide it to its true distination. I wish we don’t treat it the way we have treated DEMOCRACY in our country.
with best wishes and regards
waris khan

Nice article, sure makes one think what our media in Pakistan is doing.

I would also like to point out one thing that always irritate me while watching these news chanels i.e., they all are busy in showing NEGATIVE things for example Bomb Explosion, Accident, Pathetic conditions of Government Infrasture (hospitals, educational institutions, Electric Supply, etc) no one is trying to potray what is really happening around us other then these negative approaches. Every chanel feels proud that they have exclusively broadcasted some bad news first and they keep on showing it again and again.

What I mean here is that they should have a balanced approach, in addition to all the negative happenings broadcasts they should also include what a normal citizen of our country facing in his daily life like there are different good things also which need to be appreciated like how in these economic conditions some organizations are showing progress in their field or how people are enjoying there life in different cities of Pakistan busy in Fun Fairs, School Prize Distribution, Sports etc.

I think when our media is potraying only negative things not the positive things happening parallel which are creating good atmosphere we will not be able to create good reflection to Pakistanis living abroad but foreign media should have a good image of Pakistan.

I hope I have conveyed my point.

Thanks

It was Establishment of pakistan who created all this Drama of Talk shows to defame and degrade politicins & politics in Pakistan. But Anchors are making money out of it, they take money and gifts from guests. They demand money to invite, a guest, It is best subject and worth rising voice against this nation’s loss of time Plz keep it up

I believe it is very important for our hosts to be able to control the talk shows. What I agree with Shyema is that there is not much different from one channel to the other as the same guest appears in various channels at the same time. If we need to bring quality to these talk shows we must bring in topics which have a real need to be addressed rather than mud slinging by the panelists. I can suggest so many topics to these channels that not only can educate people but also test our panelists who consider themselves expert on everything.

I am getting sick and tired of listening to this mulana sufi or whatever his name is. We are all kafirs and he is the only muslim. ok. fine. happy. Now leave us alone.

It is time the media should stop galvanizing his nonsense.

Most comical shows are where politicians are asked a question. Without exception they look fools. Such as, load shedding will end next year. Which planet are these people living on? Do they know what it takes to plan, finance, design and build a power plant? Someone need to take them to task and ask them for detailed timeline of a single power plant and bring it on line and in operation.

The blogger hints in second para that she has returned from abroad, obviously from West. Has she watched TV there? I suggest her to read “The Greatest Story Ever Sold” by Frank Rich; it is quite instructive. American TV and journalism have gone worse since then, arrogance, ignorance and speculation being the key elements there, particularly when attacking the Muslim world. There are a couple of talk shows on Pakistani channels and I love them. I think the hosts are far more balanced and neutral than their American counterparts. Popular media (that excludes the English speaking elitist media, of course), is one of the good things in new Pakistan, and perhaps our last hope. My suggestion to the blogger:Do your research before you embark on misguiding people.

Talk shows inevitably feature people who can talk nonstop, but who for the most part do not demonstrate deep thinking; the shows are watched mainly by people who somehow find it enjoyable to listen to nonstop gab, but for the most part can’t think for themselves. That’s true in the USA, and elsewhere.

Dear all,

Each society has different layers( same as onion got different layer one after another) similarly, each societal layer consist of people which are different then other societal layer in terms of there habits, needs and social make up. A talk show anchor and guest speaker voices across our culture are being interpreted differently and mainly depends upon viewer

AsalamAlaikum , nice article Shyema
i really appreciate yout thoughts,and everyone’s thoughts who gave comments or shared their thoughts here.
i m a student of media sciences & i only know one thing that right now in our media 70% people are working, they are unprofessional & this is our problem.

Very good article. I totally agree some of of the talk shows especially those relating to lifestyle are a total waste of time. For example why would I be interested in some old fashion models wardrobe with dresses that 99% of the population cannot and would not wear. The list goes on and on.

I am thankful to National Geo, Netgeo Adventure, keep me away from these useless talk shows with nonsense guests. These shows are equal to Lahoree Stage drams both have no story no end just wastage of time.

Thank you for your effort to point out the problems with the media. I am living in the U.S and sometimes I watch ARY or GEO TV. I feel so embarassed to see that most of the people in these Talk shows talk and look idiots. In one show, the host asks questions like’ “Are you married. Do you have boy-friend.” Most of the guest girls react to these questions very stupidly and with the mix of confession, clumsy style, and fake western smile. There is now serious deficit of values, decency,and knowledge. Instead they all are trying to look like western in their own stupid way.

These are not news channels in fact these are entertaintment channels…we have lot of these in India as well…..lolz

When you have few ideas and little knowledge of wider world around us then what other choices does one have then going in circles on issues that have already been talked about some million times before. To make it feel fresh they try sound more gloomy then last time they discussed the same topic.

When they are required to fill the empty spots in this competitive media environment they have a bandage solution i.e. start another talk show.

You media guys out their, here is an idea for you. How about buying some informative documentary films and translating them into Urdu for your viewers. There are quite a few out their available at a very low cost.

I think you have picked up a great topic. In the USA, we are limited to only GEO and ARY; and even then you can imagine that it is extremely frustrating to watch these folks conducting talk shows. I can really feel for the Pakistani’s who have to put up with these non-informative programs. Of course there are exceptions but as always, we have never been leaders; we always like to follow. Hence all these talk shows in competition to the one that is actually somewhat productive. If there is no subject criteria and the objective is filling up air waves, obviously we will see the same person on each channel because he or she is the only one available for this type of nonsense.

By they way I always wonder; how are some of these members of parliament and Ministers available 24×7 to attend these shows. When do they actually work? And when do the spend time with their constituents and family?

I think we started it sometime in India, and like a contagious bimari,it has reached our neighborhood.Electronic media in India for the most part is utter crap.Print is better, especially in the English language.Just an opinion. Thanks.

Initially we had PTV. Then we let loose the air waves to any body and every body. Without any guidlines or sense of resposibilities and proper training the talk shows have become nothing but garbage. Specially, when guests start talking together to drown each others answer and they can not speak Urdu with out speaking English.

Whereas these talk shows are fun to watch with anchors and different ppl giving their point of view, I am really dismayed that they all portray a real conservative point of view. The guests who are invited also share the same viewpoint and if someone tries to give a dissent view he or she is hushed by another question.

As a Pakistani I am ashamed of the attitude these anchors showed after the Mumbai attacks and thereafter the Sri Lankan team attacks and I sincerely apologize to both the Indian and Srilankan people.

For your Courage,I got to say HAT OFF,RESPECT. Well done and keep your Line. We should start a wider Copaign against such Dr Da.. and co.

I especially like the point about talk show host you made. Many of them seem to think that the audience is dumb and will not see through their agenda. Among the Indian hosts I can name an Indian talk show host for example Rajdeep Sardesai(CNN-IBN) whose pseudo secular liberal bias shows through the way he handles guests. I am not saying the host cannot have a position but I am ok they should clearly state their position at the start of the show and not pose as neutral observers. A good talk show host I can think of is Farid Zakaria in CNN who generally try to be genuinely neutral. A talk show host whose agenda is made clear by himself and therefore I can accept his line of questioning is Sean Hannity and to a lesser extent Bill O’Reilly of Fox News. Can someone tall me more about talk shows in Pakistan? are videos available for one to see on the net?

Talk is cheap, we need sincere action.

if a guest is appearing in a repeat telecast with a live telecast in anothere channel, i find nothing wrong in it. I think there are lots of tv channels now a days on air, and if you do not want to see one specific channel , change it. no body forces you to see that channel. You know freedom of choice still prevails in pakistan . i assure you no body will criticize you for not watching any specific channel. What media is showing now a days is the true picture of Pakistan. Pakistan is suffering and we all should admit that.
In the last , i will request you to kindly give some suggestions after criticizing. This would make your column more useful and people can know whats your point and what kind of shows you want to be on air.

Interesting perspective. At the end of the day media is and has to be commercial. There is a great demand for politics these days, political talk shows have become the biggest source of entertainment. As a result the audience is now more politically aware and mature than ever before, and i am sure the media will have to keep maturing to keep up. Even my teenage brother would now rather watch capital talk than cricket or a movie. So i am all for it ! I think its healthy for the society.

I admire the blogger girl

Well that is very debatable and though no one can, in his right mind, defy the importance of communication but at the same time, the most burning question is who will set the rules of this game?

Ghazala Khan
http://www.pakspectator.com

How an engineer becomes a CEO of telecom is still ok , what I want to know is how an engineer becomes strategic defense analyst.
I am reffering to a 40 something , highly vocal fellow , who will label anyone as a Yahud or a CIA Agent. He has his very own version of History and in garb of a Talk Show this forty something guys makes a Twenty something fellow sit and initiate the topic and then just listen to the diatribe of Mr Know it all. Programme should have category of Monologues too. I confess that some of these programs are very entertaining and far better than Sensational News Channels ( TanTanan Types) here in India.

We in India too have toooo many 24x 7 news channels…dishing out trash, making news out of nothing…Interestingly, there is no follow up action over a news story later on …its nothing but fooling people..My sympathies for facing the similar craps by the civil society in Pakistan…

As a Pakistani living abroad its quite alarming how these chat shows totally give u the end of the world .Certain talk show hosts need to be sidelined by advertisers to get an honest quality current issues shows. Well done for taking up this issue on a wider scale

These talk shows have a positive side as well. We now know our politicians much better. The newspaper ’statements’ did not tell us how baseless the ‘ideas’ of our politicians could be when cross-questioned, how can they never understand ‘logic’ and how little they know about issues when they adamantly stick to the ‘party stand’.

you know whats wrong with our TV channels, we have tooooooooooooooooo many news channels, in our country news is the latest form of entertainment. I mean news, reviews and talk shows are good but really there must be a limit. the rest of what can come on TV like lifestyle, music, movies, dramas, stage etc. is all dying out and every day there quality worse then the day before. Why because we are too busy with news and talkshows.

Shyema I am started to admire your style. I have been reading dawn for long time and sick of those columnists who become apologetic and passes excuses for those who obliterate Pakistani image in international community; recent one is for England

Fortunately or unfortunately I just have PTV at my home and situation at PTV news is quite different and/or worst mentioned. all one learns after watching PTV news is SUB THEEK HAI. PTV has a biased approach with guest representing ruling party only. i was shocked to see a local fm station dj doing a current affairs show. totaly non professional!!!!

Talk shows….Media ought to select right people for the right job. There is no dearth of intelletuals in Pakistan. Media has some set of people who are routinely sharing their views and prophecies. Let media invite groups or group of people who competent to talk on these shows.

It is tiring to same old people with mindset. No sir, change your policies. The challenge ahead is enter into new era of thought process. Let us struggle to change public opinion with right guidelines with ground realities. Truth is bitter. Let us start. Let us begin showing mirror to the public. Therse talk shows are fabricated with hidden agenda.

Media, hosts, guests as well as the viewers need to get some sort of maturity to some level before it gets fruitful. Media talk shows are like a child or young horse in Pakistan and can become off the track by all participants quickly. We all should help it to get matured.

Thank God Someone is really there to talk about this out of control bus,other wise i was about to set that i am may be an eligible nominee to appear up as a host of any politics based fighting show.
A screaming female anchor who shouts at her guests as if they are one of her chiildren who is getting late to school comes to mind. I dont have much tolerance to explore any thing else on tv except few,very few subjective talk shows so thats may be enough from me. All we can do is start a campaign against them.

The media has been newly independent in Pakistan, they don

Another interesting topic Shyema. I am sure I can identify two out of those three hosts who act as guests in their own shows.Your blog seems to pick issues that are there in our minds, yet we need to be reminded of them through clear reasoning. I, for one, am a fan of your blog.