tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110720279777344316.post341422842703308254..comments2023-10-28T17:24:41.752+05:00Comments on Cafe Pyala: The Discovery of PakistanXYZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17120968316026139059noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110720279777344316.post-63697042024003917152010-08-21T02:37:21.353+05:002010-08-21T02:37:21.353+05:00Spot on, as somebody said. The national sentiment ...Spot on, as somebody said. The national sentiment has become one of helplessness and dependence.<br /><br />I am not saying immense resources are not needed to cope up with the calamity but are we doing at least as much as we can.<br /><br />Like you said, the disaster is unbearable, but looking forward to a monetary compensation for every incident is setting a bad precedent.Tehseen bawejanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110720279777344316.post-45699156340657214262010-08-20T06:27:46.411+05:002010-08-20T06:27:46.411+05:00i am no fan of the media but just to give the flip...i am no fan of the media but just to give the flip side of the argument, may be the media is (consciously or unconsciously)showing all this misery and suffering (in light of the above discussion, may be in an exaggerated way) just to rally support and help gather more funds for the flood relief along with creating awareness in the world about this disaster. It is no hidden truth that the world has been really slow to respond to the pakistan flood crisis due to the whole transparency and the lack of credibility of the govt run flood relief efforts. So projecting all this suffering may actually help in a more urgent and stronger response from the world community to help pakistan in this hour of dire need. We all know that the magnitude of this catastrophe was such that even much more prosperous countries than pakistan would also have have been in need of all the aid that they can get their hands on. <br />Yes they shouldnt be barging in the relief camps in the middle of the night to with the camera to show victims misery). But showing a balanced view of the magnitude of the disaster and suffering should help pakistan get more attention from the international community to help it cope better with this catastrophe.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110720279777344316.post-31517161316555233892010-08-20T04:44:00.578+05:002010-08-20T04:44:00.578+05:00A timely and excellent post and excellent discussi...A timely and excellent post and excellent discussion in comments section.Vanguardhttp://2paisa.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110720279777344316.post-60009213143827214632010-08-20T02:30:11.374+05:002010-08-20T02:30:11.374+05:00@TLW: Some thought provoking ideas in your two com...<b>@TLW:</b> Some thought provoking ideas in your two comments.<br /><br />On the rural-urban divide, you may be right that things will sort themselves out. But I'm not entirely sure: keep in mind the general urban (mis)perception that people in the rural areas do not think for themselves during elections and are forced to follow their local landlord. This is patently false even if you take a look at election results but that has not changed this prevalent line of thinking in the media.<br /><br />On the issue of 'complaints culture', I'm not sure I agree with you. On the one hand, what we often see is not 'let a thousand flowers bloom' and a 'toleration of dissent' but almost a hegemony of one (often knee-jerk)point of view. Secondly, are you implying that the army and it's proxies feel politically helpless? Nothing that I see makes me come to that conclusion. I also do not make the case that all complaining should be edited out. Far from it. You are right that valid grievances should find space in the media to keep officials / elected reps on the ball. My only beef is with superfluous complaints than confuse the issue for general viewers trying to get a grip on what is actually going on and for the officials / elected reps who end up getting caught in silly diversions rather than dealing with the crux of the matter.<br /><br />Btw I agree that all the points you raise about identifying the larger issues are things that the media should be raising.XYZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17120968316026139059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110720279777344316.post-1994215974845237972010-08-20T02:10:36.204+05:002010-08-20T02:10:36.204+05:00@Anon803: I really don't know why Cafe Pyala p...<b>@Anon803:</b> I really don't know why Cafe Pyala posts are not shared more on Facebook... I guess people share what they want to share.<br /><br />We do have a marginal presence on Facebook (under the name CPM Pyala) now but managing all these things is a time-consuming job and we already have our hands full with the blog and now Twitter. Will see if we can set up a 'fan' page though.<br /><br />Meanwhile, I hope you have noticed that we do allow sharing on Facebook right from the blog itself. There's a box under every post that allows this directly.<br /><br />We should probably put these administrative things up as a post.<br /><br /><b>@Ahsan:</b> Had tried to steer clear from imputing motives to channels in this particular case. You could be right but I think we sometimes also forget the rapid and unplanned way this media boom has come about with staffers receiving little to no training.<br /><br /><b>@AA:</b> Thanks. You say: "Relief camp administrators must have the powers and the willingness to stop media coverage at certain hours especially during food distribution and evenings. Vulnerable groups must be protected from humiliation."<br /><br />While I sympathize with your point, let's also see the pitfalls in enforcing such measures. They could be used to hide mismanagement and corruption as well. Plus trying to control an indignant television media is probably an even more difficult than trying to control the desperate and hungry. I think the solution will have to come from educating the media itself rather than imposing restrictions on their work.XYZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17120968316026139059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110720279777344316.post-90301092672544038342010-08-20T01:56:45.981+05:002010-08-20T01:56:45.981+05:00@Anon415: Thank you.
@karachikhatmal: It's in...<b>@Anon415:</b> Thank you.<br /><br /><b>@karachikhatmal:</b> It's interesting how vox pops are generally used: to reinforce the basic thrust of the story as conceived by the reporter from his or her own 'gut' feeling. The formula for a 'balanced sample' is two for your point of view, one against (though local channels usually do not even bother with such a 'balance'). Not using them at all, however, may be a bit harsh - since they do add some human 'colour' to sometimes dry stories but I agree with you that people often react in the way they assume is expected of them. A similar situation arises with the language the 'common man' uses - they'll be speaking quite normally to you but as soon as they are on camera, the convoluted phrasing reminiscent of PTV Khabarnamas comes out. People just assume this is how they are meant to speak for television. <br /><br />Of course, it can also be argued that people also assume the media has a certain power and access to the establishment / officialdom that they lack and use it to get their grievances across. But given some of the silly nature of complaints and the unanimous and over-the-top blaming of whatever government's in power, I suspect the motives are often more 'doing what is expected' than anything else. <br /><br />But part of the problem with vox pops is also of course, as you mention, that they are done in a hurry. Often, in fact, cameramen are sent out to get them on their own while the reporter stays behind and works in the studio. The solution to this I think you touch upon yourself - probing a little bit with the questions, rephrasing questions in the face of cliched answers, etc.<br /><br />But none of it takes away the need for the desk - the editors - to exercise editorial control and sift out the crap. Isn't that's what the editors are supposed to be doing: editing?XYZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17120968316026139059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110720279777344316.post-33520850987847329842010-08-20T00:32:04.272+05:002010-08-20T00:32:04.272+05:00when if pressed, they would grudgingly concede the...<i>when if pressed, they would grudgingly concede their own failings, or those of their immediate patrons</i><br /><br />Personally, I'm always for letting people complain. Pakistanis always have been complaining since time immemorial. My take which sort of dovetails with yours, is that Pakistanis stick purely to complaining, they don`t seem to move beyond it. Like political organisation, or taking responsibility for some part of their problem. Maybe journalists can start adding questions of personal responsibility of the people being interviewed to their list of questions. Pyala`s part about editing "inflammatory but often vague rhetoric" might come into this. However, here's the thing; we have a flood with millions of victims, many of the people who got effected were living in risky areas. The poor population of these areas had sky rocketed. Why were they living there? Why were there so many of them? Why don't we have the money to spend for things that could have changed or controlled them? Who prioritises the expenses? Do we have any control beyond parliament on these people who decide our expenditures? How do we change these peoples minds? If parliament is not completely able to rein in these people, maybe the vox pop of people complaining can have some effect on them.<br /><br />Ask why didn't folks move out when the warnings became serious, edit the parts out that grumble about Islamic Revolution, but let the people incharge know that they have to be on the ball.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110720279777344316.post-81058835925270611662010-08-19T23:53:20.645+05:002010-08-19T23:53:20.645+05:00TLW:
" The Pakistan Army ... staff(s) and ru...TLW:<br /><br />" The Pakistan Army ... staff(s) and run(s) most television news organisations, they seem to be running a political opposition operation rather than straight up news reporting, encouraging any characteristic that would demoralise the PPP, ANP and (possibly) MQM and anyone who associates with these parties. My guess is they feel politically helpless and they are trying to project it."<br /><br />while i don't disagree with any of your points, i think you are missing out on something. people like me weren't part of the army's coitre of stalwarts, so its not like i was looking for complaining people all the time. instead, as soon as we would turn the camera on and ask people for their opinion, they would blame the government. there were a lot of times when if pressed, they would grudgingly concede their own failings, or those of their immediate patrons etc. <br /><br />but you rarely have time for that when you are seeking to gather vox pops (shots of the 'common man' voicing his opinion) <br /><br />again i am not denying that 'journalists' chop and change soundbites to suit their own agenda, but still there is a case of people blaming the government in order to hide their own shortcomings.<br /><br />(i am also not talking about these complaining comments in the context of the floods)karachikhatmalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10230156724789704199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110720279777344316.post-40479436474137538852010-08-19T23:09:21.707+05:002010-08-19T23:09:21.707+05:00why are not pyala's articles more shared on fa...<i>why are not pyala's articles more shared on facebook???</i><br /><br />Maybe Cafe Pyala should look into that. Facebook seems to be a new virtual socials commons.<br /><br />Two things I took away from this well written blog entry are the urban rural divide, and the excessive propensity for complaining. On the first one, I gotta agree, but you shouldn't be too discouraged. Remember, in 2004, the media in India called the May elections in favour of the BJP. They were left with egg all over their face as they realised that they represented an urban bias where the India shining propaganda had defeated competing ways of thought but the countryside felt differently.<br />Our country is proportionally the most urbanised of all in South Asia, with a third of the population being city based. So a rural perspective should be considered to news presentation/analysis.<br /><br />As for the complaining issue, I'm of two minds about it. Firstly, I think there should be an airing of multiple points of view. If nothing else, it brings about some sort of tolerance for competing viewpoints in society. And since we're all doubtful how much influence parliament has on our own <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan_Army" rel="nofollow">"deep state"</a>, it is quite possible that the way society's increasing religiosity affected the armed forces, maybe society's becoming more tolerant of dissent will also affect the armed forces personnel.<br /><br />And the army is where the bad side of a sort of nihilistic complaining comes in. The best approximation to call it would be the verbalised angst of the non-voting middle classes. The Pakistan Army seems to be their preferred political party of choice (or some rightward variation of the PML-N), and as they staff and run most television news organisations, they seem to be running a political opposition operation rather than straight up news reporting, encouraging any characteristic that would demoralise the PPP, ANP and (possibly) MQM and anyone who associates with these parties. My guess is they feel politically helpless and they are trying to project it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110720279777344316.post-33075442313015237012010-08-19T16:55:47.571+05:002010-08-19T16:55:47.571+05:00Great post, xyz.
This kind of mindset is not lim...Great post, xyz. <br /><br />This kind of mindset is not limited to flood coverage alone though. I have specially felt a rise in whining, complaining, hating-the-country rhetoric in recent months, possibly led by the media. Hate to admit but the media in our country does have a pervading influence over the masses who have little or no critical thinking skills thanks to poor or no education. Floods have only exacerbated the situation.<br /><br />I avoid watching flood coverage for more than a few minutes every day. It's demeaning to see hungry people falling over each other for food, scrambling to grab relief packages being thrown off helicopters - spare a thought for their self respect.<br /><br />A course in ethics of approaching vulnerable populations is also not a bad idea. Relief camp administrators must have the powers and the willingness to stop media coverage at certain hours especially during food distribution and evenings. Vulnerable groups must be protected from humiliation.<br /><br />How can we make this happen?AAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110720279777344316.post-47644429133384977632010-08-19T10:06:19.935+05:002010-08-19T10:06:19.935+05:00Absolutely fantastic analysis of the current situa...Absolutely fantastic analysis of the current situation! The letter has actually spoken my heart out. I am dejected and dismayed to see this sort of media coverage that is not just inducing discouragement into the people of Pakistan but also sending negative vibes to the international doners resulting in a dried up response to the catastophy. <br />I not only doubt the credibility of people like Shahid Masood, Javed Chaudhry, Kamran Khan etc but now I also doubt their intentions. The most unfortunate outcome of the event could be a national inclination towards Army as the last resort only owing to the perception our media is successfully creating in the unfortunate naive minds, most of which were nutured during the Zia regime.Ahsannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110720279777344316.post-43813901498687999782010-08-19T08:03:15.381+05:002010-08-19T08:03:15.381+05:00why are not pyala's articles more shared on fa...why are not pyala's articles more shared on facebook???Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110720279777344316.post-1256717363318318002010-08-19T07:16:40.148+05:002010-08-19T07:16:40.148+05:00very brave thing to say in face of the inevitable ...very brave thing to say in face of the inevitable PC backlash, but it has to be said. every report anyone does on a social issue, the vox pop section involves people complaining about the hakoomat not doing anything.<br /><br />after a while i made sure never to include a vox pop, mainly because even well meaning people are reduced to whining about the government in front of a camera. it may sound juvenile, but the point you raise about the media creating a nation of complainers is very valid, and disturbing. that said, most reporters edit out the decent vox pops, so we can't claim this to be representative.karachikhatmalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10230156724789704199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1110720279777344316.post-54636109264498879182010-08-19T04:15:58.732+05:002010-08-19T04:15:58.732+05:00Spot on. Realistic and extremely well-written!Spot on. Realistic and extremely well-written!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com