✍️ Black Sheep in Journalism: Pakistan’s Tragedy and the ‘Photo Session Mafia’
By: Honey bin Tariq
Journalism is called the fourth pillar of the state—an institution entrusted with the duty of being the voice of the people, revealing the truth, and keeping a check on power. However, it is deeply regrettable to state that in Pakistan, this sacred profession is now engulfed by a market of vested interests and "Black Sheep," turning it into the nation’s biggest tragedy.
The Mafia of Black Sheep: Bribery, Blackmail, and Yellow Money
A dark side of today’s Pakistani journalism is the organized groups running a mafia under the guise of journalism. These people exploit the power of the pen and camera, using them as a means for bribery and blackmail. They loot the public, suppress the truth, and use their positions to facilitate corrupt elements.
This mafia’s nexus is not just at the lower levels but is evident on a larger scale. Major channels and newspapers are caught in the race of the commercial era, where the lust for advertisements dictates everything. These institutions often engage in the process of whitewashing black money for their financial gains, resulting in the complete disregard for ethics and professional principles.
The Tools of the Establishment and Bureaucracy
When it comes to influence, our media commits another major offense. These so-called 'media persons' have essentially become the tools of the bureaucracy and the establishment. Their job is not to uncover facts, but to promote the agenda of powerful circles. They are busy suppressing the truth, propagating specific narratives, and molding public opinion according to the wishes of their masters. In this scenario, the word ‘journalism’ becomes meaningless.
The ‘Photo Session Mafia’: A Manifestation of Mental Regression
The most repugnant and pathetic aspect of this self-serving journalism is what you rightly termed the "Photo Session Mafia." These are the so-called journalists who try to prove their importance by taking pictures (photos) with politicians and bureaucrats, and then circulate these images publicly in a desperate attempt to elevate their stunted stature.
This act cannot be attributed to a journalist; it is, in reality, an open display of mental regression and a slavish mindset. Such elements are perpetuating a cycle of generational servitude, where instead of seeking freedom through the power of the pen, they are proving their loyalty at the threshold of power. It is true that this pursuit of cheap fame is a mentally pathological behaviour that insults the core essence of professional journalism.
I, as a member of this profession, express my most severe contempt and infinite condemnation 🖐️ for this type of bought-out, self-serving journalism, and the "Photo Session Mafia" created in its name.
Eradication and the Way Forward
The survival of genuine journalism in Pakistan is only possible if these Black Sheep are eradicated. This task requires the collective effort of media owners, journalistic organizations, and the public itself. We must strengthen the journalism of principles and truth to push the blackmailing mafia and the tools of the establishment out of the field.
If we do not awaken today, this fourth pillar of the state will turn into a poisonous pillar that will hollow out the country's democratic structure from within. Cleansing is essential for the restoration of true freedom and the sanctity of journalism
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