Syed Qalbe Muhammad
World Press Freedom Day is celebrated soon after 1st May, and labour rights and press freedom are closely linked. Unfortunately, both face the same issues: fear of job loss, financial instability, low income, lack of government support, and many other challenges that are about 90% similar.
Journalists are part of the labour force of the pen and paper. After digitalization changed the era of journalism, print journalism began shrinking across the globe. Newspaper readership has dropped by nearly 70%, and departments like circulation no longer exist at many papers. Several major magazines have already closed, and others are on life support.
In my opinion, few anticipated that digitalization would affect all forms of journalism, whether print, electronic, or broadcast. The most pressing challenge now is controlling fake news. In digital journalism, there is little control over it. YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and countless other websites spread false information and news every second. This damages public trust and undermines professional journalism.
When a journalist breaks a story, public opinion is often divided: half believe it, half don’t. That is the biggest challenge journalism faces, not only in Pakistan but globally.
In Pakistan, the situation worsens day by day. Newspapers are barely surviving. The government’s advertising quota policy and delayed payments are major causes, along with weak leadership in unions and press clubs. The private sector focuses mainly on digital platforms to capture audience attention. They spend millions on TV commercials and thousands on newspaper ads, but pay very little to the people producing the content.
Thousands of media workers have lost their jobs in recent years, and their families struggle to survive. There is little societal support for journalists. Many journalists’ children have dropped out of school due to unpaid fees, and some have had to beg school management for concessions, which is deeply humiliating.
Most journalists cannot afford their own homes, and rent and other problems have become a constant burden. The continuous pressure has led some journalists to suicide, while others face severe mental health issues. Many diseases are diagnosed late because of lifelong financial instability. Journalism is no longer a full-time job, not only in Pakistan but also across South Asia and many African countries.
Journalism is increasingly used as a tool of the elite, while the critical issues of ordinary people are neglected. Due to low income, little quality content is produced today. Copy-paste culture and overreliance on AI have become common, which is a major setback. No training is conducted, as many large business groups do not invest in journalist training. This neglect risks societal collapse, not only in lower-income countries but also in major economies. The race for views and likes has eroded the ethics of journalism. I often say, “Spoonism is better than Journalism.”
Even in Pakistan, the world’s 5th most populous country, the Karachi Union of Journalists [KUJ] operates largely through WhatsApp groups, which appears unprofessional. Favoritism, lobbying, immature anchors, and the pressure of commercial targets further undermine journalism.
Organizations like the Digital Media Alliance and Sports Journalists of Sindh are making efforts in the field, but most journalist unions and federations face severe financial issues, which is alarming.
Beyond these domestic issues, the global structure of journalism is under strain. Many journalists have been martyred, injured, or arrested in the Palestine-Israel conflict, and later in the Iran-Israel and US conflicts. The fake news market remains on top, which is alarming. Some international media groups have amplified extreme losses in the Islamic Republic of Iran, while downplaying the war’s effects on civilians. Others still promote a war agenda and leave humanity behind.
Even outside of war, several journalists have died in traffic accidents. Investigations often remain pending for long periods, leaving it unclear whether they were planned murders or accidents. In either case, the victims are journalists.
The fourth pillar of society is near collapse, but recovery is possible through combined and honest efforts. Journalists alone cannot do this. We need stakeholders across society to step up.
Institutions like the Sustainable Development Policy Institute [SDPI], International Alert, Goethe-Institut, Reuters, the Centre for Excellence in Journalism [CEJ], Journalists for Democracy and Human Rights, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan [HRCP], and the International Federation of Journalists [IFJ] are working on journalist training. But more continuous efforts are needed. If any organization or institute would like further suggestions, we are ready to provide our services.
