Journalistic Ethics
By Amin Rehman • Jan 19th, 2010 • Category: Politics • 4 CommentsSometimes you try to constraint yourself from saying something but some emotions or words compel you to break the shackles and start writing. Cricket is my passion and when I started writing for TPS, I decided that cricket will be my only interest. I wrote about four articles on cricket and as I was browsing randomly on TPS, I saw some unbelievable words in the headlines of an article by some Gentleman Umer Toor. I could not stop myself and quickly read the whole article and then looked at his previous posts.
Mr.Toor clearly has affiliation to someone because when you look at the Headings of his articles one name is consistently appearing there. I don’t have any problem in affiliations because they show your strong character, loyalty and honesty but your affiliations should not hurt feelings of common people like me. You may be from a group of near and dear ones or trying to be part of select group or more loyal than king but don’t play with the emotions of others. Your language should have at least some minimum ethical standards and mudslinging, nepotism and favoritism should not be your agenda.
Pakistan has very few heroes and we must learn to respect them. What I have observed in USA is the strong culture of mutual respect and appreciation of the services between politicians, civil servants, army and even common people. Everyone publicly appreciates each other in every meeting, in the press and in the media despite political differences. Whenever someone asks a question, its quite customary to appreciate the question first and then answer it and the practice starts from pre-school level in the Schools and continues till death. The so called materialistic society has much better ethical standards in society for each other. My wife and daughter are much safe in this society than my own country where they cannot even go to market.
I never intended this article to divert to American society but was forced to compare because they respect their heroes and don’t humiliate them. I am more concerned about the language being used in current affairs live programs on TV and in the press. The blogging is much more open field but let us impose self restrictions and condemn such behavior.
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I was born at a remote village in Pakistan called Mandi Bhalwal which is near Sarai Alamgir/Jhelum. I was raised by parents with lots of love and care but with excellent values and discipline.
I started my practical life through a Government job and learnt a lot during my professional years.
I shall be writing on TPS because I have some free time now. I live in beautiful Virginia, USA with my lovely family.
Please do send me your comments,opinions and suggestions.
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it was a nice article, i usually don’t read much about social articles. But the thing i felt here, and want to comment is, Our people always want to WIN, although the feeling of Winning is the best of all. But we have to learn to play the game from all aspects. We have to take care about our hero’s, once you said some one hero,…. do treat him/her like hero. Don’t blame him, but if you want to, do blame in a very ethical and positive manner. And also i want to say that our real culture is really better than in America, but we don’t even have that real culture physically in our society. We are now semi cultured….. We have to take a much care now.
I do agree Ammar about your observation on culture but where is that culture now. I was born and raised in a culture of respect for elders, peace, tolerance, mutual acceptance and there were no religious divides. I feel so sorry to see our nation converting into most intolerable society of all times.
Americans respect their heroes? Are you really serious? There are many examples contrary to your claim but I will just give one. Have you read or listened to Yankees how they make fun of Jesus?
And this is my birthright to say what I want. I am a free man. Have I scolded you upon the fact that you wrote a full article against mine? No, because I respect your freedom of speech.
I guess every society and every place has its own plus and minus points. Pakistan is dearer to us than we ever imagine. It runs in our blood. The culture we are so quickly losing is something we love. This feeling of loss is i guess the factor which is making us lose hearts. Situation has been bad, but still I prefer to look at the brighter side. Pakistan will survive the bad patch, and we will inshaAllah be a successful nation in every aspect. Thats what i pray for. How it will happen, God only knows!