Speaking about the media in Pakistan and its association with politics, veteran journalist and television show host Talat Hussain said the media has shifted from being a platform to disseminate information to a player in power politics.
“Large part of the media is associated with political groups if not individual politicians,” Hussain stressed, adding that connection between media and political groups is expressed in terms of their alignment, their policies and who gets how much space on air.
“It’s a mutual game of benefiting each other,” he said.
Calling the relationship between media houses and political groups a comfortable and cosy one, Hussain said media in Pakistan is not an agent of change and that it reinforces the power of the groups they are aligned to.
Explaining this link further, the journalist said that many politicians have gain popularity in the public eye just because of their media presence.
“From being little dwarfs with no constituency to mighty analysts, I think media has contributed a lot to this change,” Hussain said, adding that people who can’t even win one seat have had more one-on-one interviews than other known personalities.
“While some have sadly been cut down to nearly nothing,” he added.
Talking about the media’s role as a change maker, Hussain said people’s tolerance to accept truth has diminished.
“The only thing they want to listen to is the one that suits their convenience; people may listen to an alternate viewpoint but when it starts to conflict with their ideas, they will simply turn away,” Hussain explained.
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