Journalists working in electronic media need training: Mahmood Sham

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Noted journalist, writer and thinker, Mahmood Sham, has reckoned that the journalists in electronic media are less skilful and trained in comparison to those in the print media and there was a need to hold workshops for their training.

He was replying to questions from participants on the occasion of the launch of his book ‘Indifference in the time of extremism’ held in Karachi. 

On the occasion, the author read out selected excerpts from his book and observed that electronic media did commit errors but there was no doubt about the talent and wisdom of people attached to this sector. 

He was of the opinion that there’s a vast gap of technology between the electronic and print media as electronic is much ahead of print media but those in print media are literary in nature and take advantage of libraries. 

In journalism, he viewed, no one can be made a reporter or sub-editor with out proper training whereas in electronic media get hold of the microphone on the very first day.

He told a questioner that he was satisfied with his career and he didn’t feel repentance on adopting any other profession. 

To a question from the resident editor of Nawa-e-Waqt, Amin Yousuf, Mahmood Sham recalled that the journalists’ movement of early 1970s was much bigger than that of 1978 when newspapers did not publish throughout the country for nine days and the government shunted out 200 journalists. 

Speaking on the occasion Prof Tausif Ahmed said that official secretariat was in vogue even today. He recalled that Mahmood Sham was the first to become victim of attack on press and at that time official secret comes under the purview of treachery. 

Others who put questions to Shamji were Agha Masood, Kazi Asad Abid, Yawar Mehdi and Aijazul Yaqin. Mahmood Sham said that Roedad Khan who today was championing the cause of democracy and revolution had been in the forefront during his time in putting restrictions on him and the press.