Tips for Being a Journalist in Pakistan

Pakistan is a fascinating country for news, but also a dangerous one for reporters. Here are some things to keep in mind if you decide to go report.

BACKGROUND:

• Population: 160 million

• Area: 796,100 sq. km. (slightly less than twice the size of California)

• Languages: English (official), Urdu (national), Punjabi 48% and many others

• Neighbors: Afghanistan, India, Iran, China, Arabian Sea

• Religions: Muslim 95%, others (including Christian and Hindu) 5%

• Literacy: 49.9%

MEDIA SYSTEM:

• Newspapers: 1,000 dailies. Most in English or Urdu. Daily Jang has largest circulation.

• Television: the dominant news medium. Around 50 news channels since Musharraf lifted ban on private broadcasting in 2002. PTV is the state station. Geo News, owned by Jang group, is No. 1.

• Radio: more than 100 private FM stations, but they cannot broadcast their own news programs.

• Internet: 6% Pakistanis connected. Number of political bloggers growing.

• 5% of journalists in Pakistan are women.

STATE OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION:

• 6 reporters killed and nearly 250 arrested last year.

• Political dissidents have been rounded up in midnight raids to preempt protest rallies.

• Government has threatened to withdraw advertising or revoke licenses, coercing the media into toeing the official line.

• There is a ban on Indian TV channels. Indian movies are also routinely banned.

• Theaters and music businesses are at risk for attack by religious conservatives who believe they are immoral. In June 2007, there were more than 20 bomb attacks on movie and music businesses.

• The government censors some Web sites.

MEDIA REGULATIONS:

• Private broadcast stations must apply for a license from the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority

• PEMRA may prohibit any broadcast on grounds that it will "create hatred among the people or is prejudicial to the maintenance of law and order or is likely to disturb peace and tranquility or endanger national security"

RECOMMENDATIONS AND CUSTOMS:

• Dress appropriately. Men often wear business casual Western clothes. Women tend to wear a loose fitting outfit called the salwar kameez with a large scarf.

• Learn about Islam, because it governs the personal and public lives of most Pakistanis.

• Pakistanis prefer working with people they know well. They will spend a long time getting to know you and building a relationship.

• In general, Pakistanis are indirect communicators. They will try to be non-confrontational, so they will often say they "will try" to do something instead of admit they cannot. It is important to ask a question in several ways so you can be certain what a vague response means.

• Expect gender separation in many public places. This is sometimes in women's favor, such as seats at the front of public buses. However, women are not supposed to travel alone.

• Society is hierarchical and elders are respected. Greet the oldest person in a group first, and do not start eating until the oldest person at the table begins.

Sources: Pakistan Factsheet, The World Factbook.
Press Reference.
Pakistan Country Profile, SAPRA India Foundation.