Global Beat Foundation Seminar DebatesFirst Casualty in War Is Truth
By Zafar Iqbal
The Global Beat Foundation of Metropolitan Washington organized a discussion focusing on the topic of First Casualty in War is Truth at Arlington Central Library Auditorium, Arlington, Virginia on Sunday, April14th 2019. Journalists belonging to various media organizations and community members attended the event.
“The grip of main media on the formation of policies seems to be slipping away due to the advent of social media,” said Professor Hassan Abbas addressing the audience. He lamented that the social media is being used more for the propagation of certain religious ideas or topics favoring ruling authorities, especially in the South-Asian region. The Chief Guest, Professor Hassan, is the Chair of the Department of Regional and Analytical Studies, National Defense University's College of International Security Affairs (CISA). He was the Distinguished Quaid-i-Azam Chair Professor at Columbia University before joining CISA.
John E. Lennon, who retired after a long service as an Editor, Program Director, and Associate Director for Strategy and Plans at the Voice of America said that the main role of the media is to seek facts as the ‘truth’ might vary with people’s own thinking. Our objectives should be to present facts to the people.
Describing his personal experiences in finding and reporting facts during a war, Anwar Iqbal acknowledged that most of the time a journalist is somewhat obligated to report the situation that reflects the overall policies of the government. Iqbal is a senior journalist, who has worked with The Chicago Tribune, United Press International and is currently serving as Bureau Chief of the Daily Dawn. He has interviewed several US Presidents, almost all Pakistani leaders, and Osama bin Laden.
“Although I have not covered any war situation, I do wish to express my concerns and involvement with the ongoing tension in Pakistan, especially in the Baluchistan area,” said Mona Kazim Shah. In addition to conflicts between two factions, humanitarian aspects must also be considered in covering an event, she added. Shah is the US-based correspondent of Germany’s Deutsche Welle and a frequent commentator on Voice of America, BBC, and ABC.
“Deception is one of the weapons opposing countries use during a war situation,” said Meriam Sabih. In order to score a victory, they employ all sorts of unethical tactics telling fabricated episodes. Sabih is a freelance journalist and activist who writes and lectures on anti-terrorism, Pakistani politics, and issues regarding American Muslims.
A lively discussion between panelists and audience was moderated by Nadeem Hotiana. Hotiana served as the Press Attaché at the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington. He is actively involved as a media liaison with the community and various Pakistani community organizations.
Master of Ceremony Khurram Shahzad, Washington representative of Channel 92, introduced the panelists.
In her opening remarks, President of the Foundation Nuzaira Azam, welcomed and thanked the panelists and audience. She briefly outlined the mission of the Foundation, which was established with the aim to expand the value of media communications of South-Asian journalists in the USA and in Pakistan. She also informed that the Foundation has successfully organized four seminars on the role of journalists during elections and other political and social situations. Azam has worked as a political reporter for widely circulated Urdu newspaper, Nawai Waqt and as a columnist for several newspapers in Pakistan and USA. She worked as a contractor with the US federal government as a media analyst for eight years.
The event was covered by the Pakistani media - by Khurram Shahzad of Channel 92, Yousuf Chaudhry of Duniya news, and Asfar Imam of Voice of America.
