News Desk |
The journalistic practices in Pakistan have once again come under fire on social media after a video of a reporter who publicly broke the news of Qamar Zaman Kaira’s son’s accident to him in a midst of a press conference.
In a rush to break the news first, the reporter transcended all the ethical standards to inform him about the tragic accident of his son. The video shows Qamar Zaman Kaira going into a state of utter shock and speechlessness the moment he was publicly informed about the heart-wrenching news. He, therefore immediately concluded the press conference with ‘Thank You’.
They demanded that such people should be penalized and suggested media organizations should spare resources on the training of their reporters.
People all over social media are criticizing the media personnel for forsaking ethics in their profession, while others questioned if they are provided an initial training by their respective media organization before sending them out in the field.
Social media users were vocal that the breaking news of such an accident, publicly, to a father is as condemnable as asking the bereaved families about how they feel after losing their beloved ones after they’ve recently passed. They demanded that such people should be penalized and suggested media organizations should spare resources on the training of their reporters.
Read more: Politicians and celebrities express their condolences to PPP’s Qamar Zaman Kaira
Journalist Omar Quraishi also commented on the video, stating “[He] Can’t believe that a reporter told Qamar Zaman Kaira at a press conference, in full public view, that his son had just died in a car accident – who hires such morons – oh wait, it’s other morons who hire such morons – is there any hope? – that reporter needs to be sacked immediately.”
Yesterday the teenaged son of a well known Pakistani politician died in a traffic accident – he didn’t know about this till a reporter asked him about it in the middle of a press conference, in full public view and with cameras rolling https://t.co/iJfM3sOqYv
— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) May 18, 2019
Can’t believe that a reporter told Qamar Zaman Kaira at a press conference in full public view that his son had just died in a car accident – who hires such morons – oh wait, it’s other morons who hire such morons – is there any hope – that reporter needs to be sacked immediately
— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) May 18, 2019
He also added that it was not the responsibility of the reporter to break the news to him.
“To say that the reporter was telling Qamar Zaman Kaira out of concern is a load of baloney – if he was so concerned he could have waited and told him in private so as to not exacerbate his pain”, added Quraishi.
To say that the reporter was telling Qamar Zaman Kaira out of concern is a load of baloney – if he was so concerned he could have waited and told him in private so as to not exacerbate his pain
— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) May 18, 2019
People have also equally condemned for uploading and sharing the video of Qamar Zaman Kaira crying heavily while mourning the death of his son.
In this era of breaking news, reporters and journalists have lost ethics, compassion and empathy
Heartbreaking to see that Qamar Zaman Kaira told about the tragic death of his son in a live press conference.https://t.co/8CoTykG9gb
— .α (@Oregath_) May 17, 2019
https://twitter.com/lightermachis/status/1129511614191984642
I saw that video of Qamar Zaman Kaira being informed so callously about his son’s accident.. I wish I hadn’t seen it.. I wish it wasn’t true.. I wish our people hadn’t become this insensitive.. I wish there was some kindness still left in these people.. I wish they had a heart..
— Aima 🇵🇸✊🏽 (@AYJamal_) May 17, 2019
Kindly stop sharing the pictures and videos of Qamar Zaman Kaira. You can't even imagine the pain he is going through right now, just pray for him.
— Z$ (@faqeerave) May 17, 2019
https://twitter.com/Hammad_MHI/status/1129450755780489218
https://twitter.com/banpolitics/status/1129405420936880129
Reporter broke the news in the middle of media talk
Ethics?PPP Leader Qamar Zaman Kaira’s son dies in traffic accident in Lahore |D… https://t.co/QbTgQUt2xx via @YouTube
— Sunshine☀️ (@VoiceOfValor) May 17, 2019