What do you like in journalism and to be on screen?
It is like meeting a lot of interesting people and come across challenging issues in my line of work. For a natural problem solver like me, a career in journalism means one can raise important issues and engage people to work towards a solution. I would like to inspire people to come together and work towards a common goal.
Being on screen is not that important to me. Fame doesn’t interest me but the potential of conveying a message through broadcast medium is huge and this is why I do what I do. The time that you see me on television is a very small part of my job. The most interesting bit is what you don’t see. The research, the preparation and of course the off air laughs. That’s what I love about my job.
Being an anchor is a dream for many girls, what things you feel are must to meet this goal and what is the secret behind success in this field?
Whether you’re a man or a woman the advice would be the same, “Don’t come into this industry in search of fame or thinking it’s an easy profession as it requires passion, commitment and above all energy. This is no place for lightweights. If you are prepared to work odd hours, travel long distances, work in severe weather, cancel holiday plans and have a thirst for the truth only then step into journalism.
For Pakistani women there may be other hurdles like lack of family support and understanding as woman in our culture is expected to behave in a certain way i.e. not go to dangerous places not to travel alone to get married and look after the husband and children etc. This job requires the ability to break away from these stereotypical expectations at times. You will either have to stay single or have an understanding family or partner. The other main issue is the way women who work in media are perceived which mainly depends on how you conduct yourself but it may still require you to develop a thick skin and fight back any form of bullying or harassment you may face. My motto is “don’t get mad get even”
What keeps you going?
Having a passion for life, every day is an adventure. Even the bad experiences in life are what make it amazing. I consider myself blessed to be alive and to have my loved ones with me and feel lucky enough to have a great job. Lots of smiles and laughs keep me going!
How you see the future of females in journalism in Pakistan?
The future for male and female journalists in Pakistan is fabulous. It is such an interesting region. You can never run out of stories. For women it is changing rapidly. I am so pleased to see women are coming out from all sorts of family, racial and educational backgrounds and working very hard in this field. The only thing I would say is that there needs to be more training provided for developing broadcast skills. Broadcast journalists must have a good voice and clarity in speech which sadly is on the decline in Pakistan.
What is the background of your education? Do you feel that studying abroad makes a bright future in Pakistan?
I studied Broadcast Journalism at postgraduate level from East Coast Media, North East Lincolnshire and I think a good qualification from a recognized institution helps anywhere in the world.
It is true that qualifications and experience from abroad are more valued in Pakistan and it makes sense as the facilities and level of instruction in overseas universities is generally better. I must say that a couple of institutions in Pakistan are really well respected abroad also. I hope that world class higher education facilities become available to all youngsters in Pakistan.
What should women anchors do to be unique in their field?
Whatever gender you are it is important to be original. Never copy other people. Be yourself always and research your subject well. Try to gauge what the answer will be but above all listen to what the guest is saying and let the conversation flow.
You have seen different cultures, how you see Pakistani culture?
Pakistani culture is losing those values that we used to pride ourselves on. We are absorbing negative elements of other cultures. For instance: our beautiful language. Children in Pakistan these days can’t speak Urdu or the regional languages and grown-ups prefer not to. Our outfits our traditional dishes we are abandoning even our social values. Every culture has good points and the advantage of living in different countries is that we can reevaluate ourselves and pick up good habits but it should not be at the cost of giving up your core values.
How many siblings you have? Do you feel family support is the main factor behind one’s success?
Family support can help but successful people will never use a lack of support as an excuse to prevent them from achieving. My family wasn’t too keen on my choice of profession but they have come to accept it now. If you enjoy what you do you will succeed and the lack of support reinforces self dependence and helps you become resilient.
Working in front of camera and spending most of the time in arranging programs, do you get time for your personal life? How you manage time for getting accessories for properly dressing up?
I have no personal life! It is a demanding a profession and I don’t really have time to socialize. My spare time is for my family and a couple of close friends.
But they do complain that I work far too much. As for my look on screen I am very particular however I don’t have time to pick out everything myself. My team has a clear idea of what I will or will not wear and it all comes together magically at the last minute. From wardrobe to my Make up lady even the producer knows exactly the look I need and keep an eye on everything. Basically I have a great team and I love them to bits.
Being a female journalist and working as an anchor, what challenges you have faced so far?
I believe in breaking stereotypes. I have never limited myself by thinking I am a woman. This attitude sends a clear signal to co workers and employers that I am as good as a man when it comes to do the job. I make no excuses for being a woman and expect no sympathy.
At the minute the reality is that it is still very much a man’s world and in all professions women are treated unfairly because of this male dominance. However we need to gain enough power before we can dictate our terms.
The challenges are a lack of gender sensitivity in workplaces. Women who appear on TV are likely to get a lot of unwelcome attention and one has to deal with it effectively and I’m pretty good at it.
What is the attitude of people when they see women getting success in male dominated society?
Most people have been very encouraging and both in Pakistan and England I have had a very warm response from my audiences. Ofcourse there will always be a few people who will find hard to tolerate your success but fortunately I stay focused at the task at hand and don’t really pay attention to office politics. At the end of the day if you work hard and deliver, the opposition will fade away.
When you joined media, who was your first inspiration?
I am not inspired by anyone so far in media.
Anything very important you want to tell about yourself?
I am a no nonsense woman. I call a spade a spade. Can be brutally honest and have no ability to sweet talk people. I work hard expect people to give me their best and have the ability to be very loyal to those who deserve it.
The writer is a journalist based in Islamabad.
