20

The News International, Wednesday, April 14, 2010 AN INITIATIVE OF THE TIMES OF INDIA AND JANG GROUP OF PAKISTAN

A meeting of Pakistani and Indian anchors and editors, Karachi, April 6-7, 2010
Talking Peace, a two-day meeting of prominent editors and anchors from India and Pakistan concluded in Karachi last Wednesday, featuring a day of closed-door deliberations between the delegates followed by an extensive interaction with Pakistani media and civil society the next day. The meeting was organised by Aman ki Asha, a joint peace initiative of the Jang Group of Pakistan and the Times of India Group. Pakistani and Indian editors have met at such conferences before. What made this event significant was that the organisers were mainstream media houses rather than non-government organisations. This is what gave this meeting more weight than previous such initiatives, commented S. Panneerselvan, Executive Director Panos South Asia, who kicked off the first days discussion with a presentation based on the findings of nine years of meetings organised by Panos between Pakistani and Indian media gatekeepers. Participating journalists from India were Arindam Sengupta (Editor in Chief, Times of India), Diwakar Asthana (Bureau Chief, Times of India), Swaminathan S. Aiyar (Consulting Editor, Economic Times), Siddharth Vardarajan (Deputy Editor, The Hindu), Barkha Dutt (Group Editor, NDTV), Rajdeep Sardesai (Editor in Chief CNN-IBN), Shravan Garg (Editor in Chief, Dainik Bhaskar), and Bharat Bhushan (Editor, Mail Today). From Pakistan, editors and anchors included Rehana Hakim (Editor, Newsline), Arifa Noor (Editor, Herald), Ejaz Haider (Editor Newsweek Pakistan) Shaheen Salahuddin (Director News, Indus TV), Mehmood Shaam (Group Editor, Jang), Arif Nizami (former editor The Nation), Hamid Mir (Executive Editor, Geo News), Imran (President Geo TV), Azhar Abbas (Managing Director Geo News), Kamran Khan (Group Editor Investigations, Jang Group, Geo TV), Talat Aslam (Editor, The News Karachi), and Mohammad Malick (Editor, The News, Islamabad). The closed-door discussion took place in a frank and open atmo-

Peace

Talking

From across the border

Arindam Sengupta has been in the field of journalism for over 30 years and is currently Executive Editor of The Times of India, based in New Delhi. He has over the course of his career worked at various dailies such as Sunday Observer, Economic Times in different capacities. In 2005, he moved to The Times of India and has been with it since. A S Panneerselvan (presenter) is currently the Executive Director of Panos South Asia. Earlier, he was the Managing Editor with Sun Television Network looking after the news and current affairs in five languages across 12 channels. He is an advisory panel member for the Knight International Journalism Fellowship and has lectured widely on South Asian affairs in Europe and the United States. Barkha Dutt is the Group Editor, NDTV, and the youngest journalist to receive the Padmashri, one of Indias highest civilian honours. She did a series of special reports and hard-hitting reportage of the Gujarat anti- Muslim riots of 2002, and stories about corruption in the Indian judiciary. She also writes a weekly column in The Hindustan Times . She studied at St. Stephen's College, Delhi and the Journalism School at Columbia University, New York. Bharat Bhushan, has been editor of Daily Mail Today , New Delhi, since the paper launched in June 2008. Earlier, he served as Editor-Delhi, of The Telegraph. He has also worked in different capacities at The Hindustan Times, Express News Service and Indian Express . He has a Ph.D in Sociology from Imperial College, London, UK. Diwakar Asthana, Chief of Bureau, New Delhi, Times of India, has put in 24 years in journalism, having started his career with Hindustan Times. He was the Political Editor of the Economic Times before switching to the Times of India. Though primarily focussing on domestic politics, he has deep interest in international affairs. Kanak Mani Dixit (moderator) is editor of the monthly Himal Southasian published from Kathmandu. He has authored several books and also translated the statesman BP Koirala's autobiography. He writes regularly in the Nepali language press on matters related to civil rights and pluralism. Rajdeep Sardesai, Editor-inChief of the IBN Network has been with IBN18 Broadcast Ltd. (including CNN IBN, IBN7 and IBN Lokmat) since its inception in 2005. He has over two decades of journalistic experience covering key events in contemporary Indian and world history. He is currently the President of Editors Guild of India, and a Commonwealth scholar. He has a Masters degree in Law from the Oxford University. Shravan Garg, Group Editor, Dainik Bhaskar group of publications, has 40 years of print media experience including 17 years in English, 20 in Hindi, and 4 in Gujarati. He began his career the Shatabdi Sandesh fortnightly publication of MP Gandhi National Memorial Trust in 1969 in Indore. His books include Surrender of Dacoits in Chambal Valley (co-authored, 1972) and History of Bihar Movement (1975). He is also a nationally published photo-journalist. Siddharth Varadarajan is a Strategic Affairs Editor and Delhi bureau chief of The Hindu and one of India's leading commentators on foreign policy. Prior to joining The Hindu in 2004, he was the Foreign Affairs editor and Deputy Chief of Bureau of The Times of India. In 2002, he edited a book on the Gujarat riots, Gujarat: The Making of a Tragedy (Penguin). A trained economist, he taught economics at New York University for a number of years before returning to India to work as a journalist in 1995. He lives in New Delhi and is currently writing a book on the Indo-U.S. relationship. Swaminathan S Anklesaria Aiyar is a veteran journalist who was previously working as Editor for one of Indias biggest financial dailies Financial Express and The Economic Times, as well as India Correspondent for The Economist . Currently, Aiyar is the Consulting Editor of the Economic Times and also authored two books, Towards Globalisation (1990) and Escape from Benevolent Zookeepers (2008). compiled by Abid Hussain

sphere. Participants agreed on the need to create more empathy for each others country, and for more cross-border information. Many of these points were underscored in the following days lively interaction. Kanak Mani Dixit, Editor of Himal Southasian, Kathmandu, moderated both discussions, bringing a much-needed regional perspective to bi-lateral issues. Editors made several suggestions to improve coverage leading to heightened understanding of each others country, including the need to reinforce journalism best practices, like not avoiding singlesource reports, or questioning reports originating from government agencies. Visa restrictions and financial constraints have perhaps con-

tributed to greater understanding as editors have had to draw upon commentators and reporters from across the border, leading to diverse points of view being broadcast or published in their channels and publications. Some suggestions that came up have been made before at various platforms, like easing visa restrictions and restrictions on each others media, allowing journalists easier access, and ending the bar on cell phone roaming between Pakistan and India (a restriction unique to these two countries). Editors suggested broadening the coverage of India-Pakistan issues beyond geopolitics, ensuring a more rigorous reportage of economic, infrastructural and cultural issues. Training workshops for re-

porters on specific issues like Kashmir, water, and terrorism, for example would help raise the level of reporting in general, and on India-Pakistan issues specifically. There was a suggestion to develop a code of ethics on issues of mutual concern or guidelines between Indian and Pakistani media practitioners, and a website to allow editors and media practitioners to engage with each other across the border and help defuse tensions. Drawing up and sharing a large database of media commentators would provide a wider pool of analysts to draw from and allow for more circumspection at times of crisis. A related suggestion was to monitor television talk shows to analyse how often hawkish voices

are invited on air compared to more nuanced, complex views. Another suggestion was to facilitate more exchange and interaction among junior and mid-level reporters, editors and producers from the media in each country. While the session on Day 1 evolved a blueprint for peace and more responsible reportage on matters concerning the two neighbours, Day 2 focussed on the role of media in a nuclear South Asia. Imran Aslam of Geo Network said that sometimes, the media was influenced by the public, and at other times, it moulded public opinion. It is important to look at things from a learning approach, rather than a perspective to score points against each other, he argued.

Re-imagining IndiaPakistan relations

peaceful. People poured into the streets with one clear idea: that India and Pakistan should come he relationship between India and Pak- closer and settle the issue of Kashmir according istan is at the cusp of being re-imagined. to the aspirations of the Kashmiris. By bringing such voices together and initiatSince 1947, the two neighbours were governed by mutual antagonism and the ing an internal critique of both countries media Cold War drove further wedges into a relationship and governments, our roundtables have managed that was drifting into narrow nationalistic jingo- to energise and also be a part of a very important ism. The end of the Cold War did not help mat- shift in perceptions among gatekeeper practiters, and the geopolitical equations of the early tioners in India and Pakistan. Instead of project1990s created a new flux. The Kargil incursions, ing the practitioners from the other country as the nuclear tests at Pokhran and the Chagai part of the enemy camp, editors began looking at mountains, the attack on the Indian Parliament them as peers, besieged by the same set of proband Operation Parakaram all overshadowed the lems. Over the years, we experienced increasing Lahore initiative and the Agra Summit. While pol- openness in the icymakers were not swift enough to change gears roundtables, and a and see things in terms of the new reality, the willingness to set aside people of the two countries embarked on a jour- exclusive nationalist ney to redefine the relationship. And the media positions, and to quesleaders helped us to constantly map and docu- tion ones own state establishment. ment the new imagination. Editors and mediaPanos South Asia (PSA) and the Kathmandubased monthly magazine Himal Southasian re- house owners, once the alised that the most significant factor to con- floodgates were opened, tribute to any mutual trust deficit is a lack of were not hesitant to information. As such, in 2002 PSA (then headed touch any tricky or sensiby the late Saneeya Hussain) and Himal invited tive issue. At Bellagio in some prominent editors and owners of media Italy (2003), they dishouses from both of the countries for an open, cussed the wretched nuinformal and informed sharing of experiences clear issue. At Bentota in Sri Lanka (2004), they and information. This was to be a site for mutual learning of took the discussion beyond new realities and unlearning of past prejudices, a the confidence-building wellspring to cleanse the scourge of stereotyping measures, and scrutinised the other. We were conscious that the media in the Composite Dialogue bethese two countries are vast and multi-layered, tween the two countries. and we knew that this undertaking would not be The most inflammatory an easy task. We learned a lot on the job, discov- issue, Kashmir, was disering that in order to give a sense of continuity cussed amidst the presence of Kashmiri leadership and to generate momentum; the editors retreat at Istanbul in 2005. And at Cairo in November should be a proper mix and match combination. 2006, the media gatekeepers and policymakers of The principle was continuity with discreet change. the two nuclear neighbours shared with extraorYear after year over the last nine years, we dinary candidness their perspective on internal pursued this goal relentlessly. Senior journalist and external factors that affect the relations beSiddharth Varadarajan, in 2002 at our Nagarkot tween the two countries. We believe that our modretreat, observed: India and Pakistan are not re- est but sustained initiative over the last nine years has played a small role in keeping ported about as normal societies the process of dtente on track, dein each others media. Indian spite the many provocations we coverage of Pakistan is almost know so well. exclusively restricted to bilateral Most of the editors and the issues, and official concerns Even when some attempt is Over the years, media of the two countries have to a new equation: an inmade to delve into Pakistan sociwe experienced come creased contribution of Indian ety, there is very little attempt to deviate from these standard increasing open- writers in Pakistani media, and Pakistanis in Indian media. I contypes. This is true of Pakistani coverage of India, as well. The ness in the media sider this as a brave act of subverting the illiberal visa regime of kinds of stories picked up tend to gatekeeper the two countries. reinforce negative stereotypes. roundtables, a After these years of constant By the time we met for our fourth retreat, in 2005 at Istan- willingness to set interaction and opening up each others media for voices of sense bul, the idea of self-criticism percolated even into our cosy inforaside exclusive and moderation from either side, within the directional geopolitics, mal set-up. Indians and nationalist most of the editors and hence the Pakistanis were no longer reluctant to talk about the failures of positions, and to dominant media of the two countries have come to a new equatheir respective nation states, media and civil societies. And at question ones own tion: the problems for Pakistan the next meeting, in Cairo, there state establishment have been shifted from its eastern border to its northwestern was a clear hunger to understand the others viewpoint and its legitimate dynamics. borders; and for India, the shift is from its westOne of the key departures that the Panos- ern borders towards its eastern borders. Though Himal annual retreats managed to achieve was to this has given space for better synergistic interacbring in the question of Kashmir, not as divisive tion, these notions are still fragile, and some of issue but rather as a humanitarian crisis that the the old ghosts are still active. Only by remaining two countries need to address by keeping in mind ever vigilant can we keep those past ghosts from the aspirations and political will of the people of haunting us. Kashmir. This is vindicated by one of the most considered voices from Srinagar, Khursheed The writer is the Executive Director of Wani, when he declared at Barcelona: At the mo- Panos South Asia, and made a presentation ment, in Kashmir Valley, since the militants at Aman ki Ashas Talking Peace conference started in a different context and also because based on the findings of the media gatepeople are by and large fed up with violence, the keeper meetings that Panos has organised role of militants is not there. The protests were with Himal over the last nine years. By A S Panneerselvan

s senior journalists and anchorpersons from India and Pakistan argued over the role of the media in creating harmony or discord between the two countries, the audience impatiently waited to throw questions at some of the stars up on the stage. The venue was a large room at Avari Towers, Karachi, converted overnight into a studio by the Geo team filming this interaction. What the people sitting in the jampacked hall wanted to know was, what type of Pakistani content is present in Indian newspapers and TV channels, and why the Indian media rarely focuses on other issues besides terrorism that concern Pakistani society.

s r e t n u o c a i Med s r e t n u o c n and e

and covered all angles thoroughly. One editor commented that the daily suicide bombings and terrorism in Pakistan get less play because of their everyday nature. This statement triggered off comments from the audience who said that the daily violence should not detract from its significance, but at the same time, positive aspects of Pakistan should also be covered.

thoughts. Someone asked why the media doesnt focus on issues such as case of fishermen languishing in jails in both the countries. This is something that actually gets quite a lot of media attention, responded the panelists. Shaheen Salahuddin of Indus TV said she had in fact interviewed Indian fisherboys imprisoned in

Of course we focus on sensational issues, my newspaper, for instance, is a tabloid, responded Bharat Bhushan, Editor of the Daily Mail Today (a joint venture between India Today Group and Associated Newspapers of UK, publishers of Daily Mail). But it would be wrong to say that there isnt any news related to Pakistan. We have a Pakistani correspondent who reports regularly on issues of the society, mostly subjects he chooses to write about, added Bhushan. Also, every week, we have a page devoted to Pakistan, in which columnists from Pakistan write on matters of their choosing. When major incidents take place in the neighboring country, we dedicate sufficient space for those stories too. For example when a suicide bomber struck the Marriot hotel in Islamabad, we gave it prominent display

There were questions pertaining to the exchange of inter-cultural issues and the vibrant traditions of both the countries, which the editors agreed should receive more coverage. Arindam Sengupta, Executive Editor of the Times of India pointed out that when the Aman ki Asha campaign was launched on Jan 1, 2010, his newspaper published the words Love Pakistan in a full page ad on the front page, a move that many Indian readers appreciated and supported. There were plenty of comments and suggestions from the audience for media coverage that can help to promote peace between the two countries. Zain Hasan, one of the administrators of the Aman ki Asha Facebook group, commented that some people seem to derive some strange satisfaction from being nasty or expressing violent

Pakistan and they told her they didnt know when they were following the fish on the high seas, whether the fish was Pakistani or Indian. We need to transcend our national identities and sit as South Asians, suggested Karamat Ali of the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research who was in the audience. Pakistan is never going to hand over criminals to India and vice versa, so why dont we us the Saarc framework and establish a tribunal in Nepal where we can try criminals wanted by the other country. One reporter questioned the editorin-chief of the IBN Network Rajdeep Sardesai, about a story his channel did on the demolition of a temple in Karachi. The reporters investigations revealed that it was a matter of encroachment, not demolition. Sardesai admitted to the mistake. He and others on the panel expressed their resolve to be less lazy as Barkha Dutt of NDTV put it, about fact-checking and to draw on resources on the other side of the border particularly when it came to potentially inflammatory material. Everyone knows that terrorism doesnt define Pakistan, said Dutt. There are many Pakistans, and we need to remember that. We were one once. We may not be one again, said moderator Kanak Dixit, concluding the session. But there can be peace and harmony between us. Rabia Ali Photos by Zahid Rehman

Participating Editors and Anchors from Pakistan

Arif Nizami (former editor, The Nation), Arifa Noor (Editor, Herald), Azhar Abbas (Managing Director, Geo News), Ejaz Haider (National Affairs Editor, Newsweek Pakistan), Hamid Mir (Executive Editor, Geo News), Imran Aslam (President, Geo TV), Kamran Khan (Group Editor Investigations, Jang Group, Geo TV), Mehmood Shaam (Group Editor, Jang), Mohammad Malick (Editor, The News, Islamabad), Rehana Hakim (Editor, Newsline), Shaheen Salahuddin (Director News, Indus TV), and Talat Aslam (Editor, The News Karachi).

DESTINATION PEACE LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK

Feedback, contributions, photos, letters: Email: amankiasha@janggroup.com.pk Fax: +92-21-3241-8343 Post: aman ki asha c/o The News, I.I. Chundrigar Road, Karachi

A peace initiative whose time has come... Destination Peace: A commitment by the Jang Group, GEO and The Times of India Group to create an enabling environment that brings the people of Pakistan and India closer together, contributing to genuine and durable peace with honour between our countries.