The Digital Battlefront: The Obstacles Faced by Quetta’s Online Journalists

In this modern world where traditional journalism meets the rapidly evolving digital media, a new concept of storytelling has been raised. Hundreds of youngsters have started online journalism with the help of their personal social media platforms and YouTube channels. Same is happening in Quetta, Balochistan.

The new generation in the field of media and journalism prefers to be freelancers and work through different social media platforms, but the question is, what challenges are they facing?

“Whenever we visit the press club, we are often looked down upon. That’s why we try to avoid going to the press club. If we ever have to go due to some compulsion, we are treated in a manner that makes us feel insignificant”, says Aziz ur Rehman Sabawoon, a freelance journalist working in Quetta.

Sabawoon expresses that this differential treatment is because those of us working in the field as freelance are not regarded in the same light as our counterparts who work through traditional media channels. He cannot become member of the Balochistan Union of Journalists or the press club, because they are told that they are not connected to any particular news channel.

“Another problem that I have faced in my freelance career is that sometimes news agencies hire me to make reports for them, and after I complete my task, they refuse to pay me.” claimed Sabawoon.

Sawaboon’s investigative report, published in Independent Urdu, highlighted the concerning number of deaths among workers in Balochistan’s coal mines. The report not only delved into the causes behind these tragedies but also scrutinized the government’s actions.

Fazal Rehman Kareem, the creator of Digital Press TV, says, I’ve fulfilled the roles such as director, producer, writer and reporter single-handedly for my channel because I could not hire staff due to insufficient earnings. And the second biggest problem we have in our society is that our work isn’t valued much; our youngsters want to get famous rather than work hard.

Fazal said that recently, I aired a segment of the polio team attack. After that report, I received a call from a police officer urging me to remove the report. He mentioned that if the report stays, he might face job loss, and he hinted that it could also lead to significant problems for me. Fazal stated that he has faced many threat calls like this in his career, and for safety, all he can do is remove that report from the channel because, as a freelancer, he doesn’t have any security. The press club does not consider online journalists as journalists, nor do freelance journalists get membership from the press club or any support. The main reason is that traditional media feels social media attracts more viewers and makes their role less critical.

Anum Ehsan, a freelance Journalist from Quetta, said that Freelance journalism in Quetta has advantages and disadvantages; on the positive side, it offers flexibility in choosing assignments and the opportunity to work on diverse topics. However, job security can be a concern, with freelancers needing to find work constantly. There is also the issue of personal safety, as independent journalists may face risks while covering sensitive topics.

She said that freelancers in Quetta must carefully consider these pros and cons before pursuing freelance Journalism.

Naimatullah Khushal, who works with ‘Bari Chiriya’ as a freelancer, said there are several notable challenges for online journalists compared to traditional media institutions. The most significant challenge is gaining the trust of readers and viewers because online content is often viewed with less confidence and credibility compared to established media outlets. Online journalists often have to work harder as they lack the support and resources of major media houses, which means they must put in extra effort to gain recognition.
Online journalists in Quetta have faced numerous threats and attacks due to their published content. This has significantly impacted their effectiveness and limited their journalistic freedom, said Naimatullah Khushal.

Online journalism is now the quickest and most straightforward way to get news. This is affecting traditional media, and many people are moving from conventional media to freelance journalism, according to Manzoor Ahmed, a senior journalist at ARY News Quetta and a member of the Balochistan Union of Journalists.

Manzoor Ahmed explains that in the past, people used to read weekly or monthly newspapers and eagerly waited for them. Then, when daily newspapers became available, people switched to those. With the rise of TV, electronic media took over from newspapers. Nowadays, digital media has made it easy to stay updated with news from around the world using your mobile phone

Ahmed highlights that young journalists want to be on social media because it lets them reach a wider audience and get instant feedback. This shift is because people nowadays want news quickly, and social media provides a way to connect with many people quickly.

While digital media has supplanted traditional media, concerns about credibility persist. Challenges such as the prevalence of fake news and manipulating information through propaganda tools have hindered the establishment of digital media’s trustworthiness. It remains a fact that many individuals continue to rely on television to verify the accuracy of news due to these reasons.

Ahmed stated that journalists must grasp social media tools in today’s era. Understanding and utilizing social media has become essential, enabling them to showcase their work online. Traditional journalists possess the capability to engage with social media. Their presence on these platforms can contribute significantly, especially in countering pages that share misleading information solely to attract attention.

Fazal Rehman Kareem points out a frustrating problem: When we face online harassment or threats, knowing where to complain is confusing. The FIA says go to the police, and the police say it’s not their job, go to the FIA. So, it needs to be clarified where to report these issues.

Discussing the credibility of news, Fazal mentions that we possess specific sources to verify whether the news is genuine or not. He emphasizes that we only broadcast news after ensuring its confirmation.

Fazal suggests that the information department, specifically the DGPR, should handle this issue. He thinks the DGPR should set up a special team for social media problems. All online channels should be registered with them. If a channel has a problem, they can tell the DGPR, who can work with the Cybercrime department. This would protect online journalists and stop people from making fake channels. It would also help these channels get proper recognition.

In today’s world, everything, including journalism and various businesses, has shifted to the digital realm. Babar Yousafzai, the Spokesperson of Balochistan’s Former Chief Minister, notes this transformation. While we used to read newspapers before, nowadays, news comes to us in PDF files shared in various WhatsApp groups.

Babar Yousafzai expresses his acknowledgment of freelancers as journalists. He highlights the global trend of journalists working online, mentioning prominent channels like BBC and CNN that have shifted from satellites to websites. These well-established channels are now even engaging the services of freelance journalists for their online platforms.

In the coming times, there are plans to introduce legislation in assemblies to provide support and recognition for online journalists. Babar Yousafzai said that they will work on these changes. We are ensuring that they receive due acknowledgment and respect within society. Freelance journalists should be treated similarly to those who work for big media companies.

PEMRA can stop channels that share fake news. However, freelancers typically work for websites in this context, For that there’s a new rule in Pakistan. If someone complains about fake news, FIA will take strong action. This rule is called the “Peca Act,” said Babar Yousafzai.

In a recent development, the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 has eliminated the exemption previously granted to PEMRA licensed TV channels under the Electronic Crimes Act 2016. This means that broadcasting fake information or subjecting individuals to ridicule on television news can now be classified as electronic crimes. This step aims to enhance media accountability, combat misinformation and maintain the credibility of electronic media in today’s evolving digital age.

Mohammad Hamza Shafqaat, the Secretary of the Information Department in Balochistan, wants to stress how important it is for journalists to be part of a press club and work for a media organization. Our rules say that only people who work for a newspaper or a media company can be called journalists. This covers reporting news, writing articles, and making news stories.

People who work on platforms like YouTube or Facebook are known as social media influencers. They are valuable, but they need to be more precisely journalists. According to our rules, a person must be linked to newspapers, TV channels, or news websites to be a journalist.

Mohammad Hamza Shafqaat also shares that our law says if someone keeps working with a news channel for three years as a freelancer, then after those three years, they can officially be called a journalist. It’s essential to follow these rules to be recognized as a journalist.