An Op-ed should also discuss social issues that the citizenry faces daily, and do so without any claim to sainthood, realising one's own complicity in creating and sustaining some of these social ills. The contemporary media scene, especially the TV journalism, and the mayhem on our roads are some pressing issues affecting social discourse and the safety of life and limb, respectively.

TV journalism first. It is sad to see the degradation of Pakistan's media landscape, born with so much promise and fanfare under President Gen Parvez Musharraf. The rating wars and the paucity of intellectual capital force the mushrooming news channels into less than graceful business practices. This piece recounts some experiences with corrective expectations.

First, the anchorperson (who has recently acquired fame after some two or three programmes, to rephrase a channel staffer), mostly thinks it below his/her dignity to invite the guests to his/her show in person. The anchor should in all courtesy do so, at least for the first appearance of his/her guests, till they establish a repo. So, the job is delegated to lower-level staff, mostly the young, inexperienced and less trained boys and girls, who in most cases don't even know or defer to the age, experience and exposure of their guests.

These young people round up guests for their anchors, calling at odd hours, giving almost no lead time, and without even knowing the nature and contents of the talk show, the expected debate and conversations. Sometimes they evoke compassion by citing their job dependence for roping this or........

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