Ever-since the boom of electronic news media in Pakistan, we have seen a number of channels coming into the scene and launching many news and TV anchors, however, only few of them managed to create a mark and are still going strong. TV host, anchor and filmmaker Madiha Masood is one such name, she has been associated with Pakistan news media for almost 13 year and has worked with various top news channels and hosted many current affairs and TV shows.
Last year Madiha left 92 News, her last news channel in Pakistan, and earlier this year moved to USA and started working for a news channel there. Team MediaSpringPk got in touch with the lady of many talents and we talked about her moving to the USA.
“I have worked for more than a decade in Pakistan media and now was the time to explore more, test my potential and add a different experience to my skill set. And I’m extremely blessed that I got an opportunity to enter the international media,” said Madiha Masood.
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Madiha says that she wants to inspire young women in Pakistan, “This move with the USA means everything to me. Generally people get married and move abroad, and in my case I have moved to the USA for work and to upscale my profile. I want to be an inspiration for the younger women in Pakistan that they should work hard with loyalty and consistency. I want to be counted in empowered women. At the same time I feel that people in the media industry and my former colleagues should support me as I’m making Pakistan proud by being the face of the country in international media.”
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Talking about shrinking space in Pakistani media and crisis in the industry Madiha said:
“Things are worse than what generally people think about the industry. Many members of the industry themselves are the reason Pakistani media is almost on deathbed. Just because of non professional media house owners and a huge number of exploiters as at the help of channels’ affairs are destroying the media industry.
“They provoke short cuts. They want a pretty face, not a brain anymore and this is actually creating hurdles for the talented people. I believe a journalist should behave like a journalist otherwise there are other avenues. Many talented people never got the chance to grow just because they’re non favourite for particular reasons.”
While comparing media environments of USA and Pakistan Media said:
“It is not wise to create such a comparison. Media here believes in the brain over beauty and genuinely value talent and experience. This is not the case in Pakistan. In Pakistan decision makers are after visual apepal. Good look is the first criteria for the screen test not the journalistic approach in Pakistan, however, here people ask your work show-reel rather than asking for Whatsapp photos and private meetups”
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Madiha comes from a smaller city, Veharhi and moved to Lahore in 2005, in 2007-08 she joined the media industry and she was perhaps the only female broadcast journalist to enter industry after 18 years education. She wants young entrants of the industry to take her example, “I worked hard and it paid off. I just focused on my career. I never bugged anyone or tried to pull down anyone. I have always refrained from gossiping or making remarks on anyone’s character, I find it an utter waste of time. I always advise juniors that the time is precious, try it to give it to yourself. Believe in yourself and say no to short cuts, be obedient to your parents with their prayers and blessings you will get everything you want.”
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It is said that media is a mean industry and it is not free from gossip and constant chatter, Madiha Imam says:
“I believe those who are important are gossiped about. I have always been a top story for my former colleagues. I always enjoyed it. Moreover I always try to ignore it because I neither have anything to do with their lives and work nor I have time for that.
“I am a true professional, hence, I seriously do not have time for gossip
“I realised this thing here in the US that a journalist’s life revolves around news stories. It is a 24/7 job, it is a way of life. Therefore, poking nose in anyone’s life or making comments will not help you, so better invest the precious time on your own peace and work.
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