In the recent past, many new faces joined our media and journalism industry especially in the discipline of broadcast journalism. Zara Ansari is one such name who joined the media industry in recent years, however, have created a name for herself through hard work and dedication. Zara is a daughter of veteran journalist Shahab Ansari, which indicates that her training of journalism must have begun at home. She has done newscasting and anchored current affairs show with much ease and confidence. She got many praises during her stint at News One where she hosted the current affair show ‘Live with Dr Shahid Masood’.
Recently team of Media Spring PK got a chance to speak to Zara Ansari for this interview and we found her very humble, knowledgeable, and very plausible person. Here is the extract of our interview chit chat with Zara Ansari.
1 – Were you always attracted to journalism and media and when did you realize that a career as a media person was for you?
Zara Ansari: Well thanks for having me for an interview it all started when I was a student of mass communication, my department was a center for activities related to media so many channels used to come for auditions for news and all, I gave my first audition for a news anchor I got rejected and it happened twice. I pondered upon that why I was rejected and then I decided to figure out what was wrong and started to get the proper training to become a news anchor so it became my passion.
2 – Tell us something about your educational background, and to what extent do you think your education and your academic degree has helped you in your career?
Zara Ansari: My father is a senior journalist so journalism is in my blood. I studied journalism. I specialized in electronic media (mass com) from an Institute of communication studies Lahore.
3 – What part of your work you find the most challenging?
Zara Ansari: The most challenging is when you have to cover an emotional story without getting emotional.
4 – In Pakistan mostly there is an issue of not treating male professionals and female professionals equally. i.e. in past, a PTV newscaster was not allowed to read a piece of sad news since being a woman she would be unable to hold emotions, does that mindset of the 1970s and 1980s still exist in our media?
Zara Ansari: Well I believe the mindset in media has changed with time and as there are many private channels so women are given equal importance and opportunities as males.
5 – We have seen a couple of examples from Pakistani news media that some news anchors shifted to modelling and acting do you have any such plans or have you ever got any acting or modelling offer?
Zara Ansari: No I am not interested in entertainment. News is my passion
6 – Sometimes listening to a piece of bad news devastates our day, I am sure reading bad news must have an effect on a news anchor too how do you coup up with that?
Zara Ansari: Yes definitely bad news affects us same as the viewer or listener but we have to be very strong emotionally.
7 – With the arrival and rise of social media among the Pakistani internet users; how much do you think it has changed us in terms of being aware and is social media helping you in your profession if yes then in what way?
Zara Ansari: Social media is playing an important role in keeping people aware but at the same time it is not monitored and the source is not authentic mostly. There are no set ethics for social media as yet. I believe it should be monitored.
8 – How important do you think a healthy rivalry is among the fellow news anchors, do you think anyone as your rival (heathy/professional rival of course)?
Zara Ansari: I would say competition is very important as you learn a lot.
9 – What are future plans of ‘Zara Ansari’?
Zara Ansari: Well future plans are to work as much as I can to create more and more awareness among people. Want to contribute a lot in the field of broadcast journalism. The sky is my limit 🙂
10- Any tip of message you would like to give to the people who want to join news media as a journalist or news anchor?
Zara Ansari: Work hard work hard and have a lot of patience these are the two key points for success. Trust me
VeryNice zara really like your sense of humor❤❤