Shiffa Yousafzai Bids Farewell to Hum News to Take the Reins of 92 News Morning Show
Shiffa Yousafzai, the face of Hum News‘ “Subah Say Agay,” is set to embark on a new journey as the host of 92 News’ “Subh Savaray Pakistan.” In a recent sit-down exclusive interview with MediaSpringPK, Yousafzai shared insights about her career, motivations, and aspirations.
Exciting news! @ovaismangalwala and @Shiffa_ZY, former hosts of Subha Say Agay on HUM News, are joining 92 News and starting their new show, @SubhSavarayPk, from Monday. We'll miss them at HUM News but we can't wait to see them shine on their new platform. pic.twitter.com/06WW5777CY
— MediaSpring PK (@MediaSpringPk) February 17, 2023
Yousafzai’s journalism journey began as an intern with a prominent Pakistani anchor and journalist. Although she always wanted to be a doctor, however making it to medical school could not happen to her.
After earning her Bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing and Economics from Air University and a Master’s degree in Multimedia Journalism from Manchester Metropolitan University in the UK she landed a job at Hum News in October 2017, out of 20,000 candidates. It was the creative director of Hum News, Nasir Teherany who selected her CV.
“My experience with Hum News has been amazing,” she said. “Hum News is like the first love you will never forget and it’s like home,” said Shiffa Yousafzai.
As the face of “Subah Say Agay,” Yousafzai made a significant impact on Pakistani morning television. “In a very short span of time, I made my mark in such a massive industry and cut-throat competition. My show became the first morning show to hit the one million followers mark on social media,” she said.
“There was a time when morning show hosts were considered to be less significant and less learned, but now things have changed, and shows like ours have played a pivotal role in reshaping the landscape of morning television. With a renewed focus on high-quality content, morning shows have come a long way. Ovais [Mangalwala] and I played a crucial role in that transformation, as we were also content producers for our show,” said the breakfast show host.
Despite her success, Yousafzai is not one to rest on her laurels. “I love challenges and wanted to come out of my comfort zone and end the monotony. That’s why I decided to move to 92 News,” she said. “I have several ideas to incorporate for the new show.”
Reflecting on her time at Hum News, Yousafzai expressed gratitude to the network and its leaders. “At Hum Network, we have had the privilege of having a woman, Sultana Siddiqui, leading the way. The environment there is incredibly supportive of women, and Sultana Apa has played a major role in fostering that culture. I have always felt appreciated and supported by her, and she has an open-door policy that makes it easy for anyone to discuss their issues with her. I am also grateful to Mr. Duraid Qureshi for his help, support, and guidance.” she said.
Like any other field, media, and journalism has their own challenges. “Regime change was a true challenger for me. We had to think about content a lot. I covered the 2018 elections very smoothly, but now there are restrictions and solid self-censorship,” Yousafzai said.
Looking ahead, Yousafzai envisions a career as a prime-time talk show host. “I’m always looking for opportunities to bring new and refreshing ideas to the format of talk shows. In the future, I hope to create informative shows that can really make a difference,” she said. She is also studying law, and while she’s unsure what the future holds, she sees the value of her legal studies in her journalism career. “My legal studies have proven invaluable in my journalism work, particularly given the prevalence of legal issues in current affairs. It’s essential to have a solid understanding of legal matters in order to provide accurate and insightful coverage,” she added.
For Yousafzai, leaving “Subah Say Agay” and Hum News is bittersweet. She expressed that the transition to a new morning show on 92 News is a thrilling challenge that she is eager to embrace. “Although ‘Subh Say Agay’ is my baby, and it will always have a special place in my heart, I’m excited to explore new opportunities and test my abilities,” Yousafzai shared. “I am grateful for everything I learned during my five-year tenure at Hum News and will bring those lessons to my new show. My goal is to create the best content possible, and I hope that viewers will enjoy it as much as they did my previous show.”
Go well, Ovais and Shiffa! Subah Say Agay won't be the same without the dynamic duo @OvaisMangalwala & @Shiffa_ZY. Thank you for the wonderful memories!
Wishing you both the very best in your new show on @92newschannel.
#SubahSayAgay #Farewell pic.twitter.com/Ef6Fc33uAZ— MediaSpring PK (@MediaSpringPk) February 17, 2023
Yousafzai’s new show, “Subh Savaray Pakistan,” on 92 News will be a breakfast news program that will cover the latest news and happenings all around the world along with a wide variety of infotainment topics.
Yousafzai’s journey in the media industry has been a remarkable one. Her first job in the industry was as an intern in 2014 with one of Pakistan’s prominent journalists.
Yousafzai joined Hum News in October 2017 and quickly became the face of the channel’s morning show. They covered several high-profile events, including the 2018 elections and President Arif Alvi’s lifestyle.
The Shiffa-Ovais duo covered Gawadar in a way that was unprecedented at that time. Yousafzai is also a content producer and has played a crucial role in the success of her show.
One of the highlights of Shiffa’s tenure at Hum News was her exclusive interview with former Prime Minister Imran Khan in 2022, which was the first by a morning show host. This interview was widely praised for its informative and incisive content, and cemented Shiffa’s position as a leading figure in Pakistani media. It is a testament to her journalistic acumen and dedication to her craft that she was able to secure such an important interview and conduct it with the level of professionalism that she is known for.
Yousafzai’s departure from Hum News marks the end of an era for the channel.
Yousafzai’s experience in media and her passion for her work is evident in everything she does. Her journey from an intern to a top morning show host in the country is an inspiration for many, and her dedication to her craft is an example of what hard work and determination can achieve.
Overall, Yousafzai’s move to 92 News and her new show mark the beginning of a new phase in her career.
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