PTI deletes its list of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ journalists after backlash
PTI deletes its list of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ journalists after backlash on social media.
The ruling political party Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) had prepared lists of its favourite and non favourite journalists.
The lists were shared by the PTI Lahore official Twitter handle, however, the tweets were taken down after meeting with backlash on social media.
The list of ‘bad’ journalists on social media, calling them “anchors/mediamen building narratives for the corrupt”.
“Let take these names loud and clear,” the tweet said shared with the hashtag ‘HardTalkNotCapitalTalk’.
Though the tweets were taken down, but the internet never forgets!
According to the list, Hamid Mir, Asma Shirazi, Naseem Zahra, Najam Sethi, Talat Hussain, Mansoor Ali Khan, Gharidah Farooqi, Javed Ch, and Saleem Safi were termed the ‘bad journalists’.
While the journalists on the good side included: Imran Khan, Maleeha Hashmey, Sabir Shakir, Kashif Abbasi, Ghulam Hussain, Sami Ibrahim, Shifa Yousafzai, Mooed Pirzada, Abdul Qadir, and Waqar Malik.
The lists met with harsh backlash on social media, considering it as an attack on press freedom, many came out condemning this act in Tweets:
PTI official verified accounts have launched a campaign list of their favourites and hated media persons. This is how PTI and it’s sitting government takes criticism. #Journalismisnotacrime pic.twitter.com/TBZqxXd9sL
— Asma Shirazi (@asmashirazi) December 2, 2020
Online attacks on Pakistani #womenjournos continue to escalate. CFWIJ condemns the vicious attacks by PTI trolls against these brave #women #journalists. Bias linked to PTI makes up 42% of #gendertrolling campaigns launched against #WIJ.
— #WomenInJournalism (@CFWIJ) December 2, 2020
➡️https://t.co/pghdVRS50X pic.twitter.com/Zw7P5Bu34a
#Journalismisnotacrime @ImranKhanPTI were is @BBC like media in Pakistan????
— Shabbir Hussain🇵🇰 (@Shabbir461) December 3, 2020
Shame @PTIofficial https://t.co/NW8zPdlEpD
Good journalists. Bad journalists.
— Amber Rahim Shamsi (@AmberRShamsi) December 2, 2020
Good BBC. Bad BBC.
When those in power become comfortable with a journalist, it’s because the journalist isn’t asking uncomfortable questions. https://t.co/R62gjtYJft
PTI issues two lists of journalists. One the party leadership hates. The other the party leadership loves. Check out the lists. pic.twitter.com/iY6y0vKgqW
— Syed Talat Hussain (@TalatHussain12) December 2, 2020