HD 64-75.qxd
Mallika Abbas/White Star
Tahir Jamal/White Star
The Herald, August 2011
An advertisement for Orient Airways in an October 1947 newspaper from the Dawn Archives
74
A catalogue of Urdu newspaper clippings at Jang’s reference library
Dispatches from the past
By Javaria Khan
Sifting through Karachi’s newspaper archives
S
ince August 15, 1947, newspapers have recorded Pakistan’s eventful history without missing so much as a day’s happenings. But has this treasure trove of news archives been preserved skillfully? And do our present generations even know that this priceless cache exists? Created in 1969, Dawn’s editorial department library has preserved issues of the newspaper since it was first printed on August 15, 1947. Dawn also has a vast collection of newspaper clippings from a wide range of other newspapers. This kind of preservation, however, does not come without glitches. For instance, if you want to have a look at the first ever issue of Dawn, you may be disappointed when the librarian refuses permission. “We have only one copy and it is in very bad shape. Even handling it might lead to irreparable damage,” he says. “We have scanned the issue and stored it digitally and we also have it on microfilm.” However, the desktop reader used for projecting the image of microfilms has been non-functional for the past year. “This machine is very old and its replacement parts are hard to find. When it was repaired last year, it cost 100,000 rupees and it broke down again soon after,” explains a library assistant .
In July 2009, heavy rains destroyed many second copies of newspapers stored in the basement of Dawn’s central office in Karachi. Left with single copies of old newspaper issues, such as those from 1947, the management does not even permit library staff to show them to those working with the editorial department. To preserve them from further damage, there are plans to laminate these papers. “Lamination will take two years to complete and will lengthen the lives of the newspapers by 50 years at least,” says Murtaza Iqbal of Dawn’s computer department. Some researchers complain it is difficult to access Dawn’s archives. Sabahat Kaleem, the head of the Dawn library, counters that “opening the library to the public raises security and staffing issues.” In some cases, editors have also refused permission to access the library. For instance, a newspaper employee working with one of Dawn’s competitors in Karachi claims he was denied permission to use the Dawn library. The Jang Group of Newspapers, established in 1947, also has a reference section with newspapers dating back to the inception of its flagship daily, Jang. The library includes newspaper clippings in almost 300
By Moosa Kaleem
Television’s blind spot Rampant pilferage of historic footage from state television archives
The Herald, August 2011
categories, compiled from English and Urdu newspapers. However, the management has dumped most old copies of Jang in a store house on Burns Road after converting them into digital format. The News International, also published by the Jang Group, maintains a reference section with newspapers dating back to 1991, many of them already laminated for preservation. However, their librarian says that problems of security and shortage of staff restrict public access to these archives. “Our library is more focused on inhouse publications, so the point of opening it up to the public is moot,” he added. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) also maintains a sizeable newspaper archive based in Lahore accessible to all including writers, researchers and journalists. A non-profit organisation created in 1985, the HRCP has acquired in-house archives of the Pakistan Times, the Frontier Post, Viewpoint and Muslim. Newspapers from its regional offices spread countrywide are also documented. “The need for creating an archive arouse when the HRCP planned to publish its annual report on human rights violations. Official statistics were required and so we started gathering these newspapers,” says Zaman Khan, a founder member in Lahore. Mian Nizam Din, in charge of the reference section at the Pakistan Times before he joined the HRCP, “was the driving force behind the creation of our archive,” Khan adds. An appointment with the administrator is the only prerequisite for accessing the HRCP archive. “We are also digitising the newspapers and uploading these documents on a website,” Khan adds, a move that the HRCP hopes will facilitate researchers. ■
75
T
he significance of archival material is understood in the broadcast media but private channels persist in illegally acquiring and airing valuable footage that belongs to Pakistan Television (PTV). Almost all such channels allegedly steal and illegally air footage collated by PTV since its inception. For instance, most channels showing documentaries on former prime minister Benazir Bhutto after her death have used historic footage that originally belonged to PTV without giving the state-run broadcaster credit. A source reveals how private channels procure this footage through their “connections” within the management and PTV newsroom staff, often making under-the-table payments. “This practice started in 1997 when private broadcasters entered the media business. It thrives with the connivance of certain top-ranking officers as well as other PTV staffers,” claims a source within PTV. Azhar Masood, a former chief instructor at the PTV Academy, says the pilferage of “historic footage is rampant and has increased over the last few years.” According to him, “even the PTV directors are involved in this pilferage. They usually take rare footage with them when they retire or switch to a private channel.” Yousuf Baig Mirza, the managing director of the PTV, acknowledges that the problem exists and says: “[The channel] does not have issues with other private channels using its footage but they must follow the legal procedure to gain access to such archives.” ■
Tahir Jamal/White Star
The Herald, August 2011
An advertisement for Orient Airways in an October 1947 newspaper from the Dawn Archives
74
A catalogue of Urdu newspaper clippings at Jang’s reference library
Dispatches from the past
By Javaria Khan
Sifting through Karachi’s newspaper archives
S
ince August 15, 1947, newspapers have recorded Pakistan’s eventful history without missing so much as a day’s happenings. But has this treasure trove of news archives been preserved skillfully? And do our present generations even know that this priceless cache exists? Created in 1969, Dawn’s editorial department library has preserved issues of the newspaper since it was first printed on August 15, 1947. Dawn also has a vast collection of newspaper clippings from a wide range of other newspapers. This kind of preservation, however, does not come without glitches. For instance, if you want to have a look at the first ever issue of Dawn, you may be disappointed when the librarian refuses permission. “We have only one copy and it is in very bad shape. Even handling it might lead to irreparable damage,” he says. “We have scanned the issue and stored it digitally and we also have it on microfilm.” However, the desktop reader used for projecting the image of microfilms has been non-functional for the past year. “This machine is very old and its replacement parts are hard to find. When it was repaired last year, it cost 100,000 rupees and it broke down again soon after,” explains a library assistant .
In July 2009, heavy rains destroyed many second copies of newspapers stored in the basement of Dawn’s central office in Karachi. Left with single copies of old newspaper issues, such as those from 1947, the management does not even permit library staff to show them to those working with the editorial department. To preserve them from further damage, there are plans to laminate these papers. “Lamination will take two years to complete and will lengthen the lives of the newspapers by 50 years at least,” says Murtaza Iqbal of Dawn’s computer department. Some researchers complain it is difficult to access Dawn’s archives. Sabahat Kaleem, the head of the Dawn library, counters that “opening the library to the public raises security and staffing issues.” In some cases, editors have also refused permission to access the library. For instance, a newspaper employee working with one of Dawn’s competitors in Karachi claims he was denied permission to use the Dawn library. The Jang Group of Newspapers, established in 1947, also has a reference section with newspapers dating back to the inception of its flagship daily, Jang. The library includes newspaper clippings in almost 300
By Moosa Kaleem
Television’s blind spot Rampant pilferage of historic footage from state television archives
The Herald, August 2011
categories, compiled from English and Urdu newspapers. However, the management has dumped most old copies of Jang in a store house on Burns Road after converting them into digital format. The News International, also published by the Jang Group, maintains a reference section with newspapers dating back to 1991, many of them already laminated for preservation. However, their librarian says that problems of security and shortage of staff restrict public access to these archives. “Our library is more focused on inhouse publications, so the point of opening it up to the public is moot,” he added. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) also maintains a sizeable newspaper archive based in Lahore accessible to all including writers, researchers and journalists. A non-profit organisation created in 1985, the HRCP has acquired in-house archives of the Pakistan Times, the Frontier Post, Viewpoint and Muslim. Newspapers from its regional offices spread countrywide are also documented. “The need for creating an archive arouse when the HRCP planned to publish its annual report on human rights violations. Official statistics were required and so we started gathering these newspapers,” says Zaman Khan, a founder member in Lahore. Mian Nizam Din, in charge of the reference section at the Pakistan Times before he joined the HRCP, “was the driving force behind the creation of our archive,” Khan adds. An appointment with the administrator is the only prerequisite for accessing the HRCP archive. “We are also digitising the newspapers and uploading these documents on a website,” Khan adds, a move that the HRCP hopes will facilitate researchers. ■
75
T
he significance of archival material is understood in the broadcast media but private channels persist in illegally acquiring and airing valuable footage that belongs to Pakistan Television (PTV). Almost all such channels allegedly steal and illegally air footage collated by PTV since its inception. For instance, most channels showing documentaries on former prime minister Benazir Bhutto after her death have used historic footage that originally belonged to PTV without giving the state-run broadcaster credit. A source reveals how private channels procure this footage through their “connections” within the management and PTV newsroom staff, often making under-the-table payments. “This practice started in 1997 when private broadcasters entered the media business. It thrives with the connivance of certain top-ranking officers as well as other PTV staffers,” claims a source within PTV. Azhar Masood, a former chief instructor at the PTV Academy, says the pilferage of “historic footage is rampant and has increased over the last few years.” According to him, “even the PTV directors are involved in this pilferage. They usually take rare footage with them when they retire or switch to a private channel.” Yousuf Baig Mirza, the managing director of the PTV, acknowledges that the problem exists and says: “[The channel] does not have issues with other private channels using its footage but they must follow the legal procedure to gain access to such archives.” ■
