Calls for protecting ethical journalism in evolving threat landscape in event to mark World Press Freedom Day
Dawn Editor Zaffar Abbas speaks during the concluding session, “Surrender is not an option”, in conversation with IBA-CEJ Director Shahzeb Jillani. Photo: CEJ-IBA
Journalists and media personnel warned Saturday that threats to journalism were increasingly shifting from physical violence to legal, regulatory and financial pressure.
At an event organized by the Institute of Business Administration Karachi’s Center for Excellence in Journalism (IBA-CEJ) ahead of World Press Freedom Day, speakers said that in an era of misinformation and self-censorship, public interest journalism was more crucial than ever to promote accountability and ensure an informed society.
Opening the event, IBA-CEJ Director Shahzeb Jillani said the gathering came at a “critical time for press freedom globally”, a concern also highlighted by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) in its Press Freedom Index, which described 2026 as the worst year since records began.
Read: Pakistan’s media freedoms face sharp decline
“We are holding this event at a critical time when press freedom is at its lowest worldwide. Yet we are here to renew our commitment to journalism in the public interest, to report the truth with courage, but also to be safe while holding power to account,” he said.
In the concluding session titled “Surrender is not an option”, Zaffar Abbas, editor of Dawn Media Group, spoke about the need to maintain editorial independence despite mounting pressure.
“I still believe that surrender is not an option. If you are not able to stand up for what you believe in, then it would be better to quit and go home,” he said.
“Serving the community through your writing, broadcasts and recordings is an effective way to let people know what’s wrong so they make informed decisions. If we continue to do that, we can make a difference,” he added.
He also emphasized that true editorial independence required reducing reliance on public and private advertisements.
During a panel discussion on journalist safety titled “Shooting the Messenger – The Price We Pay,” Iqbal Khattak, executive director of the Freedom Network, identified regulatory repression as a significant new threat.
Speakers Iqbal Khattak, Adil Jawad and PFUJ President Shahzada Zulfiqar speak during the panel “Shoot the Messenger – The Price We Pay”, moderated by Nadia Naqi. Photo: CEJ-IBA
“Economic strangulation and abuse of cyber laws have emerged as a go-to tactic to silence dissent and punish critics,” he said.
Fellow panelist Adil Jawad highlighted the growing vulnerability of digital journalists and noted an increasing focus on controlling narratives on online platforms.
“There is a growing focus on controlling the narrative on social and digital media. More and more digital journalists are being targeted by PECA, often because they lack the training on how to stay safe,” he said.
Women journalists Sidra Dar, Kiran Khan and Yusra Askari speak during the panel “Reporting from the field? Navigating everyday trolling, pressures and restrictions”, moderated by Shahzeb Ahmed. Photo: CEJ-IBA
The panel also featured former Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists president Shahzada Zulfiqar, who spoke about the challenges of reporting from Balochistan, describing the province as an information “black hole”. The session was moderated by Nadia Naqi.
In the keynote session, Osama Bin Javaid, Senior Correspondent at Al Jazeerapaid tribute to journalists working in conflict areas.
“Press freedom around the world owes Gaza’s journalists on World Press Freedom Day,” he said during his lecture titled “Eyewitness to history: reporting on war and genocide”.
A separate panel on challenges faced by women journalists, titled “Reporting from the field? Navigating everyday trolling, pressures and restrictions”, featured journalists Sidra Dar, Kiran Khan and Yusra Askari. The session was moderated by Shahzeb Ahmed.
Panelists speak during the session on journalist safety, titled “Shoot the messenger – the price we pay”, moderated by Nadia Naqi. Photo: CEJ-IBA
The moderator offered advice on dealing with online abuse, saying: “Develop a thick skin to not let trolling get to you, keep going, but also know when to pause and take a step back.”
Reflecting on the impact of journalism, Kiran said, “Your voice can be so powerful that its pain reaches people and compels them to take meaningful action.”
Speakers throughout the event emphasized that as the methods of suppressing journalism became more sophisticated, defending ethical, independent journalism and the public interest had become more urgent than ever before.
