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Transcript/ScriptPF Pakistan Media Troll
HEADLINE: Attacks on high-profile female journalist in Pakistan reflect global trend, analysts say
TEASER: Nadia Mirza is a well-known journalist in Pakistan. But like many other female journalists, that higher profile attracts online trolls who threaten and denigrate her
PUBLISHED AT: 09/16/2024 at 7:47 pm
BYLINE: Tabinda Naeem
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Islamabad/ Washington
VIDEOGRAPHER: Salman Idrees Qazi
VIDEO EDITOR: Tabinda Naeem
SCRIPT EDITORS: Jessica Jerreat, Baragona
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, ZOOM, Agencies
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB _X_ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:42
VID APPROVED BY: mia
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES: For VOA Press Freedom. Questions/review Jessica Jerreat, Tabinda Naeem))
((INTRO))
[[Nadia Mirza is a well-known journalist in Pakistan. But her high-profile status is no protection from online trolls who threaten her and target her appearance and competence. Analysts say the treatment of women in media is a global issue. For Tabinda Naeem, Elizabeth Cherneff has the story for VOA News.))
((VIDEO: VOA footage of Nadia Mirza recording her show))
((VIDEO: VARIOUS SHOTS OF MIRZA RECORDING THE SHOW AT NEWS CHANNEL’S OFFICE ))
((NARRATOR))
From a studio in Islamabad, Nadia Mirza prepares for her show. A journalist and primetime talk show host at Dawn News, Mirza is a well-known presence across Pakistan.
She covers her head for religious reasons. But online trolls still attack her appearance and character.
((Nadia Mirza - Journalist (Female in English)) ((Part of soundbite covered with VOA broll of Mirza recording the show and then her social media profile feed)
“Whatever we speak or post [on social media], which is disliked by some political party, they use the word, which really hurts me, that ‘Although she takes (wears a) scarf ... her character is not good’.”
((AP Video File: Pakistan Social Media X CR 4455690 Social Media user scrolling his X feed ((Mandatory Courtesy: AP))/ VOA VIDEO: VARIOUS SHOTS OF MIRZA IN TV STUDIO SCROLLING HER PHONE ))
((Narration))
Covering sensitive issues also draws attackers. She remembers enduring online abuse after a show a few years ago.
((Nadia Mirza, Journalist ((Female/English))
“They labeled me that I did something wrong, and I did blasphemy, something, I was drunk.”
((VIDEO: Blasphemy protest Broll ))((Name of File: AP G12861_Instant_Library_Oct_Dec_2018- AP shots from a protest rally in Pakistan of a religious party with a man holding a play card saying “Death Panelty for Blasphemers”))
((Narration))
Blasphemy is punishable by death in Pakistan and even an unfounded accusation can incite mob violence.
((Nadia Mirza, Journalist ((Female/English))
“I was getting threats. So my management asked me – I was in Islamabad at that time, and my management asked me, just leave Islamabad, or just stop doing shows on that.”
((VIDEO: VOA FOOTAGE OF MIRZA RECORDING THE SHOW IN STUDIO))
((Narration))
But Mirza had her guest return to the show to help clear her name.
((Nadia Mirza, Journalist ((Female/English))
“I put the same question to him, ‘Did you really find that I was drunk and that I was in that suspicious sort of condition?’ He totally denied (it). I’m thankful to him that he showed very (much) respect to me, and he said, ‘No, it’s all propaganda.’”
((VIDEO: VOA FOOTAGE OF MIRZA DISCUSSING SOMETHING WITH HER FEMALE SHOW PRODUCER IN CHANNEL’S OFFICE))
((Narration))
Media experts say such attacks on female journalists are a global issue.
((FOR RADIO: Nadine Hoffman is the deputy executive director at the International Women’s Media Foundation. ))
((Nadine Hoffman, International Women’s Media Foundation)) ((Mandatory: Zoom))
00:08:52:23 - 00:09:18:07
“The root of this issue comes down to women's voices in public spaces, and the fact that there are many people who would like to shut them up, regardless of how they're presenting their appearance.”
((VIDEO: MIRZA’S SOCIAL MEDIA FEED ON X/ AP VIDEO OF A USER SCROLLING SOCIAL MEDIA ON THE PHONE/ AND THEN AGAIN SCREEN GRAB OF SOCIAL MEDIA FEED OF MIRZA’S SHOW))
((Narration))
Hoffman says her organization’s research has found that online abuse can affect the well-being of journalists and their ability to work.
((Nadine Hoffman, International Women’s Media Foundation)) ((Mandatory: Zoom))
“A third of women did say they thought about leaving their jobs as journalists, specifically because of online abuse that they experienced.”
00:07:22:23 - 00:07:29:11
((VIDEO: VOA FOOTAGE OF NADIA ENTERING THE NEWSROOM AND TALKING TO HER TEAM))
((NARRATOR))
Mirza says she is not aware of any training for dealing with online threats. For now, she tries to ignore the worst of the hate.
((Nadia Mirza, Journalist (Female in English)
“I do not respond to trolls. It is very rare that I respond to someone, just to correct the facts.”
((VIDEO: VOA footage of a TV channel Master Control and the editing process of a TV show. The pkg closes with the shot of Mirza going live and the shot focusing from her to the camera taking her shot))
((NARRATOR))
To stop online abuse, media experts say, newsrooms should offer better support and tools to help their journalists.
((For Tabinda Naeem, Elizabeth Cherneff, VOA News)
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
Subtitles / Dubbing AvailableNo
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateSeptember 16, 2024 20:19 EDT
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
