‘Unethical’ Media Coverage Of Aurat March Criticised

Media is being criticised for its coverage of the Aurat March, held across Pakistan on Sunday. The marchers took to Twitter to share their unpleasant experiences accusing the reporters covering the march of unethical and sexist reporting.

People took to Twitter and accused Daily Pakistan’s reporter Yasir Shami of practicing unethical journalism, as he tried to trap marchers by putting his words in their mouth. The reporter was seen getting personal with the participants of the march while interviewing them.

Author Saadia Toor replied to a tweet of media outlet Daily Pakistan, saying that their reporter’s behaviour was ‘sexist’ and ‘insulting’ to the participants of Aurat March at Lahore. “Your corporate sponsors won’t like that I think,” she added.

Interesting that you’re acting so supportive of women here Daily Pakistan, when your reporting of Aurat March has been sexist & insulting & your reporter at the march in Lahore harassed participants repeatedly. Your corporate sponsors won’t like that I think.

— Saadia Toor (@pagalpanchi) March 8, 2020

A user shared her experience on Twitter and claimed that she fought with a reporter at Aurat March because the reporter only wanted to portray her negatively. She said “if I end up on the news all red faced and flustered, please know that the reporter was an ass.”

Just had a fight with a reporter who kept interrogating me on the charter of demands and me and my friend just lost it. If i end up on the news all red faced and flustered, please know that the reporter was an ass and he only wanted to depict us that way

— Rabia (@damselindupatta) March 8, 2020

at the march so many interviewers tried to make me speak. to one i said, sorry i cant speak on camera & he got so offended and said, "abhi toh itna bol rahi thi" referring to me chanting with the crowd. n thats when i realized how nonexistent the concept of consent is over here

— ⛓ (@ramiieo) March 8, 2020

Journalist Maleeha Mengal said on her Twitter handle that the reporter of Daily Pakistan bullied her during an interview at the march. She said the reporter was repeatedly asking every girl about the meaning of controversial slogan ‘mera jism meri marzi’ (my body, my consent).

@SarahBelal_ @SarahBelal_ thanks for coming up and saving me from @DailyUrduPoint's bullying reporter who was going around @AuratMarch asking me and other women about mera jism meri marzi's meaning, I was carrying a poster of "meri marzi" … #AuratMarch2020

— Maleeha Mengal (@IterateBuzzer) March 9, 2020

A Thread About Independent Press & Reporter at Aurat March:

I see you and we need to talk about a few things guys. Today at @AuratAzadiMarch I saw lots of reporters pushing cameras and mics infront of young men who were attending the march in support. Kia hum mar gai hain, https://t.co/Hr2t53rA74

— Nayha Jehangir Khan (@nayhajayart) March 8, 2020

Another user claimed that a reporter said to her that “you people [girls] cannot even kill a cockroach, and you people are on streets demanding rights.”

A reporter at aurat march said to me aap log cockroach tou khud maar nahi saktay aur haqooq maange nikal gaye and what the fuck???!

— xenuak (@xenuak) March 8, 2020