Cyber Journalism
Musadiq Sanwal adopted the classical tradition in journalism in which social responsibility and intellectual direction are more important than personal fame, staying consciously clear from in his words ‘the cockfight for breaking news’. He refused high level politicians from blogging in dawn.com to avert journalistic bias. In 2008 as founding editor of DAWN.com with a young newly recruited team he set up Pakistan’s first online newsroom and transformed Dawn from an e-paper to a full-fledged interactive portal which rapidly expanded popular and serious readership nationally and abroad. With Musadiq’s persistence, Dawn’s Urdu website was launched in 2013, and planning initiated for Pakistani local languages until death overtook him in January 2014.
“One peek into his room in the office would tell you what kind of a life he led and what this hopelessly inquisitive man was about; whether it was his love for art, photography, the Urdu language, poetry, music, theatre, literature, film, design, philosophy, politics, history, technology, and of course, journalism itself. And it did not stop there. One would think, this sort of a man wouldn’t have a single moment for personal matters, but he brought up a loving family.”
Musadiq Sanwal was the executive producer of 14 in-depth video specials at Dawn.com including the groundbreaking series on sectarian, political, tribal strife gripping Quetta, the resilience of the Hazara and the city that still breathes: I am Hazara, Pakistan’s Heart of Darkness: Quetta
I am Hazara | I am forever missed, forever loved
I am Hazara | I am the gravestone and the photograph
I am Hazara | You and I
I am Hazara | I am the artist
I am Hazara | I am the diligent optimist
Pakistan’s heart of darkness | Voices from Quetta
Pakistan’s heart of darkness, Quetta | The Scrapbook
Pakistan’s heart of darkness, Quetta | What happened to Quetta
Pakistan’s heart of darkness, Quetta | The Scar
One of Musadiq’s major contributions as a producer of online journalism at BBC Urdu Service London was transforming viewers’ experiences from dry news to the interactive world of alternative and intellectual voices. He proactively introduced politically and socially investigative videos that became a permanent online feature, producing short films with young artists from Pakistan, that include Nofil Naqvi, Maheen Zia, Sharjil Baloch, Ayaz Jokhio on Baat Tau Karni Hi Paray Gi, Darwazey, Dekh Magar Pyar Se, A Pakistani Love Story, Ashiq Anokhi, Sayan Bina, Jiya Lai Gayo as well as 11 videos under Shehr Kahani
BBC Urdu : Dekh Magar Pyar Sai
BBC Urdu : Naked Voices
BBC Urdu : Mardangi Teray Kayee Roop
BBC Urdu : Apni Marzi | Shehr Kahani
BBC Urdu : Pani ka Bulbula | Shehr Kahani
BBC Urdu : Shams Kahani | Shehr Kahani
BBC Urdu : Aik Sarak Meray Gaoon Tak | Shehr Kahani
BBC Urdu : Pani ki Kahani | Shehr Kahani
BBC Urdu :Muhabbat Ka Parchari | Shehr Kahani
BBC Urdu : Balram ki Kahani | Shehr Kahani
BBC Urdu : Lok Fankar Faqero | Shehr Kahani
BBC Urdu : Shams Kahani | Shehr Kahani
BBC Urdu : Dil Pardesi Ho Gaya | Shehr Kahani
.
The year that pushed us further from being human
“So here we are. 2012 comes to an end. It has been as eventful a year as can be. I am not sure, if it has been good or bad but it hasn’t been disappointing. It managed to carry its share of stresses and anger which is most proverbial to Pakistan.” Musadiq Sanwal, Editor Dawn.com
