Playing the spy card against WSJ in Pakistan

The Nation's story is surprising for me.

Without any proof calling someone a spy even if it was true is wrong.

Although,every one knows that WSJ is a mouthpiece for biased U.S/India prespectives and can hardly be called an objective newspaper.Remember how all the U.S papers indulged in propoganda about WMD in Iraq ably led by all these courageous journalists of NY Times etc.

Still the low level journalism of these U.S papers should not be matched by un profession reporting by Nation news paper which has always been at the forefront of quality journalism.

I think journalist community of Pakistan should protest over it and write about it..I also putting the link of daily The news about this story

http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=91234

I agree. It was definitely a bad call to publish such a story - even if the Nation claims to have iron-clad proof that the allegation was right.

First: Bad editorial judgement. That does not qualify as a story. It's neither 'journalism' nor 'a breaking story'. It probably falls under gossip columns in hair-salon magazines, though I dare say even hair-salon magazines are more responsible than that.

Second, In my experience, having worked in Lebanon during the war years, normally when such a vicious rumour is spread about a fellow journalist, it was always for personal vendettas or petty jealousy. Never based on any real intelligence. And they were certainly never published in any self-respecting newspaper.

Third, the Nation should give its readers a bit of credit and respect them more because on basic level the story does not even make sense. Real intelligence bodies, or as quoted “an official of law enforcement agency, who requested anonymity” don't quite operate like that. If they suspect a spy among the ranks of journos, they just nab him/her or simply throw them out.. They don't behave like political sources and 'leak' the news to the papers.

Fourth, I think the Nation has officially crossed the line from that of journalism - with all its ethos and integrity - to that of a mere stooge in a sleezy low-ranking semi-official governmental job.

Last but not least, at a time the world - and particularly in Pakistan - is full of trigger-happy nutters and religious freaks who suspect their own mothers of the Great Satan's conspiracy, it is highly irresponsible for a respected paper to publish such a story. If something happens to Rosenburg, the responsibily will fall squarely on the shoulders and conscience of the Nation. There is no two way about it. Can The Nation afford to?

This third rate editor of the Pakistani news paper, who is the media agent of the Pakistani Army and the ISI, should face legal actions.

Such baseless story had not only put at risk the life of foreign journalists but also of the local interpretor/fixers/tanslaotors who are working with these journalists.

Unbelievable.

"But we are also concerned about the source for this scurrilous information, someone the reporter identified as “an official of law enforcement agency, who requested anonymity.” Could this be a deliberate government attempt to intimidate Rosenberg and other foreign correspondents working in Pakistan?"

Isn't this piece written in the same tone.

WSJ is in no position to question The Nation. WSJ has a history of quoting unnamed sources who request anonymity. It also has a history of publishing "slanderous and dangerous falsehoods" - some leading to war and endangering millions of lives.

Having said that, the Nation is doing no service to itself either. Accusing someone of being a spy without proof is plain wrong. Just mentioning the illegal activities (which he himself admits to) of Mr Rosenberg is enough. Break the facts. Let the government handle the rest.

PS. What happens if Mr Rosenberg is kidnapped or killed in one of his illegal forays into places where he is not supposed to go? Mr Rosenberg and WSJ need strong censure.

The letter is in response to an article by Kaswar Klasra in The Nation earlier this month that – with no evidence or factual support – accused a fellow journalist of being a spy. This group letter to the Minister comes following public condemnation from Committee to Protect Journalists and an appeal from the editor of The Wall Street Journal.

The letter is signed by Editors from ABC News, Agence France-Presse, Associated Press, The Guardian, BBC, The Independent, CNN, Al Jazeera, The Economist, Financial Times, Los Angeles Times, France Info, McClatchy Newspapers, National Public Radio, Reuters, The New York Times, TIME, Newsweek, The Times, Radio France Internationale, and The Wall Street Journal.

http://pakistanmediawatch.com/2009/11/17/breaking-21-international-media-organizations-write-to-government-about-the-nation/

Unfortunately Pakistani media is becoming a mafia, it likes to control everything.That is the reason, these "journalists" cross all limits to give a hot story or breaking news.They do not care about any ethics, respect or national interests.Journalists make public opinion, but in Pakistan journalists create hatred and division.
Sometime I think about future of Pakistani Journalism, looks very dark.
Can someone from world body like CPJ can do any thing to control them?
thanks

As an American reporter here in Pakistan, my impression is that there was perhaps a real voice inside some government agency who spoke to the Nation, but that this person would not have been at the national level or necessarily in an intelligence role. It could have been the equivalent of a local county sheriff.

That doesn't make the spreading of falsehoods any less worrisome but it is significant because we in the international press often portray the Pakistani government/establishment as a monolith, when there are plenty of factions and layers all promoting different agendas, just like there are anyplace else.

It should not come as such a great surprise that suspicions like this EXIST among SOME people in official capacities. To me, the 'news' in this incident is that CPJ and other international bodies are so shocked to discover that such conspiracy theories extend beyond the radical fringes and are endorsed by a portion the Pakistani establishment. After years covering Pakistan, we should know better.

The international portrayal of Pakistan seems to convey the notion of three bodies--the military, a 'liberal' elite and a 'conservative' mass. But there's a robust conservative elite too, a perfectly well-educated bunch whose conspiratorial fears have to be countered with rational arguments, not simply dismissal, boycott or outrage.

i as journalist,with 40 years of my dedicated to it,was shocked beyond description at "Nation"story on alleged spy reporter. We must condemn this with all the might at our command.I have covered major world events during my career andd is ashamed at such journalistic malice inmy county