The death of the star last month marked not only the closure of a news paper but the end of the era of “eveninger” ( Karachi , perhaps being the city where the world originated). While the “other two” – as the y have often been referred - continue to publish, one gets the feeling that it won't be for long. The start was always a bit to big for its boots; a tad too ambitious for a small newspaper trying to succeed in a big city.

Are you a regular television watcher? Or do you keep on flipping the remote control? If you are the dedicated viewer-loyal to channel or two ands its familiar faces- you may have noticed people reading news on channels on day, who were gone next time you tuned in. the disappearing act could also afflict an anchor- not the one that holds down the ship but the one who host a television programme and vainly tries to hold on the viewers.

The explosion of independent television entities in the country has given rise to a unique set of investment and employment opportunities that have so far defied global trends and confounded both the architects of the media revolution and those actively engaged in it. Massive sums of money-perhaps more than five billion rupees estimated by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regularity Authority (Pemra)- have been injected into these ventures.

When ARY Digital network recently advertise the launch of a soap opera in collaboration with Balaji Telefilms-the Indian production house behind a bulk of successful prime-time soap operas-13000 aspiring actress from all over the country showed up for auditions in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad. So much so that scuffles broke out to the hotel where the audition were taking place and some hopefuls were baton charged of premises.

“Beautiful doesn't have to try,” declaims a deep voice as a little girl sits in front of television set. Wide-eyed she stares at the screen which is filled with a brand new jaguar,

While mellow music plays in the background. When the add finishes she stares at herself in mirror. A few days later, she ask her father, “I want to make a lot of money. What dou you think I should do when I grow up?”

Whether they were a handful or more, whether they were outstanding creative works or merely productions that own our hearts because there was no other channel to tune into the, there are some PTV productions that will be etched in our mind forever. And repertoire is extensive: from the 60s' “Khuda ki Basti”, “Alif Noon” and “Shama”, to the post-80 “Kalyian”, “Sunehray Din” and “Dhoop Kinary”.

Till five years back, public discourse and religion were like twains that never meets. Debates on issues that involve religion were confined to scholarly articles or carried out within the privacy of homes. Not anymore: be it the attention –savvy Alim out there, the mild-tempered dars giver or the ominous figure dispensing an istikhara the relgios programme has become the flavor of the day in Pakistan.

The media explosion that we are currently witnessing also heralds the arrival of new breed of celebrities. Quite anonymous and inconspicuous earlier, they have suddenly discovered fame, and in some case fortune, by hitching a ride on the media bandwagon.

New freedom that the electronic media outlets were supposed to inherit when the state monopoly over news ended in October 2001 have largely had a mythic existence. The government thus far is reluctant to give privately owned television and radio outlets a free hand. Instead it has opted for a light and heavy touch inspection regime that works both officially and unofficially through a regulator.

At 11:00 pm August 13, 1947, All India radio made its last announcement. An hour later the stroke of midnight Pakistanis tuned in to hear the newly composed signature tune of Pakistan Broadcasting Service (Later Radio Pakistan ) and Zahur Azar's announcement:” This is the Pakistan Broadcasting Service Lahore we know bring to you a special programme on the ‘Dawn of Independence'.”

Though the press advice system was introduced during Ayub Khan's regime, it flourished under other rules as well. From suppressing entire news items to instructions on which words to leave out of official statements, to how much display a news items should be given, the ‘advice' covered it all. They landed in the news rooms around the country every evening and ranged from the absurd to the tragic.

Around the turn of the century, Pakistan experienced a veritable explosion in the electronic media. Before bemused audience even learnt to spell the word television, the market has flooded with channels apparently willing to air just ay thing so long as it raked in the moolah. Viewer were bombarded with hundred of options ranging from the pulsating to the nauseating.

As the number of Pakistani's television channels increases, so does the perception that quality is declining, particularly in the entertainment programming. Critics point to poor scripts, sloppy direction and low production values, comparing the locally produced programmes with those made abroad.

The government's decision to allow privately owned television channels opened floodgates for the dozens of satellite channels that filled Pakistan 's airwaves today. While these channel focused initially on entertainment, the entry of media giants such as The Jang Group and the Business Recorder Group led to increasing in current affairs programming. Before long, 24 hours news channels made there appearance among them Geo, Business Plus and CNBC Pakistan.

I had joined The Star back in 1980 when it was being revamped. In those days, eveningers were not taken very seriously but were seen as akin to tabloids and accused of sensationalism. Admittedly almost all of them did. But the 1980s brought a change in this perspective, especially for revamped and transformed The Star. Before long, its stories were trusted, and even the military rulers, including martial law administrator of Sindh, started taking its expose seriously.

People know in their 60s and 70s still remember the gathering that took place at the friends and neighbors who were fortunate enough to possess the prized magic box-the radio. Such was the pull of Radio Pakistan that some of the proud owners placed speakers in every room of the house so that the entire family could enjoy broadcast.

It was in 1956 that one's carrier in journalism is started as an apprentice as subeditor in the Z.A. Suleri-run Time of Karachi. That makes it almost 50 years in the profession in Pakistan , except for assignments abroad. The media scene has changed immensely since then and is some way almost un recognizable. The rime of Karachi was getting on to its last legs in 1956 and was taken out by two and a half or so Linotype Machines.

The media like to perceived as angels. For the sake of balance, this comment is deliberately formulated from the contrarian perspective; to play a devil's advocate. Though the media often server laudable causes, they also have several non-laudable facets. Cross-media ownership is one of the less desirable options fro the media and , more importantly, fro the public.

“Newspapers and magazines need to be made reader friendly”

Talat Aslam is the editor of ‘The News' Karachi . He moved to his current positon after spending two years at Dawn as feature editor. Earlier, he was part of the team that initiated the process of setting up Geo. Aslam also worked for the Herald from 1985-1997.

“Powerfull writers will save the print media”

Mubina Kamal is the editor of Instep and Kolachi at The News, Karachi .

“Women face a ‘glass wall' not a ceiling, in journalism”

A National College of Arts graduate, Fareeha Rafiq worked at a multinational company before venturing into journalism about six years ago when she landed a job at The New Lahore.

“The electronic media will affect the newspapers circulation”

Qadeer Hussain Tanoli is a reporter at The News Karachi. He has been part of the print industry for the last five years.

“Ads occupy more space now”

Holding a master's degree in English, Sadia Taught for a while before landing herself an internship with an English news paper. She now work at Dawn Peshawar.

“Every one tends to do the talk shows”

Azhar Abbas started his carrier with The News in 1993, he received a Fulbright scholarship to the states. Though he had been selected for a print media course, he convinced the Fulbright management to let him switch to studying television.

“Television is finally becoming an industry”

Saramd Sultan Khoosat is a scriptwriter, director and actor. The son of television and film actor Irfan Khoosat, Sarmad's plays typically involved the slapstick comedy and Pakistani film music.

“Now the young often choose to pick guitars instead of guns”

Jawad basher has been working in the media industry for the last 14 years as a director. He is estimated to have produced 100 music videos and nearly 500 drama episodes.

“Private networks have caused a revolution”

Hassan Khan is the current affairs controller at AVT Khyber Islamabad. The only Pashto language television network. Host of political talk show “Marakah”, he has interviewed presidents Hamid Karzai and general Pervaz Musharraf.

“Radio used to be, and should be, a place of learning”

Yawar Mehdi was associated with radio Pakistan for more than 30 years. He worked as producer and eventually retired as station manger Karachi .

“Good music has very few barrires”

Munizeh Sanai and Mahvesh Murad work for city FM89 as programme managers and radio jockeys.

“Radio is truly egalitarian”

At 11 Farishta Shikhani aka DJ Malaika fled Afghanistan 's civil war and attended refuge school in Peshawar . She studied journalism at Peshawar University and now she host a radio show in Persian at radio Buraq, Peshawar 's first independent FM station.

“The era of radio plays is over”

Mehdi Raza has been the chief executive of Apna Karachi FM 107 for almost four years. Earlier he was involved in advertising and television.