Pakistani media not influenced by Taliban, editor tells Virtual Book Rap

The media in Pakistan is threatened but not influenced by the Taliban, Qaisar Abbas, a member of the National Press Club and editor of the new book "From Terrorism to Television: Media, State, and Society in Pakistan," told a Club Virtual Book Rap Sept. 30.

“The Taliban don’t have an influence on the media directly,” Abbas said.  “They are a destructive force in society at large.” 

Several conservative groups, including -- but not limited to -- the Taliban “are trying to influence society at large but are not violent.  They organize big rallies and agitate against liberal policies,” Abbas said.

"From Terrorism to Television" contains essays from several authors and is structured around five themes: media and terrorism, gender and women journalists, freedom of expression, peripheral areas and inter-state conflicts.

“This book focuses on modern-age issues related to communication and media discussed by journalists, scholars and emerging writers,” Abbas said.

The highlights of the book indicated that at present print media and historical issues pose limitations on modern journalism.

The Virtual Book Rap was sponsored by the Club’s Book & Author Group, which seeks to produce Book Raps for members to promote their recently published books. To inquire about the group, please contact Joe Motheral at [email protected]. The group meets (currently virtually) on the second Tuesday of the month at noon.