" The 2 essential P's if Sudent life " : Tahir Malik (HOD, Media Dept, USA)

By : Annam Lodhi

Living by the motto that Humanity is the foremost agenda of life, he is a graduate of the GC & Masters from PU & Oklahoma USA& has been a part of Pakistani media for the past 20 years (electronic & print) Tahir Malik is for sure a many of many colours. His vast experience & knowledge in the field is very informative for his students. This is a brief Q/A session with him on educational lines.

1.       What’s the experience like to teach media after being part of it for such a long time?

I think it’s very helpful for me as a teacher to have experienced media so closely, not only have I read media, I have touched, tasted & seen media personally.

2.       Do you think the degree USA is providing us will help the studies be as good as you are in the field? Practically?

The degree is very appropriate, being the dean of BMS; I guess am one of the very few deans who have been in their field practically, as well as theoretically. I am a fully man practice, so I represent the media, definitely it helps me teach you the mechanics of media. Also I’m fully aware of the difficulties a student might face after achieving the degree & I am very conscious to teach as a teacher the reality of media to the students. Though degree is essential but it isn't everything, as media is behavior  a mid-set, a certain skills. so I think we at the university try our best to teach the student both the principals & vision of media in terms of its function & real situations. We do not believe the stereo type theory we believe in practical aspects of this field.

3.       Related to you previous answers we do not see much practical work in the USA related to our field, what is the reason behind that?

I as a teacher try my best give much help as possible. We bring in many guest lecturers as possible as who have tasted the field. Workers who are more in touch with media & having someone who have the ground rights to convey every much of help to students, like you and others who want to be something. Gaining their experience through their own words is also a very important aspect of learning.

4.       In your opinion is Pakistani media promoting extremism & not concentrating on other much needed issues?

Yes, I agree Pakistani media usually promotes destruction & not much of positivism present in Pakistan. We have so many good things, like our universities, the beauty of Pakistan. The opportunities for the youth are not all to be given the attention that they needed. We all should be proud of being Pakistani’s. The media does not fully cover its role, if it provides you with a problem should also give a solution, if shows negativity should show positives also. It should guide people’s hopes.

5.       What positive changes do you want to see in your students?

At university level, I would like to see my students to be regular. The one bad habit of the students is to come late to the classes; if they come regular I assure you the results will be applause able. People think they have to study 8-10 hours a day to achieve grades but in actual it is otherwise, especially with the kind of our module system that we are running in the university the student has to be Present, physically & mentally.

The second is Participation. I am talking about the 2 P’s which are very essential & fundamental in my head. Presence & Participation, if you are a student & you don’t understand the importance of these 2 P’s then you have no right to be a student anywhere. It will not only make it easy but a pleasantly fun experience, sitting reading, studying isn’t what we believe it is. So don’t make a fool out of yourself, it’s completely your choice to attend the university or not! Be responsible, confident & come by choice.