Zaid Ali
In the noise that passes for K-media today, there are some journalists who have not only stayed true to the profession but also consistently delivered important and relevant news. And among these journalists, are women who have become an inspiration for aspiring journalists and gone above and beyond their call of duty. Undoubtedly one of the recognized faces of K-journalism, Farzana Mumtaz, editor and owner of the widely circulated weekly newspaper News Kashmir. Farzana has witnessed several milestones in the news industry, from being part of the news channel to the wave of print media. Farzana has worked at top newspapers, television networks and digital platforms.
Her illustrious career in journalism spans more than two decades. Farzana launched her own weekly newspaper in 2012 which has emerged as the leading weekly Newspaper of Kashmir. “Today, under my leadership, a group of ten media professionals keep the world updated about Kashmir and the world .We keep national interest and high quality media ethics in view while reporting facts and stories on Kashmir,” she said. Not only this, Farzan’s venture is inspiring many girls to take media as a career and come up in the modern fields in Kashmir.
According to Farzana, writing or covering news is not as easy a feat as one think it may be. There are a lot of factors involved while covering a news piece, either in print or digital. However, there are certain personalities in the journalism world that cross all obstacles and barriers and come up with a way to deliver the news with utmost honesty. “Kids need to learn early on how important evidence-based reporting, fact-checking and truthful storytelling are to our democracy and our future. And the best way to teach that is to expose children to deeply reported journalism that matters,” Farzana said.
Also Read: Tahir Sayeed resigns as PDP’s additional spokesperson
Farzana has received every major award for her contribution to Journalism of Kashmir as pioneer of women journalism.
According to Farzana, a talented brand of young writers write for her weekly and interviews of eminent global personalities feature regularly in her paper. News Kashmir is now a leading media outlet of Kashmir. Farzana has participated in various International and regional conferences, and recently the Minority Affairs and Women Ministry conference on women and Minorities invited her as speaker.
Women are strong, powerful and invincible. With thousands of mantras encouraging women’s existence every day, a special day is indeed a necessity to celebrate women’s achievements in all aspects of life. Whether she’s a journalist, teacher, engineer or pioneer, women have been making the world a better place with their infinite strength, determination and belief. With power enough to shatter the shackles of patriarchy, women are rising above societal hurdles every single day, making them a stronger force to reckon with, in modern times.
