TV talk shows are filled with experts on all subjects. In fact, there are so many experts these days, it is a wonder if anyone is not an expert.
Jamal Hussain is a retired Air Commodore, former director Centre for Aerospace Power Studies PAF Base Faisal, Karachi, and former Commandant Joint Services Staff College. With all of his knowledge and experience, one might also say he is an expert. But Mr. Hussain does not like to be called ‘expert’ when he appears on TV since he says that word has become so misused that it has lost all meaning.
In his column in today’s Daily Times, Mr. Hussain points to a troubling problem with media, and lists specific examples of where so-called ‘experts’ were influenced in their speaking by their personal biases. Far from saying that we should try to magically erase all personal bias, Mr. Hussain makes a more modest proposal, and one that would be an easy remedy: Simply have the TV talk shows reveal the bias of the so-called ‘expert’ before and after he speaks.
This way, the people can judge for themselves if the speaker is neutral or, if he has some bias, it can be considered with his remarks.
