KARACHI:In the pecking order of modern threats to free media, the rise of populism, and the uninterrupted flow of misinformation are right on top.<\/p>\n

During a wide-ranging interview with the Express Tribune, German broadcast journalist, and the Director-General of Deutsche Welle (DW), Peter Limbourg cautioned freedom of speech is under sustained assault by the rise of populism.<\/p>\n

\u201cFreedom of speech is in danger because populist leaders separate people and societies by twisting facts,\u201d Limbourg warned, adding that the threat is growing.<\/p>\n

Limbourg believes populist leaders pose a threat to news organizations. \u201cThey counter facts with alternative facts. They deliberately ignore history and play on emotions to get their point across,\u201d he said. And this, he said, is a challenge for journalists.<\/p>\n

Limbourg said news outlets face pressure from both sides of the political fence. \u201cIt is not just right-wingers but also left-wingers who threaten free media,\u201d said the head of German state-owned public broadcasters DW.<\/p>\n

Around the world, he said, a persistent campaign is being waged to target journalists only because they play a vital role in exposing uncomfortable truths and holding power to account. Journalists, he said, are being intimidated into silence by states in some parts of the world.<\/p>\n

Pointing towards the growing violence against media workers, he said: \u201cIt is a very dangerous profession. Media workers risk their lives in many parts of the world while doing their jobs.\u201d But even while it is getting difficult to perform duties as a journalist, Limbourg said: \u201cIt was and is a great profession.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thanks to the internet, he said, \u201cInformation that decades ago might have been consumed by relatively few can now reach millions of people around the world in a matter of minutes.\u201d Sadly, Limbourg said, this is also true for misinformation. \u201cThis has become a growing problem, with serious consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, he said news driven by facts will always have a future. \u201cFake news has always existed, but the internet allows fake news an opportunity to spread easily,\u201d he said in a response motivated by realistic optimism.<\/p>\n

On reporting challenges from Asia, where the German broadcaster claims to have an audience of 31 million weekly consumers, Limbourg said it was not easy to report on Kashmir under the information blockade.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just report whatever is happening in Kashmir or try to report what is going on, because at the moment it is difficult to look into the Kashmir side in India,\u201d said Limbourg, who also stopped by in New Delhi to expand DW\u2019s presence in India.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe try to show both sides if there are both, and there are probably more,\u201d he said. He acknowledged reporting on Kashmir was not an easy task. \u201cAt the moment, reporting on Kashmir is a difficult task, but we try to do our job,\u201d said Limbourg.<\/p>\n

Close to home, Limbourg listed the refugee crisis as a critical topic to cover. \u201cImmigration is a critical topic for the audience in Europe and those who plan to move to the continent,\u201d he said. \u201cOur job is to report the reality and prevent propaganda from spreading,\u201d Limbourg added.<\/p>\n

The head of the German public broadcaster said consumers must trust information only after they have verified the source. And that, he said, is the only way to prevent the spread of misinformation. \u201cConsumers need to check where the information is coming from,\u201d said Limbourg.<\/p>\n

On covering US President Donald Trump, who is an avid Twitter user, the DW chief said: \u201cWe analyze his tweets. Mr. Trump would like the world to report on all his tweets.\u201d \u201cHe says so many strange things, and they don\u2019t have to be reported,\u201d he quipped.<\/p>\n

Towards the end of the interview, Limbourg also praised journalists in Pakistan. \u201cThey work in such extreme conditions, and the odds are always against them. I salute their courage,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The Express Tribune<\/a><\/p>\n