Newsweek Pakistan
{{Short description|Pakistani news magazine, founded 2010}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{primary sources|date=February 2018}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2018}}}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox magazine
| title =
| logo =
| logo_size =
| image_file = Cover of Newsweek Pakistan.jpg
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Cover of November 2010 issue of Newsweek Pakistan
| editor = Fasih Ahmed
| editor_title2 = Consulting Editor
| editor2 = Khaled Ahmed
| editor_title3 = Managing Editor
| editor3 = Jahanzeb Aslam
| previous_editor =
| staff_writer =
| photographer =
| category =
| frequency =
| circulation =
| publisher = Iqbal Z. Ahmed
| founded = 2010
| firstdate = {{Start date and age|df=y|2010|9|5}}
| company = AG Publications
| country = Pakistan
| based = Lahore
| language = English
| website = {{Official URL}}
| issn = 2226-7492
| oclc =
}}
Newsweek Pakistan was a news magazine published by AG Publications, a company wholly owned by Associated Group (AG), under license from Newsweek Publishing LLC. The licensing agreement with AG Publications followed similar publishing alliances for other Newsweek editions. Newsweek's Asia Pacific edition, published in Hong Kong, had been available in Pakistan for over 50 years. Newsweek Pakistan replaced the Asia Pacific edition, and carried reportage, analysis and opinion on Pakistan in addition to the content featured in the international edition. The Pakistan edition drew upon both its own editorial staff and Newsweek's international network of correspondents.
Fasih Ahmed, who has reported for the Wall Street Journal, Newsweek and The Daily Beast,{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/|title=The Daily Beast|website=The Daily Beast}} was the editor of Newsweek Pakistan. Ahmed won a New York Press Club{{Cite web|url=https://www.frontlineclub.com/fasih_ahmed_wins_new_york_press_club_award/|title=Fasih Ahmed wins New York Press Club Award|website=Frontline Club}} award in 2008 for Newsweek’s coverage of the assassination of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/report-head-injury-killed-bhutto-93865|title=Report: Head Injury Killed Bhutto|first=Newsweek Staff On 2/7/08 at 7:00 PM|last=EST|date=February 7, 2008|website=Newsweek}}
History
AG launched its first media enterprise, Newsweek Pakistan, in August 2010.{{cite news|title=Top Ten Most Popular Magazines in Pakistan 2015 – 2016|url=http://www.read.com.pk/top-ten-most-popular-magazines-in-pakistan-2015|accessdate=3 May 2016|work=Read Pakistan|date=28 September 2015}} The cover story on Newsweek Pakistan{{'}}s first issue, "The World's Bravest Nation: Pakistan", showed a boy displaced by the 2010 Pakistan floods.{{cite news |title=Newsweek Pakistan Launches |work=The Huffington Post |date=2011-05-25 |orig-date=31 August 2010 |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/newsweek-pakistan-launche_n_700407 |access-date=2024-08-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240606113209/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/newsweek-pakistan-launche_n_700407 |archive-date=2024-06-06 |url-status=live}} The magazine donated net proceeds from the sale of this debut issue to the U.N.'s World Food Program.
The debut issue also featured an exclusive interview with Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan,[http://www.newsweek.com/2010/08/31/a-q-khan-on-his-role-developing-pakistan-s-nuke.html "Western Hypocrisy." Fasih Ahmed interviews AQ Khan. Newsweek.] and also included an article on Pakistan by Ron Moreau, author of the October 2007 Newsweek cover story, "The Most Dangerous Nation in the World is not Iraq. It's Pakistan."[http://www.newsweek.com/2007/10/20/where-the-jihad-lives-now.html "Where the Jihad Lives Now," Ron Moreau. Newsweek; 20 October 2007.]
The magazine is produced by AG Publications under license from Newsweek Publishing LLC, and is edited by Fasih Ahmed{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/authors/fasih-ahmed|title=Fasih Ahmed|website=Newsweek}} who has written for The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek International, and who was the inaugural Daniel Pearl fellow.{{Cite web|url=https://www.danielpearl.org/previous-fellows|title=Previous Fellows|website=Daniel Pearl Foundation}} Ahmed also wrote the aforementioned debut issue cover story,{{Cite web|url=http://newsweekpakistan.com/the-worlds-bravest-nation/|title=The World's Bravest Nation|date=August 30, 2010|website=Newsweek Pakistan}} which was also published online by Newsweek.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/despite-crises-pakistan-bravest-nation-72391|title=Despite Crises, Pakistan Is the Bravest Nation|first=Fasih Ahmed On 9/16/10 at 12:30 PM|last=EDT|date=September 16, 2010|website=Newsweek}}
The magazine's coverage of the attack on schoolgirl activist Malala Yousafzai, reported by Shehrbano Taseer, was the cover story for the Pakistan edition as well as Newsweek{{'}}s foreign editions.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/girl-who-changed-pakistan-malala-yousafzai-65293|title=The Girl Who Changed Pakistan: Malala Yousafzai|first=Shehrbano Taseer On 10/22/12 at 1:00 AM|last=EDT|date=October 22, 2012|website=Newsweek}}
The magazine has hosted and sponsored events and seminars. On 2 April 2010, in Lahore, Newsweek Pakistan hosted an exclusive breakfast for Abdullah Gül, the then-President of the Republic of Turkey.
The magazine's advisory board comprises: Hameed Haroon, CEO of the Dawn Media Group; Qazi Shaukat Fareed, who has worked with the U.N. for over 20 years; Parvez Hassan, lawyer and environmentalist; Ayesha Jalal, professor of history at Tufts University; and David Walters, former governor of Oklahoma.
International Operations
In 2013, Newsweek Pakistan ran two licensed international print editions after Newsweek in the U.S. went digital. The Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and the Latin American editions, both in English, were produced in Pakistan and printed out of Germany and Brazil.[https://adage.com/article/media/newsweek-print-editions-abroad-hopeful-owner/243837 Newsweek Print Editions Abroad] The EMEA edition was distributed in 55 countries and the Lat Am edition was available in another 28 countries.[http://www.ag.com.pk/press-room/a-new-chapter/ A New Chapter] Ahmed was the editor of these editions as well.
Awards
Newsweek Pakistan{{'}}s cover story on the challenges facing the country's polio vaccination campaign{{Cite web|url=http://newsweekpakistan.com/the-polio-murders/|title=The Polio Murders|date=December 28, 2012|website=Newsweek Pakistan}} won a gold medal in 2013 at the United Nations Correspondents Association's Excellence in Journalism Awards.{{Cite web|url=http://unca.com/2013-awards-winners/|title=Announcing The 2013 UNCA Awards Winners « The United Nations Correspondents Association}} Benazir Shah was the principal reporter of the piece.
International Attention
Newsweek Pakistan garnered international recognition for its editorial direction and impactful cover designs. In 2011, the magazine's cover story on female suicide bombers—featuring an image of a tampon shaped like a stick of dynamite—sparked global discussion and was featured in outlets including The Guardian,{{cite news |title=This Newsweek cover of a tampon as a suicide vest is turning heads |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/jan/28/newsweek-pakistan-cover-tampon-suicide-bomber |work=The Guardian |date=28 January 2011}} BuzzFeed News,{{cite web |title=Newsweek Pakistan Used a Tampon to Illustrate a Female Suicide Bomber |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/jtes/newsweek-pakistan-used-a-tampon-to-illustrate-a-female-sui |website=BuzzFeed News |date=28 January 2011}} Ad Age,{{cite news |title=Newsweek’s Print Editions Abroad Hopeful on New Global-Minded Owner |url=https://adage.com/article/media/newsweek-print-editions-abroad-hopeful-owner/243837/ |work=Ad Age |date=7 October 2013}} and HuffPost.{{cite news |title=Newsweek Pakistan Cover Stirs Controversy |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/newsweek-pakistan-tampon-cover_n_815410 |work=HuffPost |date=28 January 2011}}
The Editor was quoted by Ad Age in 2013 in the context of Newsweek’s global strategy, noting his role as a licensee and editor-in-chief of the Pakistan edition.{{cite news |title=Newsweek’s Print Editions Abroad Hopeful on New Global-Minded Owner |url=https://adage.com/article/media/newsweek-print-editions-abroad-hopeful-owner/243837/ |work=Ad Age |date=7 October 2013}}
In addition to the national edition, Ahmed and his team ran Newsweek’s Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) edition, distributing across 55 countries for a full calendar year.{{cite news |title=Newsweek’s Europe Edition Relaunches Under Pakistani Publisher |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/archive/print/610324 |work=The News International |date=20 October 2011}}
Newsweek Pakistan staff reporters also contributed bylines to various international platforms, including The Daily Beast, Time, Foreign Policy, Al Jazeera. Their coverage of Malala Yousafzai's shooting made the cover of all global Newsweek editions and the Pakistani team's original work was regularly featured in the U.S. hardcopy and digital editions. The team's coverage of the USAID shutting down Pakistan's Sesame Street drew the attention of U.S. Congressmen.
On its first anniversary, Al Gore, former U.S. Vice President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate praised Newsweek Pakistan's coverage as connecting the people of both allied nations.
Notable Interviews
Newsweek Pakistan has featured in-depth interviews with a diverse array of prominent figures from politics, arts, and activism:
- Asif Ali Zardari – In a 2008 interview, then-President Zardari discussed the Mumbai attacks and the role of Pakistan's intelligence services. {{cite news |title=Interview: Pakistan's Zardari on Mumbai, the ISI |url=https://www.newsweek.com/interview-pakistans-zardari-mumbai-isi-82857 |work=Newsweek |date=1 December 2008}}
- Queen Noor of Jordan – The magazine conducted an interview with Queen Noor, discussing regional issues and her philanthropic work. {{cite web |title=Fasih Ahmed |url=https://www.newsweekpakistan.com/author/fasih-ahmed/ |website=Newsweek Pakistan}}
- Ammar Malik – An American songwriter known for hits like "Moves Like Jagger" and "Stereo Hearts."
- Mira Nair – Renowned filmmaker Mira Nair discussed her film The Reluctant Fundamentalist and its themes related to Pakistan. {{cite web |title=Mira Nair Talks The Reluctant Fundamentalist |url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/mira-nair-the-reluctant-fundamentalist |website=Interview Magazine}}
- Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali – The former Prime Minister of Pakistan shared insights into his political career and perspectives on national issues. {{cite web |title=Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali Interview |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbL3EEx9K7M |website=YouTube}}
- Omar Abdullah – The former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir spoke about the complexities of India-Pakistan relations and the situation in Kashmir. {{cite web |title=Omar Abdullah Interview |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZt50pV2Hvs |website=YouTube}}
- Salmaan Taseer – The late Governor of Punjab discussed his stance on Pakistan's blasphemy laws and his support for Aasia Bibi. {{cite news |title=Key Pakistani Governor Killed by Own Bodyguard |url=https://www.newsweek.com/key-pakistani-governor-killed-own-bodyguard-66815 |work=Newsweek |date=4 January 2011}}
- Baroness Sayeeda Warsi – Baroness Warsi addressed topics such as immigration, terrorism, and Britain's foreign policy concerning Pakistan. {{cite news |title=MP Baroness Warsi on Immigration and Terrorism |url=https://www.newsweek.com/mp-baroness-warsi-immigration-and-terrorism-72939 |work=Newsweek |date=14 February 2011}}
- Om Puri – The esteemed Indian actor reflected on his experiences in Pakistan and the importance of cultural exchange. {{cite news |title=In Conversation with Om Puri |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/682367/in-conversation-with-om-puri |work=The Express Tribune |date=15 March 2014}}
- Imran Khan – Former Prime Minister Imran Khan discussed his political journey and perspectives on regional stability. {{cite news |title=Exclusive: Pakistan Ex-PM Imran Khan Says Defying US Policy Led to His Downfall |url=https://www.newsweek.com/exclusive-pakistan-ex-pm-imran-khan-says-defying-us-policy-led-his-downfall-1805694 |work=Newsweek |date=6 July 2023}}
- Asma Jahangir – The human rights activist shared her views on legal reforms and the state of human rights in Pakistan. {{cite news |title=Q&A: Pakistani Lawyer Asma Jahangir |url=https://www.newsweek.com/qa-pakistani-lawyer-asma-jahangir-73017 |work=Newsweek |date=28 February 2011}}
- Michael Palin – The British actor and author recounted his travels in Pakistan and his experiences during the Lahore Literary Festival. {{cite web |title=A Weekend in Pakistan |url=https://www.themichaelpalin.com/palins-posts/a-weekend-in-pakistan/ |website=MichaelPalin.com |date=5 March 2012}}