Zaffar Abbas is a Pakistani journalist who has been the editor of Pakistan's English-language daily Dawn, since October 2010.

Zaffar Abbas
NationalityPakistani
OccupationJournalist
Years active1980's–present
Known forEditor of Dawn

Career

edit

Abbas started his journalism career in 1981 with The Star after joining the Dawn Media Group.[1][2] Between 1984 and 1992, in addition to The Star, he also reported for the Khaleej Times as a correspondent.[2] In 1988, he joined The Herald as senior reporter and went on to become its special correspondent in 1992 and then as its Bureau Chief.[2] He has also worked for BBC as a correspondent in Islamabad and Karachi[2][1] for about 16 years.[3]

Abbas joined Dawn as the resident editor for its Islamabad edition in 2006.[1][2] From June 2010, he served as Editor-designated for Dawn before assuming the charge as its 5th Editor in October 2010, replacing Abbas Nasir.[2][1]

In 2015, Abbas was elected first chairman of Editors for Safety.[4][5] The New York Times refer Abbas as a respected political journalist.[6]

In April 2017, Abbas's name was referred to the All Pakistan Newspapers Society due to his involvement in Dawn leaks by the Prime Minister's Office.[7]

In November 2019, he was awarded the 2019 Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).[8]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d "Change of editor at English paper – The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 5 October 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Zaffar Abbas takes over as Editor tomorrow". Dawn. Pakistan. 3 October 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  3. ^ "Zaffar Abbas". wan-ifra.org. WAN-IFRA. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  4. ^ "Stand against impunity: Editors for Safety formed to unite media against attacks – The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 13 December 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  5. ^ "Editors for Safety formed to unite media against attacks". The News International. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  6. ^ Perlez, Jane (15 August 2008). "Musharraf set to resign in days, officials assert". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  7. ^ "Dawn Leaks: Action ordered against Cyril Almeida, Zaffar Abbas". Samaa TV. 29 April 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  8. ^ "Editor Dawn Zaffar Abbas receives CPJ's Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award". DAWN.COM. 22 November 2019.