Animal rights communication specialist and journalist from Islamabad, Sana Roger, shed light on the critical role of social and news media in advancing animal welfare in Pakistan. Sana recently took the spotlight at Pakistan’s first-ever International Animal Rights Conference, taking the opportunity to share her journey and talk about the responsible use of social and news media for animal welfare.
Sana began her journey in 2020 while working with FOUR Paws International on the rescue and rehabilitation of Kaavan the Elephant and has since dedicated her career to reporting on animal welfare issues. Sana has also been honored as a receipient of PIARCE’s Champions Award.
Sana emphasized the transformative power of social media in exposing the harsh realities faced by animals in Pakistan, from street dogs being poisoned to wild animals being caged and sold. While social media has raised awareness and inspired action, it has also been misused.
Sana criticized posts that prioritize likes and views over actionable details, leaving rescuers powerless to help animals in need. She urged social media users to practice responsible citizen journalism by sharing truthful, detailed, and actionable information, including exact locations, dates, and contact details, to ensure meaningful intervention.
She also called out the Pakistani news media for its failure to prioritize animal welfare stories. Despite the media’s potential as a tool for advocacy and change, animal issues are often ignored or misreported.
A recent example involved a major news outlet falsely claiming that the Punjab government planned a large-scale cull of stray dogs to prevent rabies. This misinformation undermined the efforts of Advocate Altamush Saeed, a prominent animal rights lawyer, who has been fighting legal battles to prevent such culling.
Sana criticized the lack of fact-checking and ethical reporting, urging media organizations to hire professionals with proper training in media ethics.
Highlighting the importance of ethical journalism, Sana praised platforms like ProPakistani and journalists like Zubair Qureshi of Pakistan Observer for their commitment to covering animal welfare stories. They called on both the press and social media users to prioritize truth and responsibility over sensationalism.
The address concluded with a powerful call to action: to make 2025 a year where media is used to create a Pakistan where animals are safe, cared for, and treated with dignity.