Dawn (newspaper)
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| Type | Daily newspaper |
|---|---|
| Format | Broadsheet |
| OwnerTemplate:Pluralize from text | Dawn Media Group |
| FounderTemplate:Pluralize from text | Muhammad Ali Jinnah[1] |
| Editor | Zaffar Abbas |
| Founded | 26 October 1941 |
Political alignment | Centre-left |
| Language | English |
| Headquarters | Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan |
| ISSN | 1563-9444 |
| Website | dawn.com |
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Dawn is a Pakistani English-language newspaper that was launched in British India by Muhammad Ali Jinnah in 1941. It is the largest English newspaper in Pakistan, and is widely considered the country's newspaper of record.[2][3][4] Dawn is the flagship publication of the Dawn Media Group, which also owns local radio station CityFM89 as well as the marketing and media magazine Aurora.[5]
Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistan's founding father, launched the newspaper in Delhi on 26 October 1941, with the goal of establishing it as a mouthpiece for the All-India Muslim League. The first issue was printed at Latifi Press on 12 October 1942.[6] Based in Karachi, it also maintains offices in Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta and the capital city of Islamabad, in addition to having correspondents abroad.[7] As of 2010[update], it has a weekday circulation of over 109,000.[8] The newspaper's current chief editor is Zaffar Abbas.
History
Dawn began as a weekly publication, based in New Delhi.[1] Under the instruction of Jinnah, it became the official organ of the All India Muslim League in Delhi, and the sole voice of the Muslims League in the English language, reflecting and espousing the cause of Pakistan's creation. Jinnah summed up the paper's purpose in these words:
"The Dawn will mirror faithfully the views of Hindustan's Muslims and the All Hindustan Muslim League in all its activities: economic, educational and social and more particularly political, throughout the country fearlessly and independently and while its policy will be, no doubt, mainly to advocate and champion the cause of the Muslims and the policy and programme of the All Hindustan Muslim League, it will not neglect the cause and welfare of the peoples of this sub-continent generally".[9]
Dawn became a daily newspaper in October 1944 under the leadership of its editor, Pothan Joseph, who later resigned in 1944 to take up the position of the government's principal information officer in part because of differences with Jinnah over the Pakistan Movement. He was succeeded by Altaf Husain who galvanized the Muslims of India for independence by his editorials, which earned him the ire of the Congress Party and of Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy and Governor-General of the British Raj both of whom wanted a united India.[10]
In 1947, due to the Partition of India, senior Dawn staff led by Altaf Husain moved to Karachi, which led to that city becoming the head office of the newspaper.[10]
In 1950, for a brief period, the owners discontinued Dawn over ownership issues and restarted it as Herald.[11][10]
Between 2024 and 2025, Dawn had to face an unannounced ban from government advertisements which led to a financial crisis. Later in late 2025, the ban extended to the paper's radio and TV outlets. In Response, Dawn published an editorial titled "Gagging the media" in which the singling out of the publishing house was criticized and allegations were made that certain "dummy publications" were patronised instead for pleasing the influential backers of the government at the time.[12][13]
On 12 November 2025, Dawn mistakenly printed a business report that still contained a ChatGPT prompt, violating the paper's own AI-use policy, and later retracted the text with a public apology.[14]
Features
Dawn regularly carries syndicated articles from western newspapers such as The Independent, The Guardian, the Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post.[citation needed]
On Sundays, the weekend advertiser carries three sections namely "Ad Buzz", "Career", and "Real Estate".[15]
Publication of the US diplomatic cables
On 19 May 2011, Dawn Media Group signed a memorandum of understanding with Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, for the exclusive first use in Pakistan of all the secret US diplomatic cables related to political and other developments in the country.[16]
An announcement printed in the newspaper and posted on the website read:
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The Dawn Media Group and Julian Assange, Chief Executive of Sunshine Press Productions, the publishing arm of WikiLeaks, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the exclusive first use in Pakistan of all the secret US diplomatic cables related to political and other developments in the country.[16]
Resignation of Pervaiz Rashid
In 2016, a story, "Act against militants or face international isolation, civilians tell military" by Cyril Almeida, assistant editor and columnist for Dawn, triggered the resignation of Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid, after a preliminary investigation established a "lapse" on his part vis-à-vis the publication of the "planted" story.[17]
Editorial stance
Dawn's editorial stance has varied according to its editors and the political context.[11] Altaf Husain, the second editor, was known for confrontational editorials that challenged government policies and supported the Pakistan Muslim League. His foreign policy view favored a US military alliance before shifting to support ties with China.[11]
Following Husain, a succession of editors implemented different policies. Jamil Ansari aligned with the Ayub Khan administration, while Yusuf Haroon adopted a conservative approach to maintain independence. Altaf Gauhar, who had previously been involved in creating press laws, transitioned to advocating for free speech. His successor, Mazhar Ali Khan, introduced a progressive stance focused on professional journalism and reasoned critique.[11]
Ahmad Ali Khan, the longest serving editor, stabilized the newspaper's direction. He balanced a progressive outlook with cautious navigation of the restrictive environment under Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, allowing for subtle critiques of the regime.[11]
Later editors included Saleem Asmi, who expanded arts coverage and launched new editions, and Abbas Nasir, who adapted the newspaper to the digital age by increasing its online presence.[11]
Editors
- Pothan Joseph (1944)[10]
- Altaf Husain (1944–1965)[10]
- Jamil Ansari (1965–1966)[11]
- Yusuf Haroon (1966)[18][11]
- Altaf Gauhar (1969–1973)[10][19]
- Mazhar Ali Khan (1973)[11]
- Ahmad Ali Khan (1973–2000)[20]
- Saleem Asmi (2000–2003)[11]
- Tahir Mirza (2003–2006)[21]
- Abbas Nasir (2006–2010)[22]
- Zaffar Abbas (2010–present)[11]
See also
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References
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- ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Long, Roger D. (27 August 2017). "Dawn Delhi I: Genesis of a Newspaper". Dawn. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."The assault on Pakistan media ahead of vote". BBC News. 4 July 2018.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Following attacks on offices, Dawn editor alleges 'orchestrated campaign' against newspaper". Arab News PK. 7 December 2019.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Dawn joins Asia News Network". The Daily Star. 29 November 2011. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."The Haroon-Saigol Family". Retrieved 15 November 2024.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Jinnah, Mahomed Ali (1976). Plain Mr. Jinnah. Vol. 1. Royal Book Company (on GoogleBooks website). p. 236. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Our International Business Representatives". Dawn Media Group. Archived from the original on 30 June 2006. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."The Inside Pages: An Analysis of the Pakistani Press" (PDF). Center for Strategic and International Studies. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 July 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Aqeel-uz-zafar Khan. "Jinnah and the Muslim press". JANG Newspaper Group. Archived from the original on 10 January 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Dawn | Media Ownership Monitor". Pakistan.mom-rsf.org. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Editors and their policies". 2 October 2017.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Peltier, Elian; Karachi, Zia ur-RehmanReporting from; Islamabad; Pakistan. (24 March 2026). "How Pakistan Is Trying to Reshape Its Image Abroad". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Editorial (14 December 2025). "Gagging the media". Dawn. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
- ^ https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-updates/pakistans-biggest-newspaper-dawn-started-by-jinnah-publishes-ai-prompt-in-car-sales-news-report-apologises-for-ai-generated-text/articleshow/125294198.cms
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Advertise DAWN". DAWN.com. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
- ^ a b Announcement, Memorandum of Understanding between Dawn Media Group and Sunshine Press Productions, Dawn (newspaper), Published 19 May 2011, Retrieved 29 July 2017
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Govt forms inquiry committee to probe 'Dawn leaks'". The Express Tribune. 7 November 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Obituary: Former governor of West Pakistan no more". 17 February 2011.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Altaf Gauhar passes away".
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Ahmad Ali Khan passes away". 14 March 2007.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Tahir Mirza passes away". 30 May 2007.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Dawn Editor". 16 May 2006.
External links
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