When the Media Makes Heroes: Malala Yousafzai and Journalistic Ethics

Malala Yousafzai was relatively unknown before her blog “Diary of a Pakistani Schoolgirl” was published by BBC Urdu in January 2009 about her experiences of living under the Taliban rule. Propelling into prominence, she gave interviews in print and on television, was nominated for the International Children's Peace Prize, was the victim of a Taliban assassination attempt, was featured in the 2013, 2014 and 2015 issues of Time magazine as one of "The 100 Most Influential People in the World", was awarded Pakistan's first National Youth Peace Prize, became the recipient of the 2013 Sakharov Prize, spoke at the headquarters of the United Nations, and was the co-recipient of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize. Gender, race, ideology and religion along with a pinch of politics played a major role in creating, or rather “manufacturing” the personality and identity of Malala: a brave, courageous child fighting passionately for a cause, in spite of numerous risks and even the threat of death. Drawing on her autobiography I Am Malala, and on the narratives of Adam B Ellick and Irfan Ashraf- the journalists who introduced Malala to the world through BBC Urdu and The New York Times, this paper examines, in light of prevailing concepts of journalistic ethics, the role played by the media in moulding Malala as a heroine, and its consequences.

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