Razia Bhatti

Razia Bhatti (Urdu: رضیہ بھٹی) (born 1944 – died 12 March 1996) was a Pakistani journalist who served as editor of the Herald and Newsline magazines.

When she died at the age of 52, the Pakistan Press Foundation called it "end of a golden chapter of journalism in Pakistan." Bhatti founded staff-owned Newsline magazine with the help of other female journalists after leaving Herald magazine.

She was the editor of Pakistani magazine Herald for 12 years and then she founded Newsline and edited it for 8 years. In 1994, Bhatti received the "Courage in Journalism" award from the New York-based International Women's Media Foundation.

Journalism Razia Bhatti's professional career spanned thirty years. In 1967, she joined the Pakistani magazine The Illustrated Weekly of Pakistan, later renamed as The Herald and turned it into a monthly publication with focus on current and political issues. Bhatti became the assistant editor of Herald in 1970 and editor in 1976. The censorship imposed on press during General Zia-ul-Haq's martial law did not deter Bhatti and she continued reporting. "General Zia once got so infuriated that he waved a copy of her article at a press conference and said he would not tolerate such journalism," recalls Beena Sarwar in her article, Razia Bhatti and Najma Babar: Two Champions of Independent Journalism in Pakistan. After she was pressurized to write in support of the policies of General Zia Ul-Haq's regime, Razia Bhatti resigned from the magazine.

Founding Newsline After receiving pressure to curb her writing, most of her team of journalists resigned from The Herald along with her and together they established a new staff-owned current affairs monthly magazine called Newsline.

Veteran Pakistani diplomat, journalist, and now (in 2025) a frequent Pakistani news media commentator Maleeha Lodhi, who knew Razia Bhatti well... writes in a tribute to her:

"I remember when Razia came to New York in October 1994 to receive the courage in journalism award from the international women's foundation. She became the first Pakistani to be honoured for her extraordinary qualities in pursuing work under dangerous circumstances. Razia possessed the three c's of journalist excellence: courage, commitment and credibility".