{{Short description|Pakistan newspaper}} {{About||Australian magazine|Dawn (magazine)|similarly named periodicals|Dawn (disambiguation)#Magazines and newspapers}} {{Use Pakistani English|date=October 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox newspaper | name = Dawn | logo = Dawn Newspaper logo.png | image = DAWN newspaper.jpg | caption = Front page, 1 January 2015 | type = Daily newspaper | format = Broadsheet | owners = Dawn Media Group | editor = Zaffar Abbas | founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1941|10|26}} | founder = Muhammad Ali Jinnah<ref name="jinnah">{{cite news|last1=Long|first1=Roger D.|title=Dawn Delhi I: Genesis of a Newspaper|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1354278|access-date=27 August 2017|work=Dawn|date=27 August 2017|language=en}}</ref> | ceased_publication = | political_position = Centre-left | headquarters = Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan | circulation = | ISSN = 1563-9444 | website = {{URL|http://www.dawn.com|dawn.com}} | language = English }} '''''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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-44693968|title=The assault on Pakistan media ahead of vote|date=4 July 2018|website=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.arabnews.pk/node/1595611/pakistan|title=Following attacks on offices, Dawn editor alleges 'orchestrated campaign' against newspaper|date=7 December 2019|website=Arab News PK}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Dawn joins Asia News Network|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-212146|access-date=20 February 2018|work=The Daily Star|date=29 November 2011|language=en}}</ref> ''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''.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://pakistan.mom-gmr.org/en/owners/individual-owners/detail/owner/owner/show/the-haroon-saigol-family/ | title=The Haroon-Saigol Family |access-date=15 November 2024}}</ref>
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.<ref name=Dawn>{{cite book|last1=Jinnah|first1=Mahomed Ali|title=Plain Mr. Jinnah |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WJYBAAAAMAAJ&q=Latifi|access-date=29 July 2017|volume=1 |year=1976 |publisher=Royal Book Company (on GoogleBooks website)|page=236}}</ref> Based in Karachi, it also maintains offices in Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta and the capital city of Islamabad, in addition to having correspondents abroad.<ref>{{cite web |title=Our International Business Representatives |publisher=Dawn Media Group |url=http://www.dawn.com/fixed/group/internat.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060630115729/http://dawn.com/fixed/group/internat.htm |archive-date=30 June 2006|access-date=29 July 2017 }}</ref> {{As of|2010}}, it has a weekday circulation of over 109,000.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Inside Pages: An Analysis of the Pakistani Press|url=http://csis.org/files/publication/sam_148.pdf|publisher=Center for Strategic and International Studies|access-date=29 July 2017|archive-date=1 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701194231/http://csis.org/files/publication/sam_148.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> The newspaper's current chief editor is Zaffar Abbas.
==History== [[File:Quaidportrait.jpg|thumb|Muhammad Ali Jinnah, founder of the ''Dawn'' newspaper|alt=]] ''Dawn'' began as a weekly publication, based in New Delhi.<ref name="jinnah"/> 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:
<blockquote> "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".<ref>{{cite news |author=Aqeel-uz-zafar Khan |title=Jinnah and the Muslim press |publisher=JANG Newspaper Group |url=http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/spedition/14aug/14aug2004/default.htm#2 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090110090314/http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/spedition/14aug/14aug2004/default.htm#2 |archive-date=10 January 2009|access-date=29 July 2017 }}</ref></blockquote>
''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.<ref name="mom-rsf1">{{cite web|url=https://pakistan.mom-rsf.org/en/media/detail/outlet/dawn/ |title=Dawn | Media Ownership Monitor |publisher=Pakistan.mom-rsf.org |date= |access-date=2022-08-06}}</ref>
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.<ref name="mom-rsf1"/>
In 1950, for a brief period, the owners discontinued ''Dawn'' over ownership issues and restarted it as ''Herald''.<ref name="editors">{{cite web | url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1361017 | title=Editors and their policies | date=2 October 2017 }}</ref><ref name="mom-rsf1"/>
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.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Peltier |first=Elian |last2=Karachi |first2=Zia ur-RehmanReporting from |last3=Islamabad |last4=Pakistan. |date=2026-03-24 |title=How Pakistan Is Trying to Reshape Its Image Abroad |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/24/world/asia/pakistan-media-news-misinformation.html |access-date=2026-04-09 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Editorial |date=2025-12-14 |title=Gagging the media |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1961015 |access-date=2026-04-09 |website=Dawn |language=en}}</ref>
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.<ref>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</ref>
==Features== thumb|Issue of Dawn newspaper published from Karachi on 15 August 1947 ''Dawn'' regularly carries syndicated articles from western newspapers such as ''The Independent'', ''The Guardian'', the ''Los Angeles Times'' and ''The Washington Post''.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}
On Sundays, the weekend advertiser carries three sections namely "Ad Buzz", "Career", and "Real Estate".<ref name="Advertise DAWN">{{cite web|title=Advertise DAWN|url=https://www.dawn.com/advertise-dawn/|publisher=DAWN.com|access-date=29 July 2017}}</ref>
==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.<ref name="Wikileaks">[https://www.dawn.com/news/630054/announcement-2-2 Announcement, Memorandum of Understanding between Dawn Media Group and Sunshine Press Productions], ''Dawn'' (newspaper), Published 19 May 2011, Retrieved 29 July 2017</ref>
An announcement printed in the newspaper and posted on the website read:
{{blockquote|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.<ref name="Wikileaks"/>}}
== 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1223374/govt-forms-inquiry-committee-probe-dawn-leaks/|title=Govt forms inquiry committee to probe 'Dawn leaks' |date=7 November 2016|work=The Express Tribune |access-date=29 July 2017}}</ref>
==Editorial stance== ''Dawn'''s editorial stance has varied according to its editors and the political context.<ref name="editors"/> 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.<ref name="editors"/>
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.<ref name="editors"/>
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.<ref name="editors"/>
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.<ref name="editors"/>
==Editors== * Pothan Joseph (1944)<ref name="mom-rsf1"/> * Altaf Husain (1944–1965)<ref name="mom-rsf1"/> * Jamil Ansari (1965–1966)<ref name="editors"/> * Yusuf Haroon (1966)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dawn.com/news/606732/obituary-former-governor-of-west-pakistan-no-more | title=Obituary: Former governor of West Pakistan no more | date=17 February 2011 }}</ref><ref name="editors"/> * Altaf Gauhar (1969–1973)<ref name="mom-rsf1"/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pakistanpressfoundation.org/altaf-gauhar-passes-away/ | title=Altaf Gauhar passes away }}</ref> * Mazhar Ali Khan (1973)<ref name="editors"/> * Ahmad Ali Khan (1973–2000)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dawn.com/news/237373/ahmad-ali-khan-passes-away | title=Ahmad Ali Khan passes away | date=14 March 2007 }}</ref> * Saleem Asmi (2000–2003)<ref name="editors"/> * Tahir Mirza (2003–2006)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dawn.com/news/249465/tahir-mirza-passes-away | title=Tahir Mirza passes away | date=30 May 2007 }}</ref> * Abbas Nasir (2006–2010)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dawn.com/news/192537/dawn-editor | title=Dawn Editor | date=16 May 2006 }}</ref> * Zaffar Abbas (2010–present)<ref name="editors"/>
==See also== {{Portal|Pakistan|Journalism}} *Dawn News *List of newspapers in Pakistan
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{wikiquote}} *{{official website|https://www.dawn.com/ }}
{{Dawn}} {{Newspapers in Pakistan}} {{Pakistan Movement}}
Category:Dawn (newspaper) Category:English-language newspapers published in Pakistan Category:Mass media in Karachi Category:1941 establishments in India Category:Newspapers established in 1941 Category:Pakistan Movement Category:Media related to Muhammad Ali Jinnah Category:Dawn Media Group Category:Daily newspapers published in Pakistan Category:History of the All-India Muslim League Category:Liberalism in Pakistan Category:Progressivism in Pakistan Category:Newspapers published in Delhi Category:20th-century establishments in Delhi