Early Muslim journalists of the Subcontinent were driven by such high motives as reconstruction and welfare of society. Long before the partition of the Subcontinent, journalism had stood for public awareness, positive opinion making, and as a guardian of democratic principles and values. Its function were to point out the problematic areas, thus bring about social improvement. 

Dr. Abdus Salam Khurshid in his book Fun-e-Sahafat says: "Journalism is rightly understood to be a great mission. Its aim is to provide the latest news and information. And to explain the current events by giving their background, in order to form public opinion. Just as journalism guides the public opinion, it also reflects the public opinion. It necessarily implies public service, and therefore it is an indispensable organ of all the civilized societies." 

A curious, sharp and vigilant observer with an exact memory makes a competent journalist. He or she must also have a grip on general knowledge and literature, and he must develop an accurate, impartial and effective expression. He or she must at least be a graduate and his commitment should be to his work alone. 
Dr. Abdus Salam further says: "Journalism necessarily pursues the goal of public welfare, and struggles to preserve desirable values. It must uphold rights of the general public. News must be carefully collected, constructed and presented to make it informative and newsworthy. A journalist must always be prepared to discuss current debatable issues at any forum. He or she should support constructive social activities. Amidst crisis, he or she should try to keep the readers' spirit up. Above all, he or she should hold in high esteem the rules and norms of civilized society." 

According to the instructional curriculum, devised for district correspondents by the Pakistan Press International and the Pakistan Press Foundation, a journalist must meet the criteria of minimum education, maximum general knowledge, language proficiency, news sense, professional honesty, neutrality and diligence. 

Dr. Mehdi Hassan in his book Journalism for All says: "The responsibility rests upon the Press, which is the main source of information, discussion and advocacy for the public. In Pakistan, radio and television, being government establishments are out of the field. Thus the Press still has the central position in this respect." 

Referring to the Press Complaints’ Commission (Great Britain), Dr. Mehdi says: "A newspaper has a responsibility to the public, to report facts as accurately and as fully as the circumstances of publication allow, and to be honest in the expression of opinion. Every journalist should faithfully discharge his social responsibilities by speaking and writing the truth and exposing and opposing the untruth." 

In his book Interpreting Reporting Curtis D. Macdougall says: "Journalism is news gathering, fact finding and reporting. It is important anywhere at any time. It is indispensable in a democracy as people cannot govern themselves without information." 

In his book Professional Journalism Indian journalist and author M. V. Karmath says: "A professional journalist is easily identified: he is on the payroll of a journal; he reports for this paper. A journalist does more than that: he edits what others write, he puts together the news. Primarily, it is a profession for the man or woman trained to do his or her particular job in the complex business of bringing out a journal. It is definitely not for amateurs."