For our first Questra profile, we sat down with Arooj Anmol, a Lahore-based journalist whose tell complex stories began during her M.Sc. in Mass Communication and Media Studies at the University of the Punjab (2017–2019). There, she earned an A grade while producing news packages, anchoring for PU TV and PU FM 104.6, and even directing a documentary on the challenges faced by women journalists in Pakistan.
Today she works as a Content Writer and Reporter for Dunya News and continues to write as a freelance digital journalist, with bylines ranging from local outlets to The Diplomat. In our Questra interview, Arooj reflects on the realities of Pakistan’s newsroom culture, the subtle barriers for women in the field, and the persistence that keeps her committed to journalism as a force for change.
Personal Lens: The Soul Before the Story
Q: When people Google your name, they find a journalist. But if someone met you at a bus stop with no camera, no pen, and no audience, what version of Arooj would they meet?
Arooj Anmol:
You’d meet an empathetic, non-judgmental human who listens carefully and genuinely wants to help in any way she can. I think people would find me sharing perspectives or bits of knowledge that make them pause and connect not as a journalist chasing a story, but as someone who truly values human conversations for what they are.
Q: Lahore is a city of contradictions, tradition and chaos, history and headlines. If Lahore could speak, what part of its voice lives inside you?
Arooj Anmol:
Lahore truly represents the best of both worlds where modernism and history coexist in a vibrant, dynamic city. What I love most about Lahore is its unique blend of fun and chaos, which gives the city its unmistakable energy. It’s a place with incredible food and an aesthetic vibe that’s hard to find anywhere else. Beyond that, Lahore is a hub of knowledge and culture, where you can attend events that nourish your soul and connect with intelligent, inspiring people. It’s this rich mix of tradition and innovation that makes Lahore such a special place to me.
Q: Think back to a time when you almost gave up on a dream. What stopped you from walking away?
Arooj Anmol:
There was a point early on when journalism felt overwhelming, the rejections, the deadlines, the pressure of being a woman in this field. I wondered if it was worth it.
Then came the publication of my very first article. I still remember taking my family out for dinner that evening, buying them small gifts with the little money I earned. The pride on their faces, the way they smiled that moment reminded me why I started in the first place. It wasn’t just about a byline; it was about proving to myself and to them that dreams are worth fighting for.
Q: If you had to describe your life so far in the form of a headline, but one that would never make it to print, what would it be?
Arooj Anmol:
“Woman Balances Deadlines, Dreams, and a Dozen Cups of Coffee Refuses to Give Up.”
It’s the kind of headline that wouldn’t make it to print because it’s not dramatic enough for the news cycle, but it perfectly captures the messy, determined, and quietly rebellious way I’ve tried to carve out a space for myself in journalism and in life.
Q: We often remember moments not by what happened, but by how they smelled, sounded, or felt. Can you share one sensory memory that still fuels your storytelling today?
Arooj Anmol:
I remember covering a ration drive during Ramadan. The air was heavy with the smell of dust and food supplies, but what stayed with me were the faces of women waiting in long lines. When they saw me, there was this quiet hope in their eyes as if my presence meant their ordeal might finally be heard and helped.
At that moment, I realized I wasn’t just doing a job. I was part of something bigger, a source of comfort, a bridge between people’s struggles and the world that needed to see them. That feeling still drives every story I tell.
Q: If tomorrow you woke up and the entire internet was gone, no LinkedIn, no Dunya News, no social media, how would you still tell stories?
Arooj Anmol:
Honestly, I think storytelling existed long before the internet and it would survive without it too. If the digital world disappeared tomorrow, I’d go back to the basics, face-to-face conversations, community gatherings, local radio, print, whatever it takes to get the story out.
Some of the most powerful stories I’ve heard weren’t from press releases or social media; they were whispered at coffee cafes, shared on public transport, or told in homes after long days. Technology amplifies our voices, but it’s not the only way to be heard. I think I’d actually welcome the chance to slow down and focus on human connection again because that’s where the heart of storytelling really lives.
I would create a group of like minded people and would talk on diverse matters in a park or cafe.
Q: As a woman working in Pakistani journalism, your presence in the newsroom itself is a statement. What’s the unspoken truth about being a female journalist here that outsiders rarely understand?
Arooj Anmol:
The unspoken truth is that just showing up every day feels like defiance. People often see the final story or the byline, but they don’t see the battles you fight before you even get to the field, convincing editors you can cover a protest safely, facing skepticism from sources who don’t take you seriously because you’re a woman, or dealing with harassment online for simply doing your job. There’s this constant pressure to prove you’re “tough enough” for hard news, as if empathy and resilience can’t coexist.
What outsiders rarely understand is that for many of us, journalism isn’t just about telling stories, it’s about carving out space in a profession that wasn’t built for us and changing the narrative for the women who will come after. You have to work hard and more than male counterparts to prove yourself and reclaim your space.
You have to be conscious and alert to avoid any negativity.
Professional Arc: Behind the Headlines
Q: You create explainer videos on social and humanitarian issues. What’s a moment when you realized a single piece of your work had truly changed someone’s perspective?
Arooj Anmol:
During the prolonged internet outage across Balochistan, I produced a video highlighting how the blackout wasn’t just a technical issue, it was cutting people off from education, healthcare, and even emergency services. We featured voices from students missing online classes, doctors unable to access telemedicine platforms, and families struggling to connect with loved ones.
A few days after it went live, a human rights group told me the video had helped amplify pressure on authorities to address the communication barriers. That was the moment I realized the power of storytelling, even when people are silenced by circumstances, the right story can break through and demand attention.
Q: Journalism can demand speed, but great storytelling needs patience. How do you protect your stories from being rushed into noise?
Arooj Anmol:
It’s not easy, especially when news cycles move so fast. But I’ve learned to draw a line between working quickly and rushing things. For me, a story isn’t ready until I’ve spoken to enough voices, double-checked the facts, and given it the depth it deserves. Sometimes that means pushing back and saying, “This needs a little more time.” I’d rather publish one story that really resonates than three that vanish in the chaos of breaking news. At the end of the day, the pieces that stay with people are the ones crafted with care, not speed.
Q: Ten years from now, if someone reads a “By Arooj Anmol” story, what do you hope they instantly recognize in your voice?
Arooj Anmol:
I hope they recognize empathy and courage woven into every line. That my stories give space to voices often overlooked, and that I never shied away from asking difficult questions or telling the uncomfortable truths. Most of all, I want readers to feel that my work always carried a sense of humanity, that behind every fact and quote, there was heart.
Editor’s Note
This conversation marks the first feature in our Questra Interviews series, where Questrians spotlight storytellers reshaping media across South Asia. Arooj Anmol’s words remind us that journalism is not just about headlines but about empathy, persistence, and the quiet power of showing up.
