How many people do we come across everyday that are ready to make a change to the world we all live in? How many people use their talents and energy to accentuate issues concerning the most isolated sections of our society? Few months ago when the Swat operation was declared and 2 million people of Swat region got displaced from their houses, a blogger contacted us with a project proposal of an online campaign where we can facilitate the rescue efforts and forward an appeal to the global community to help the victims of terrorism at the time of war.

The project was named “The Swat Plea Blog” and the blogger was Sana Saleem. A journalist/blogger/doctor to be and a house hold name in the blogging community. TeaBreak is proud to have a writer of her caliber in our blogging network and she is this month’s Featured Blogger.

Name: Sana Saleem

Blog: SanaSaleem.com

Claim to Fame: Her rare appearance on the Opera Winfrey Show

1.     Tell us about yourself and how did you indulge in the habit of  blogging?

 Writing has always been the best way to express myself. As a child I maintained my diary, scribbled down poems and short stories. The idea of a digital diary was extremely exciting VOILA MY own Bog.

2.       How different is the writing experience for print medium in comparison to blogosphere?

 Blogs are freer. You can ramble all you want, and truly express yourself without being hammered with editing. Even though I wouldn’t deny that the feeling of being printed is one of the most exciting things, even if it happens on a daily or monthly basis. Print has its own fascination but Oh well blogs give you the virtual space to rant and yap as you please i.e. Priceless!

3.     When it comes to cyber activism which genre is more useful; micro blogging on twitter or old school blogging on a blog site?

I have just started micro blogging or tweeting to be more appropriate. I feel twitter gives you more leverage to reach out to people. It also helps you to get traffic on your blog, where you can discuss matters in more detail. I was recently involved (still am) with the TeaBreak Swat plea blog , and twitter has been playing a very important role in getting us traffic, ideas,  people to interview and network with.

4.      Blogging has gone main stream and bloggers are often seen on local tele channels. Is this a proof that the main stream media has accepted the stir created by Pakistani blogosphere?

Bloggers are the kings of their own, so well we don’t need the mainstream media. *Ok now hopping back to sanity* yes I do feel that the mainstream media has a hint now. Although there is a long way to go and a lot of amazing Bloggers need yet to be highlighted by the mainstream media. Also nearly all the mainstream media have their own blogs, so yes they never did underestimate the power of blogging.

5.     You write for so many blogs and mediums, what encourages you to come back to your personal blog and write your heart out?

 Actually (and guiltily) my own Blog has stocks of all my published (print, blog) and unpublished (rejected, yes loads of them) work. So it acts more like my online portfolio then my place to rant. Why would I rant on my own blog when (miraculously) I have other platforms?

6.     Prose or Poem?

That depends on what time of the night I wake up to frantically scribble away. Actually it totally depends on my mood, which is directly proportional to everything going around me.

7.     Your favorite blogs and why?

Am sorry did you say you want to get me killed?. Ok now there are loads there’s Pro-Pakistan, Kalsoom, SK, Jehan Ara, Naveen Naqvi, Deadpan Thoughts and the list goes on. Basically you can come check my blogroll. Why? Because I feel our blogging community is fabulous and we have some amazing talent (yes I love my blaggers)

8.     Why should Pakistani masses adopt blogging, and express their views through this medium. Will it be of any use at all?

Well why now? Have you not seen GEO? The point is while the mainstream media is hawking on everything sensational we all need our does of sanity. We need to know what the people think, who they are. As I said we should celebrate our diversity, show that even though we might hold different opinions we are all together in representing our country. Citizen Journalism could be the best thing for Pakistan, considering the deteriorating quality of journalism in the mainstream media.

9.     Your message to fellow bloggers and youth of the country? How well we > can represent Pakistan to world?

 (This question makes me feel like a politician) I think be yourself. We as a community tend to be hypocrites, as pointing a finger is easier than lending a helping hand. So yes let’s not struggle to be o
top of everything. We can be united and enjoy our diversity rather than being sheep’s and flocking together aimlessly.

10.  Your opinion about Tebreak.pk and its team?

Teabreak is doing an amazing job, it’s one platform that actually brings bloggers together. This platform is no doubt really powerful and could be extremely handy, if we use it as an activism portal. I hope that the TeaBreak team has more in store for us (also please give us real treats instead of virtual ones, thank you)