Journalist Mansoor Ali Khan has changed the thumbnail for a recent YouTube vlog of his after facing criticism over an AI-generated image of Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz.
As per the details, the journalist was bashed online for his use of an AI-generated image of the Punjab CM depicted in an intensely angry expression to match the video’s caption.
The vlog centred on the recent friction between CM Maryam and Federal Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain over the latter’s unproven claims of corruption against her administration and the former’s subsequent legal action.
The use of that thumbnail prompted criticism from social media users, who questioned the decision to alter the CM’s appearance for a video covering allegations against her government.
An individual identifying as a journalism student questioned the use of synthetic media and manipulated images to attract viewers, saying, “As a student of journalism, I was never taught to bully women, manipulate their pictures or distort their appearances just to generate views and clicks.”
The user also questioned whether such practices represented journalism in Pakistan.
Another user argued that Khan’s coverage of CM Maryam had increasingly focused on targeting her through his vlogs, insinuations and thumbnails, adding that journalism should not become “a personal vendetta”.
The criticism also extended to the way Khan covered the story as one user questioned why his criticism “repeatedly appeared one-sided” and came with what they described as “deliberately unflattering imagery”.
“Isn’t this woman being ridiculed here?” another user wrote.
Member of the Provincial Assembly Sonia Ashiq also questioned Khan’s approach, linking the use of such thumbnails to the pressures facing content creators over declining views and revenues.
“Seeing him stoop low to level of mere trolls by attacking females is a dilemma to say the least,” she wrote, arguing that digital media personalities should concentrate on the quality of their content rather than “using such tactics to attract attention”.
Another user mocked the possibility of Khan addressing the controversy in a subsequent vlog, suggesting he might blame the team for editing and uploading it.
A separate critic accused the journalist of prioritising views and revenue, describing him as a “chaser of the dollar” and condemning his use of thumbnails featuring exaggerated facial expressions.
“This is so unprofessional of him. I’m shocked,” stated one viewer.
While the original thumbnail on the YouTube channel was swapped for another image after backlash across social media platforms, it may be noted that the criticism against Khan came amid a wider wave of government officials repeatedly calling out YouTubers and content creators for “chasing views and revenue” at the cost of credibility.
Punjab Information and Culture Minister Azma Bokhari among others have in recent months taken legal and defamation action against multiple YouTubers, social media activists and other media figures over what they called were fabricated videos, character assassination and false claims.
