Mahmood Shaam is a writer, poet and journalist whose basic philosophy is that all good work is done in defiance of powerful and influential. After being in journalism for 48 years he says that the central dilemma in journalism is that you don't know what you don't know.

Shaam is one of the best known and most traveled journalist of Pakistan. After serving JANG GROUP for more than 16 years continuously as Group Editor, he joined ARY Group in September 2010 and later launched a new Urdu newspaper 'Jehan Pakistan' from Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore in 2012. After a brief stint there, he resigned after some differences with the management and is now focusing on his literary work and launched a new book 'Media Manzar' and another book is soon to be launched.

His search for truth and defiance shown to rulers landed him twice in jail during his carrier. He has written over 20 books including few poetry books. He has the distinction of interviewing global leaders including US President Gerald Ford, Indian Prime Minister Indra Gandhi, the legendary Yasir Arafat of Palestine and many others.

Shaam attributes his survival in journalism to dedication and hard work. He says “You do not get into this business if you're interested in a 40-hour workweek, and want to be home for dinner every night. You won't make it in news. You really need to love it. It's an enormous commitment."

Though basically a political writer he regularly highlights the plight of the oppressed and poverty stricken people of the country. To him there is value in bearing witness to what is happening to people who are living their lives with great dignity in the face of horror.