The Pakistani Media

What is Media?

Media is a vehicle or means of communication that disseminates information from the source to the target public.

Types of media:

• Traditional Media.
• Print Media.
• Electronic/Broadcasting Media.
• Outdoor Media or Out of Home Media (OOH)
• Transit Media.
• Digital Media/New Media/Internet.

Right and Accurate source of Information:

Media is an important source of information and news, whatever happens around the word is shown right on the TV screens. The new-found role of media has also provided it a chance to create social and political awareness among the masses, thus making people aware of their social, economic and political rights. It scrutinizes the government working both in the domestic and foreign affairs, thus is a watch-dog over the government policies.

Political role of Media in Pakistan:

The use of social media among millennials is not only popular in the developed world but also in developing countries. In Pakistan, political parties and individual politicians have very active social media accounts to disseminate information for social media users and voters.

Imran Khan (Former Prime Minister of Pakistan) and Shehbaz Sharif (Current Prime Minister of Pakistan) both said the same statement in 2015 that;

“Social networking sites (SNS) have significant influence on the social and political learning of netizens, especially youth”

Media’s Impacts on Pakistani Youth:

Students actively use new media for political information such as sharing opinions and discussing issues around politics with fellow community members. According to the recent study, Pakistan has the second highest population of youth in the world after Yemen which has created huge impact on the dynamics of Pakistan’s politics Since 2008, Pakistan’s political parties are actively using social media and it has changed the dynamics of politics in Pakistan. The majority of survey respondents participated in politics via social media, especially Facebook.

The impact of social media and the web is gradual, relevant, and intensifying for gathering political improvements in Pakistan. According to Facebook insights of 2013, this information demonstrated that the Face Book clients in Pakistan are achieving 8,055,680. This digit circulated in 70% male clients and 30% female clients in Pakistan and information likewise delineates that the biggest age assemble is youth who are 18-24 years in age. In Pakistan, political gatherings and pioneers utilized online networking to cooperate and include individuals. Particularly, they concentrated on youth and this age amass is expanding massively via web-based networking media.

Strong Medium of policy offering to the State:

Over the years, Pakistani media has become a strong medium of scrutinizing the functioning of state institutions; instead of offering policy options to the government, it has taken over the task of policy-making.

Article 19 of constitution: (The Freedom of Speech and Expression)

The Constitution of Pakistan Article 19 states that ‘every citizen shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression, and there shall be freedom of press, subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by the law in the interest of the glory of Islam or the integrity, security or defense of Pakistan or any part thereof, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court, commission of or incitement to an offence. Therefore, the freedom of expression and speech is enshrined in the very basis and spirit of the legal foundations of the country.

Positive Aspects of Media in Pakistan:

• It scrutinizes the government working both in the domestic and foreign affairs, thus is a watch-dog over the government policies.
• It shows the current situation and challenges within few seconds and aware the viewers about their solution.
• Media is beneficial for the government just like opposition in Assemblies. As, it draws attention of people towards their wrong policies.

Negative Aspects of Pakistani Media:

• On the other hand, due to intense competition to break the news first, media often resort to sensationalism; without confirming the news and event, it flashes the news and starts discussion thus creating unseen fears and panic.
• Media must be independent. In the recent, few years’ media has become a political party as one media group fully supports one political party and other supports the other.
• In Pakistan, media also envisages personal discussion about the political leaders, their politics should be its breaking news. But due no control, the media is breaking personal affairs of people.

Future Recommendations:

• There should be proper legislation for media about the fake news.
• PEMRA must has to check the news channels when they are breaking news.
• The anchors must not throw their attention towards a single political party.
• Media must not be allowed to publish state secrets or discussions without permission from the state.
• Instead of playing news whole day, it should draw attention of viewers towards the political history of so that they can be aware of the people who are all the time on the television.