The Empty Bulletins and Profitable Narratives: Understanding Structural Elimination of Coverage of Public Issues by Pakistani Media; A Reporters’ Perspective

Abstract

The literature about journalistic practices denote how owner-oriented pursuit of financial and political benefits, structurally de-power the reporters, an exclusive connection of any media organization to the public, to cover issues of public interest. While this study intends to examine the phenomenon of Pakistani media’s elite-centric operational approach, particularly in electronic media, where it promotes 'profitable narratives' and systematically excludes coverage of genuine public issues. The study employed a qualitative research design inquire the experiences and constraints encountered by reporters in mainstream leading news channels in Pakistan. Using semi-structured interviews, responses were gathered from eight journalists, one from each news channel, to examine the complexities shaping media practices in Pakistan. The findings suggest that a consideration in positive directions can lead to a reevaluation of media structures, promoting greater accountability and transparency in the media's role in shaping public discourse and societal progress.