SEARCH ARTICLE

59 Pages : 638-644

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2023(VIII-I).59      10.31703/gssr.2023(VIII-I).59      Published : Mar 2023

Analyzing problematic information in the political discourse in Pakistan: The case of Twitter

    This study investigates the prevalence and forms of hate speech and disinformation in the posts of Pakistani populist leaders on Twitter. A total of ten populist leaders’ Twitter accounts were examined through quantitative content analysis. The variables for the hate speech and disinformation were derived from available literature. The results showed that the selected populist leaders tweets contained a sizable amount of disinformation and hate speech. This phenomenon has serious implications for democracy and social cohesion in Pakistan. We emphasize a viable legal frameworks and critical media literacy education to deal with this malaise.

    Twitter, Hate Speech, Disinformation, Populism, Pakistan
    (1) Muhammad Anwar Kakar
    Independent Media Researcher, Pakistan.
    (2) Shabir Hussain
    Professor, Department of media studies, Bahria University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
    (3) Farraukh Shahzad
    Assistant Professor, Department of Media Studies ,Bahria University, Islamabad, Pakistan.

12 Pages : 134-149

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2025(X-I).12      10.31703/gssr.2025(X-I).12      Published : Mar 2025

The Impact of Fake News on Public Trust in Journalism: Challenges and Solutions

    Scientists examine how fake news shapes public reception toward media platforms as they analyze the obstacles that journalists face when producing factual reports. The research studies fake news operations through surveys in addition to media professional interviews and fake news article content analysis to understand its procedures along with public consequences and control methods. The study reveals social media recommendations as the main source that drives fake news distribution which creates growing partisan beliefs and mistrust between both mass and online news outlets. The emotional intensity in fake news reports results in rapid dissemination because of these strong responses, particularly when they cause anger. Fact-checking websites haven't significantly improved public ability to spot fake news, as 68% of people still remain confused. The paper underlines media monitoring as the foundation for addressing fake news through increased media literacy education as well as transparent journalistic practices and rigorous fact-checking systems.

    Fake News, Public Trust, Journalism, Misinformation, Media Credibility, Disinformation, News Ethics
    (1) Robina Saeed
    Associate Professor, School of Media and Communication Studies, Minhaj University Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
    (2) Sher Baz Khan
    Research Fellow, Erich Brost Institute for International Journalism, Technical University Dortmund, Germany.

10 Pages : 122-131

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gssr.2025(X-II).10      10.31703/gssr.2025(X-II).10      Published : Jun 2025

Analyzing the Media Framing of Polio Disease Eradication Campaigns in Pakistan

    The current research undertaken investigates the framing strategies used by significant media outlets while reporting polio eradication campaigns in Pakistan. The research encompasses reporting of polio-related news between January and December 2022. This study assesses media narratives from four prominent outlets Dawn, Geo News, Express News, and ARY News. The study will apply the framing functions theory enunciated by Entman that divides a piece of news into definition, diagnosis, cause and effect, and recommendations. Study shows that Dawn notably is prioritizing problem definition and ARY showing a more balanced distribution across all four frames. Analysis suggests that emphasis must be laid on the role of media in shaping public debate around polio, especially within high-risk districts. The study contributes to the dialogue on health communication and highlights the necessity of strategic media engagement to support public health initiatives in Pakistan by informing these framing dynamics.

    Media Framing, Polio Eradication, Medi Campaigns, Persuasion, Disinformation, Propaganda
    (1) Saqib Mughal
    PhD. Scholar, Department of Media Studies, Bahria University E-8 Campus Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan.
    (2) Farrukh Shahzad
    Associate Professor, Department of Media Studies, Bahria University E-8 Campus Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan.
    (3) Qamar Abbas
    Assistant Professor, Department of Media Studies, Bahria University E-8 Campus Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan.