Journalism and sensationalism
Maybe, journalists are doing their jobs just fine, but readers are simply not interested in real news.
The Express Tribune poll result published on this page on December 18 said that 91% of the respondents believed journalism in Pakistan was more about sensationalism than reporting facts. I partly agree.
But this should lead to the question as to why journalism in Pakistan is sensationalist. I believe that’s because people are more receptive to sensational news than facts-based reporting. Just go to the website of this newspaper and look closely at the sidebar that shows the most viewed, most commented and most emailed news stories.
These days, such stories will most likely be about Memogate, Imran Khan, Zardari, judiciary, ISI and Veena Malik. Ever wondered why business stories are conspicuously missing from the three most popular lists? That’s because it takes extra effort on the readers’ part to understand hardcore business, economic and financial journalism.
Op-ed pieces on the politics of Imran Khan – awash with meaningless words like ‘undercurrent’ and ‘middle-class narrative’ – are a dime a dozen in our newspapers. That’s because one, the writer doesn’t have to research the topic; and two, readers love to consume frivolous commentary on politics.
So why blame journalism when a report on this newspaper’s website about the new gas load management plan goes completely uncommented while the story about Imran Khan defending his politics receives over 60 comments?
While most ‘news junkies’ – a fashionable way of describing oneself in Twitter bios – know the flip-flops of Mansoor Ijaz, I wonder how many of them have read about the government’s plan to import 1.2 million tons of urea.
The news that the state was going to import 1.2 million tons of urea because it couldn’t supply the promised amount of gas to Engro’s newly built plant would’ve caused public outrage in any other country. Not so in our case.
Take another example. It’s widely believed that Pakistan has the second largest coal reserves in the world. If that’s true, then what about the five million tons of coal that Pakistan imports every year mainly for cement manufacturing? And although the installed capacity of cement manufacturing is far higher than our domestic consumption, why haven’t we built so far a dedicated dirty cargo terminal at any port of the country to facilitate its bulk export?
These things are reported in newspapers every day. But perhaps we’re too busy consuming inconsequential and sensational news. Maybe, journalists are doing their jobs just fine, but readers are simply not interested in real news. News consumers, not journalists, are to be blamed for sensationalism that’s creeping into journalism.
The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of The Express Tribune.
blaming it on us, eh?Recommend
Very well written article you have just highlighted the main factor of the issues of the our nation. I truly agree with your point of view, but somehow these people love to spicy, gossips, entertainment news etc. I am not against that but atleast we should also know the actual news or events happening in our country it will surely increase our knowledge, interest and fact and figures.Recommend
I little bit disagree.. I guess media has power to shift masses interest…and make them aware..but media particularly working on same older attitude.. of course people will watch or read if media offer that in some good package…financial journalism we don’t as such promote because we lack journalists in this beat… only few chunks cant divert the audience from politics and entertainment.Recommend
I partly disagree. News channels and newspapers, both contribute towards forming the audience’s perception of what’s important and what’s not. When all I see on news channels revolves around Imran Khan’s rallies, Veena Malik’s activities, Hussain Haqqani’s movements, then it’s natural to get attracted to headlines covering these news, and not ones about import of urea. the 9 o’clock news might report these but the dozens of analyst programmes only analyze the political landscape.Recommend
You should have written about hommosexuality, religion, politics or any other controversial issue and you would have gotten atleast 50 comments. You stand vindicated because so far you have received only 4 comments. Pakistanis are a strange people.Recommend
Keeping it real.!
The media always has the habit of putting sensationalism up first for the recipients first. Its not just in Pakistan but all around the world. They need our hits and plce the adverted accordingly like right now I can see a advert “Love politics and media,?” sign for some university. So yes they want us to hit the pages which WE find interesting. Other wise everything about Veena Malik would be pasted in Life&style section of the news. Not to mention some censorship or a minute blur on her photo not just cropping.
Its quite funny when someone argues that you are hitting the page when its on the home page not where it belongs.
.Recommend
Agreed, yes the readers are more interested in sensational news, that is why media foucs on such news, after all they too have to run their business.Nothing sells like bad news or senstaional news, this is how our society is, we are always more interested in peeking into others matters and life. I am sorry to say but we as a society brought up with these norms.Recommend
Can not really disagree with you as your stating the obvious.Recommend
Right now the top 3 news stories on ET are from ‘well-placed sources’ .. all sensationalised could-be might-be stories with no takers.
You’ve asked me to go look at the most-read side bar. I suggest you go view the entire homepage, and in all honesty tell me if why the sensationalised stories always appear up at the top with bold lettering and massive pictures. The stories you complained that never got read (Importing Urea) appear right at the bottom with hardly any attempt to put them in focus to begin with.
I am sorry, but the most-read section will always reflect the stories that YOU promote the most so don’t blame the readers for clicking the big bold blue headlines.Recommend
The reason tribune has a high number of “sensationalist readers” is because readers get their factual news elsewhere (read Dawn) and come to ET for sensationalist light hearted read. For me tribune is not a source of news. Just entertainment. But that is their own fault with their headlines and reporting.Recommend
Drama sells. Reality is we all deal with, every day.Recommend
Journalism and sensationalism, two terms which cannot be really separated in Pakistan . But I guess as the newspapers and every other TV channel is in the market to make money and unfortunately for our country SENSATIONALISM sells rather than news. Back in 1995-96, Karachi was hit a by a serious wave of killing and violence, one of the EVENING publication (not taking any names here) used to state the number of dead bodies discovered everyday like we were finding some lost treasure and the number used to increase everyday. I am not saying that this stuff should not be brought to light, but I am sure that there must be another way !! As a Pakistani who is living abroad and gets his news from various TV channels and online editions of newspapers, I look for news where I can find news or articles worth mentioning, but the task is quite difficult. Even in times like these, I am sure there must be news (we have to look really hard for good stuff) which provides a ray of hope to Pakistanis living in Pakistan and abroad. If these established newspapers and TV channels want to SENSATIONALIZE everything which happens in Pakistan, maybe they should adopt the formula of tabloids as in the western world, so people who want to read or watch sensational stuff can do it there. This practice is quite common all over the world. A perfect example is Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. which publishes Wall Street Journal and now defunct News of the World. Both have their share of readers and followers. For foreigners and Pakistanis living outside, Pakistan is, what is shown and written in TV channels and newspapers. Media has a responsibility to promote and project a positive image of our nation. It is kind of a SOFT POWER, which when utilized in the right way, will go a long way in creating an image. I just hope the producers of our SENSATIONAL newspapers and TV programs realize this and work on it. The sooner they start, the better for us.Recommend
Never Really Thought That Way. Good On Your Part To Raise This Point. (Y)Recommend
media gives you what you want.Recommend
Undeniably, Pakistan’s journalism is jello-journalism at its peak.Recommend
very nice article you have mentioned very nice points really wemis
facts and good news just because of everyday awful breaking news.Recommend
I am sorry Mr.but I cant help but feel you are playing a blame game here. Media companies such as newspapers and tv news channels should educate the readers/viewers on what is actually important and what is not . But a lot of them dont bring deserving news forefront because they know that would result in lower tv ratings/or lower readership. Its as simple as that. I am media sciences student from Greenwich University, Karachi. And I’ve learned that being a power-holder, media should set the agenda between “exciting news” and news that matter.Recommend
Excellent post Kazim. I remember some 20 years ago CNN reporter said, if there is no Sensation there is no news! Perhaps that stands true today as well.Recommend