Journalists critique media bias in PTI march coverage

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 26 November 2024 |  JP Staff Report

The coverage of the PTI march by mainstream electronic media has come under scrutiny from journalists. Concerns about media credibility and public reliance on alternative platforms are rising.

Summary

ISLAMABAD—The mainstream electronic media's coverage of the PTI march on Islamabad has sparked concerns about its impartiality and growing irrelevance, as journalists critique its approach to suppressing dissent.

Journalist Absa Komal criticized the strategy of silencing mainstream media, calling it counterproductive. "Whoever thinks that silencing electronic media will be productive because it is easier to manage needs to understand that when mainstream media loses credibility by not covering ongoing events, the audience turns to political parties' official pages, YouTubers, and propagandists," she remarked. Absa warned that this trend is further diminishing the relevance of electronic media.

Arifa Noor, former resident editor of Dawn, echoed similar sentiments in a sarcastic tone, likening the current coverage to the heavily censored broadcasts of the PTV era. “Mashallah, news channels have brought back memories of PTV… waiting for the image of a flower and background music,” she quipped.

The growing disconnect between mainstream media and public discourse raises significant concerns about the future of electronic journalism in Pakistan, as audiences increasingly rely on alternative platforms for uncensored information.