FILE 3

THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 1

Chapter 1

Introduction

The present study titled “The impact of journalistic killing on students of mass media in

adopting journalism as a career. “Journalism can never be silent: That it is greatest virtue and its

greatest fault. It must speak and speak immediately, while the echoes of wonder, the claims of

triumph and the signs of horror are still in the air.” (Iyengar, 2012)

It is not easy to understand Pakistan, a country full of contradictions and myths. As we all

know that Pakistan has for years been considered among the most dangerous countries in the

world for journalist’s community. Many journalists have been murdered in reprisal for their work

over the past decade but sadly not one case has been solved by any government. Between the

various forces that hold sway in the country from the state and political parties to the security

establishment, as well as the militant/extremist network and crime rings there exists a web of

shifting alliances. They look away or collude to bury the cases of journalists being targeted, in

order to suppress information.

On the other hand Constitution of Pakistan, in Article 19, clearly addresses that “ Every

citizen shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression, and there shall be freedom of

the press, subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by 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 and Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that

also guarantees the right to freedom of expression.


Journalists in Pakistan are constantly living under death threats, harassment and other

forms of violence being carried out by intelligence agencies, political parties and militants

groups said a report by Amnesty International (AI).

With every day passing, journalism is turning into a fatal profession in Pakistan.

According to statistics more than 80 journalists have been killed around Pakistan in the last

century. According to the report issued by freedom network Pakistan, the year 2014 was the

worst ever the history of the country for the media with 14 people related to media including

journalists, media assistants and bloggers were killed for their work and scores were injured,

kidnapped and intimidated.

Considering the sacrifices, that journalist make to provide information and serving the

interest of public, protection should be given to journalist for carrying out their duties without

hindrance.

The study aim at finding out the impact of journalistic killing on mass media students as

large number of students graduate in the field of journalism and journalistic killing in Pakistan is

increasing day by day the study aim to find out to what extent journalistic killing force the

students to quit journalism as a career.

Statement of the problem

Throughout the world, journalists play an important role in disseminating the valuable

information especially the news they bring from the conflict zone could never be highlight in any

other way. In Pakistan, journalist are under continuous threats from Taliban terrorist groups and

agencies, thus, they fall the victim of target killing ,harassment and torture which is adding to its

speedy reputation as one of the ‘deadliest country for journalist in the world.’ (Tribune, 2012)


In this study the general problem researcher aimed to answer was to determine the effect

of media killings in the pursuit of career in journalism of selected mass communication students.

Rationale of the study

This study aims to explore the basics of journalistic killings and threats in Pakistan. It

also aim at discovering the impact of journalistic killing on media students as well as to find the

importance of journalism and to what extent its value and importance is decreasing due to

increasing trend of journalistic killing in Pakistan. The study also aims at finding that if students

resist in joining journalism as a career due to the journalistic killing.

Rationale of selecting issue

In this research “The impact of journalistic killing on media students in adopting

journalism as a career” researcher has focused on the impact of journalistic killing on students.

Journalist plays a vital role in the society by circulating the news, covering and highlighting

issues and bringing them on the front for the national and international community. In Pakistan

and throughout the world numbers of students are graduating in the field of journalism. The

researcher aimed at exploring how the study of students effect due to journalistic killing. The

study aims to find out if students feel afraid or they are willing to choose this profession. To find

out the ratio of students who quit journalism as a career due to the increasing trend of journalistic

killing.

Significance of the study

Many researchers have been conducted in the field of journalism, role of journalist and

freedom of press in Pakistan. Present research “The impact of journalistic killing on students of

mass media in adopting journalism as a career’’ focus on finding out the impact of journalistic


killing on media students. This study would also be helpful to explore the status of journalistic

killing in Pakistan.

For a democratic country, Pakistan ranks worryingly high when it comes to the number

of attacks on journalists.

Even though it is much better off than countries such as Iraq, Syria or Somalia that are

torn apart by civil war and internal strife, Pakistan’s numbers of violence against journalists are

comparable to these countries. (Bob Dietz, 2015)

Freedom Network( FN), a Pakistani media rights watchdog and an independent

advocacy, research and training organization, in its latest yearly report released on January 25,

2015, carries nine articles with in-depth look at issues of media security, impunity against

journalists, worsening media ethics and crisis of credibility, outdated media laws, digital

freedoms and privacy protections, social media and digitalization of news sources, media ratings

and profit motives, and mainstreaming of citizen journalism in the country.

For several years now, Pakistan has consistently figured as the most dangerous of

countries for journalists when it comes to the debate around freedom of expression

internationally. (Aurangzeb Khan, 2015)

The flow of information in Pakistan is strictly controlled by the state and freedom of

expression is restricted. Rating states it’s clearly,the committee to protect journalist tagged

Pakistan the deadliest place for journalists and world’s 8th worst case in 2012 impunity index.

International federation of journalist (IFJ) listed Pakistan the most dangerous place for

journalism vocation (Rehmat, 2012).

Since 9/11, 80 journalist and in 2014, 14 journalist have been killed in Pakistan but government

paid no attention to the killings or attacks.


“A critical step will be for Pakistan to investigate its own military and intelligence

agencies and ensure that those responsible for human rights violations against journalists are

brought to justice. This will send a powerful signal to those who target journalists that they no

longer have free reign,” (AI, 2014)

The study aim to find out the causes of journalistic killing in Pakistan as well as its

impact on students of Mass communication. The researcher also wants to know the views of

students who are interested in joining journalism as a career in future.

Objectives

To find out the impact of journalistic killing on media students

To investigate if media students quit journalism as a career due to journalistic killing

To find out to what extent journalistic killing is decreasing the importance of journalism

as a subject or career

Hypothesis

H1: Students of mass media resist in opting journalism as a career due to journalistic killing in

Pakistan

Research Questions

Research questions are considered to be very significant for conducting any research.

They help researcher to stay focused on the topic understudy. Likewise, the research question

were designed for the present research are

Q. 1. To find out the impact of journalistic killing on media students


Q.2. To what extent journalistic killing in Pakistan lessen the importance of journalism as a

career?

Q.3.what is the ratio of students who quit journalism as a profession due to journalistic killing?


Chapter 2

Literature review

Literature review is considered the most important step in any research process and there

are many benefits in going through the literature review of prior studies according to topic.

Wimmer and Dominik (2006) stated that besides allowing learning from previous researches

literature review also saves sufficient time, finance and effort.

A literature review is a body of text that aims to review the critical points of current

knowledge including substantive findings as well as theoretical and methodological contributions

to a particular topic. Literature review is secondary sources, and as such, does not report any new

or original experimental work (Dellinger, Leech, 2007).

Literature review assist and allows the researcher in advancing their knowledge towards

particular type or nature of research, along with that considering the prior studies make a

researcher able to mark or include his piece of research in the chain of researches conducted

before (Wimmer, & Dominick, 2006, P.25)

For current research study , the researcher has gone through vast literature review by not

just gaining maximum knowledge on the topic under research but also for seeking help in other

dimensions.Afer going through various research studies it was clear that there were not many

research studies conducted directly on the impact of journalistic killing on media students in

adopting journalism as a career even though there have been many reports and articles on

different websites related to journalistic killing.


In an English daily of Pakistan –Dawn, Mr. Simon stated that A journalist is assaulted, a

story dies with it, other reporters are frightened and the cycle of silence continuous ( Haider &

Iqbal, 2012)

The research was carried out by Joanne M. Lisosky and Jennifer Henrichsen in which

they stated that one of the greatest threats to freedom of expression around the world is the

violence committed against journalists practicing their profession in conflict situations. During

the last 20 years, an alarming number of journalists have been targeted or killed when reporting

about war. This situation has prompted several international organizations to offer suggestions

on how to protect the messengers who report about war. In this study, the authors provide a

historical overview of journalist protection. In addition, they explore a number of recent

declarations, resolutions and strategies introduced to protect journalists targeted in conflict

zones. One particularly controversial strategy, the Press Emblem Campaign, is examined by

interviewing various international stakeholders. The authors demonstrate that while no clear

comprehensive method to protect journalists has yet to be universally accepted, this global

problem has generated increased international attention.

A research was carried out by Anthony Feinstein, John Owen and Nancy Blair in which

they stated that Journalism can be a hazardous profession. During 2001 alone, 100 journalists

were killed and many hundreds imprisoned and maltreated. While the majority was local

journalists, targeted for exposing corruption or expressing political dissent, the names of foreign

war correspondents feature prominently among those killed or detained. It should be self-evident

that war is dangerous and that those who report on it run the risk of becoming casualties


themselves, a point poignantly made by a collection of photographs of the Vietnam war

assembled from the work of photographers killed in the conflict. What is new, however, is a

perception in the profession that the number of war journalists killed may be on the increase .

The recent ambush and murder in Sierra Leone of two of the most respected war journalists

shocked the industry and demonstrated that experience, knowledge, and common sense are not

guarantees of survival.

It is therefore notable that despite the risks inherent in reporting war, we could find no

research on the psychological health of war reporters. In the absence of empirical data, eloquent

anecdotal evidence remains the only source offering clues as to the mental well-being of war

journalists. Ranging from Robert Capa’s memoir of World War II, through Michael Herr’s

account of Vietnam, to Anthony Loyd’s self-revelatory telling of the Balkans htragedy, war

journalists’ accounts have spelled out not only the horrors of conflict, but also the journalists’

reactions to the considerable dangers they confront in getting news to the public.

The lack of research in this area contrasts with a burgeoning trauma literature on the

emotional effects of combat on soldiers and civilians. The psychological consequences of being

subjected to life-threatening events include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major

depression, substance abuse, and dissociative disorder, four of the most common and disabling

conditions. Similar responses have been documented after both man-made and natural disasters.

What all these reports have in common is the conclusion that individuals will develop an array of

psychopathology in response to situations of great personal danger.

Given the dearth of data in relation to war journalists, coupled with concerns that

reporting war may be becoming increasingly dangerous, we investigated the extent and nature of

psychopathology among those who bring us the news from the world’s conflict zones.


According to the report issued by Freedom network Pakistan the year 2014 was the worst

ever in the history of the country for the media. The report says that 14 people related to media

including journalists, media assistants and bloggers were killed for their work and scores were

injured, kidnapped and intimidated in 2014.

The report titled “State of Media in Pakistan: Key Trends of 2014 and Main Challenges

in 2015” says 2014 came to be characterized by a number of troubling developments in the realm

of electronic media when laws came to be used formally to browbeat and censure it for the first

time, including convicting media houses for treason and blasphemy and punishing them

coercively with bans and fines.

Aurangzeb khan stated that the media in Pakistan has been under persistent attacks from a

variety of quarters including both state and non-state actors – over the past decade as the country

transitioned first from military rule to representative dispensations and then consolidation of

democracy. In the same period, a rise in extremism, violence and terrorism has deeply impacted

society. Over 55,000 Pakistanis have been killed by terrorism. This includes over 100 journalists

– the highest number in any single country for this period, aiding the country being ranked

among the most dangerous on the planet to practice journalism. (Aurangzeb khan, 2014)

A report is published by Dawn Newspaper in which “The International Federation of

Journalists” has termed Pakistan the most dangerous country for media, with 14 journalists killed

in the country in 2014 alone .The overall number of journalists who died in targeted killings,

bomb attacks or shootings around the world rose to 118 in 2014 from 105 the year before.

Press freedom has never been consistent in Pakistan. Different regimes used legal and

constitutional means to control the press from public debate and criticism. In it sixty years of

history, Pakistan has been ruled by military more than the civilian. Press in Pakistan usually


faces threats, violence, economic pressure, etc. The country's law on blasphemy has been used

against journalists. Poor literacy, urban orientation of the press, and the high price of newspapers

are detrimental factors for the under development of print media in Pakistan. Beside these

barricades, one can now easily notice a shift from the centralized broadcasting to an open

competition broadcast system in Pakistan, enabling the audience to enjoy more power of

selective exposure. All governments including the military say high about the press freedom but

often thing the other way round when the press criticizes the government. However, during the

Musharraf military and civil regime for about nine year, press was operated in a mixed character.

In view of this situation, Pakistan’s place in the Reporters sans Frontiers - Annual Worldwide

Press Freedom Index is 152 out of a total of 167 for the year 2007. However the new government

of the Pakistan People's party has promised for maximum freedom of the press. (Siraj, 2009)

The report was published by the International federation of journalists (IFJ) ,figures out

that due to occurrence of conflicts and financial hardship all over in Pakistan has direct contact

with risk made individuals more geared up to take the precarious jobs for which they might be

paid. Pakistan was second most dangerous country where of 16 media professionals were killed

in 2010-2011, with significant increase seen as compared to the previous biennial in which eight

journalists of the country lost their precious lives, six in 2008-2009 and two in 2006-2007.

(IPDC, 2012)

Mazhar Abbas, sectary General of Pakistan federal union of Journalists (PFUJ) said that

due to pressure on journalist have stopped working for foreign media because the terrorist groups

have good international networks and tracked down if anyone has worked for international news

agencies. Reporting has also become difficult due to increased bombings taking place every


other day. The families of journalist are coming under sheer and are forced to move to new

locations. (IMS, 2009)

The Baluchistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) claims that 41 journalists have been targeted

in Baluchistan in different incidents. According to the union, “Baluchistan has become a

cemetery for journalists, who perform their journalistic duties honestly and bravely.

Saleem Shahid, the bureau chief of a leading daily English newspaper, “Those journalists

in Baluchistan, who have written and reported about injustices, have themselves become news.”

The report was published by the Media monitoring cell of the council of Pakistan figure

out that eleven journalist were killed in 2013. Five of them were killed while covering bombing

and six other becomes the victim of target killings.

The report published by Express tribune English Newspaper, figures out Senior journalist

and Secretary General of Baluchistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) Irshad Mastoi, trainee reporter

Abdul Rasul were gunned down in Quetta’s Kabir Building . Rasul was a student in his final year

at the Media and Journalism Department of the University of Balochistan Quetta.

According to Baluchistan’s veteran journalists journalistic killing is having a chilling

effect on the younger generation. They believe that the recent killings, particularly of Abdul

Rasool Khajak who was a student at the Media and Journalism Department of the University of

Balochistan, have caused panic among journalism students, placing the future of journalism in

the province in even greater jeopardy.

A research was carried out by Lianne hidalgo in which he focus on the effects of Media

killings in Pursuing journalism as a program. In this study, it shows that media killing is a factor

that affects the perception of high school students toward journalism.


In a report published in 2011 by World Association of newspaper described that

journalist are put in the line of fire due to coverage of corruption and organized crime. This is the

duty of independent media to play a key role in society and investigate and expose crimes like

corruption but journalist are often subjected to threats, bullying, physical torture and loss of life

in extreme cases. This result in self-censorship, mainly in the cases in which the right of

journalist to seek, collect and impart information on issues which serve the interest of large

public, including corruption, and is not protected.

In a guide freedom of expression published by the United Nations educational and

cultural organization it is stated that the safety of journalist is basic perquisite for press freedom

and freedom of expression. Journalism is the oxygen of democracy and killing a journalist is the

ultimate form of censorship. If there is no safety for journalist, there will be no sustainable

journalism and ultimately no viable democracy .The safety of journalist is an issue that affect all

of us .Every aggression against a journalist is an attack on one of our most fundamental freedom

and freedom of expression cannot be enjoyed without basic security for journalist.

Reporters without Borders, an independent body consistently rank Pakistan in its top 10

most hazardous places for journalists.

Amin yousaf general sectary general of Pakistan federal union of journalists stated that

we have been raising our voice for security of media persons but the government has never taken

the safety of journalist seriously.(Amin Yousaf, PUFJ)


Chapter 3

Theoretical framework

A theory is an organized systematic body of knowledge that explains natural

phenomenon. Theory according to Nwodu (2006:32) “helps researchers to wisely organize,

analyze and interpret data. It provides clear explanations of realities based on objective and

sustained observation”. Defleur et al (1971:196), says “a theory is a set of interrelated

generalizations, combined in such a way that they form a logical system of explanation in

which one generalization does not contradict another”.

Theoretical framework on its own is the conscious and deliberate decision that a

researcher has made in terms of theory or combinations of theories, which guide his research

effort. Also it is a section in research work which deals with the theoretical bent of the work.

In the course of this study, the researcher discovered that various theories of mass

communication discusses about the impact of media.

Based on this, the researcher anchors her study on theories that are relevant to her study

are agenda setting theory and social cognitive theory.

Agenda setting theory

Agenda setting theory is basically a theory of strong media effects which suggests that

with the passage of time the media agenda becomes the public agenda. Agenda setting was first

introduced in 1972 in public opinion quarterly by Drs Maxwell McComb and Donald Shaw.


Their theory also known as the Agenda Setting function of Mass Media suggested that media set

the public agenda by telling you what to think about ,although not exactly what to think.

In 1963, Bernard Cohen noted that the media “may not be successful much of the time in

telling people what to think, but it is stunningly successful in telling its readers what to think

about.”

Basic Assumption of Agenda setting theory

In its most basic sense, agenda setting is the creation of public awareness and concern of

salient issue by the news media

The two most basic assumptions of agenda setting theory is

1. The press and the media do not reflect reality; they filter and shape it

2. Media concentration on few issues and subject lead the public to perceive that issue more

important than other issues.

Agenda setting occur through a cognitive process known as accessibility, which implies that the

more frequently and prominently the news media cover an issue, the more that issue become

accessible in the audience’s memory (Iyengar and Kinder ,1987)

According to assumption number 2, media coverage of journalistic killings such as case

of Wali Baber ,Hamid Meer and many others lead the students of journalism to perceive this

issue important because those who want to adopt journalism as a career in future must think

about it after reading or listening such news.


Three types of Agenda setting

There are three basic types of Agenda setting according to Everett Rogers and J.W

Dearing (1988):public ,media and policy agenda. Public agenda focus on the audience agenda

and media agenda setting focuses on the influence of Mass media on the audiences.

Out of these three types, the media agenda setting model has probably taken the most

criticism. In the book Approaches to Audiences (2012), David Gauntlett suggests that there a

few things wrong with the idea of media effects research. First, he argues that the model tackles

social problems, like violence, backwards by blaming the media rather than examining the

person committing violence. The argument is also limited in that the blame is only directed

towards fictional violence and not the real violence shown in the news or serious factual

programs. Another argument Gauntlett (2012) makes is that the very idea of media agenda

setting is the result of conservative ideology and paranoia. Anyone who listens to or watches

conservative news sources can testify to the constant barrage of complaints about the “liberal

media.”

Audience Effects Model

When examining agenda setting and the media’s influence on an audience, one

has to consider the audience’s predisposition to certain beliefs. According to the audience effects

model, the media’s coverage of events and issues interact with the audience’s pre-existing

sensitivities to produce changes in issues concerns. This means that an audience that is already

highly sensitive to an issue will be most affected by an issue that is given increased news


exposure while the same issue may have a limited effect on other groups. Another issue that

causes variations in the audience effect is the correlation between the public agenda and the

media agenda and whether the issue is obtrusive or unobtrusive (Walgrave & Van Aelst, 2006).

Obtrusive issues are those that affect nearly everyone, such as high gas prices or an increased

cost of food at the grocery store. Unobtrusive issues are those that are more distant to the public,

like a political scandal or the genocide in Darfur. Research suggests that the obtrusiveness of an

issue is based on the audience’s personal experience with the topic. So media coverage about the

unemployment rate might not affect those in a stable job as much as those audience members

who have recently been unemployed (Walgrave & Van Aelst, 2006)

Consequences of Agenda-Setting Effects for Attitudes, Opinions, and Behavior

Agenda Setting of Issues and Attitudes

When we talk about media effects, we often mean certain influences media messages

exert on the audience. There is no widespread agreement on what the concept of influence

means. In mass communication, the division between two types of media effects is accepted

media-induced change in the public's priorities and direct persuasion. Traditionally, attitudes and

opinions were treated as similar concepts in assessing media influence, especially when opinions

represented evaluative judgments about particular issues or events.

Mass communication scholars used a socio-psychological approach in explaining media

effects through the 1950s and 1960s. The core concept of the socio-psychological approach was

attitude change, and persuasion was considered to be the main tool of such change. Nevertheless,

attitude change studies showed little or no effects through persuasion. Agenda-setting studies

restored confidence in the idea that media have quite significant effects. Persuasive effects of


media messages were understood as specific cases of a broader media function to inform the

audiences about the events.

Nevertheless, establishing the fact that media structure the opinion of the audience does

not answer the question about whether or not media change the attitudes, and if so, how. Some

findings suggest that the increased salience of media issues leads to stronger opinions and makes

the attitudes more extreme. There was evidence that increasing salience helps form opinions and

attitudes. An enhanced coverage of certain issues by media brings about variously framed

information that leads to ne or modified knowledge and subsequent opinion formation.

Researchers also agreed that the psychological priming mechanism underlying the agenda-setting

function might be accountable for attitudinal effects. Some authors consider priming as having

more long-term effects: “The greater the cumulative exposure to relevant stimuli, the greater the

likelihood that ‘mere mention’ of relevant stimuli triggered priming of applicable attitudes,

regardless of the amount of recent coverage in the news” (Althaus & Kim, 2006, p. 973).

Nevertheless, these results do not elucidate the question whether the dominance of the

media agenda over public opinion leads to the persuasive effects. In other words, the time has

come to explore the link between issue salience and attitude change. Ideally, parallel and

simultaneous testing of agenda-setting and attitudinal consequences in experimental studies

could determine whether such a link exists. This task is difficult to accomplish without further

elaborating particular variables inside media messages and determining the specific

psychological processes that mediate transformations of public opinions. Leff, Protess, and

Brook (1986) tried to test agenda-setting and attitudinal effects in a study with a quasi-

experimental design; they found some limit indications of attitude change. The results were far

from being conclusive due to methodological and theoretical limitations. The authors suggested


that “the stylistic form of an investigative report may affect profoundly its degree of impact” (p.

313) and considered further exploration of a link between a message form, the nature of an issue,

and relevant opinions.

Social cognitive theory

Bandura’s social cognitive theory is one of the most highly influential and widely

celebrated theories in the field of social psychology. Thus it is no surprise that its influence has

extended into multiple fields, including communication and especially the study of media effects

The social cognition theory has influenced media communication for centuries. The

social cognition theory (SCT), “explains psychosocial functioning in terms of triadic reciprocal

causation” (Bandura, 1994, p. 61). In layman’s terms, the experiences that people have with or in

mass media can affect their behaviors, and the effect is influenced by their own personal factors

and situations (2012, p. 195). This theory originated from the works of Albert Bandura along

with concepts that were developed by Millard and Dollard and early behaviorists.

Social Cognitive Theory and the Study of Media Effects

The capacity of humans to think abstractly or symbolically positions the media as an

important source of information to facilitate observational learning and increase self-efficacy to

perform given behaviors (Bandura, 1994). In turn, social cognitive theory offers a vantage point

from which to examine the influence of mediated content on audiences’ attitudes and behaviors

(Bandura, 2001, 2002, 2004).Social cognitive theory suggests that, in essence, for mediated

content to positively affect audience members’ behaviors, the audience must pay attention to

attractive or similar models realistically performing relevant behaviors. Models engaging in


positive behaviors should be positively reinforced, whereas those engaging in negative behaviors

should be negatively reinforced (Austin & Meili,1994; Bandura, 2001; Stiff, 1986). In such

cases, mediated depictions of behavior may be instrumental in bringing about positive personal

and social changes, although alternative pairings of behaviors and reinforcements can prove to be

problematic (Bandura, 2001, 2002, 2004; Nabi& Clark, 2008). As we consider the literature on

the intersection between media and social cognitive theory, it is evident that the theory has been

used to explain both unintended (and usually negative) as well as intended (and usually positive)

effects of media depictions.

Social learning theory is the combination of behavioral and cognitive theories .Bandura

suggests that both internal and external factors are equally important.

If we talk about social learning theory in relation mass communication then Social

learning theorist has shown that behavior is influenced not only by personal or live model but

also by those presented in the mass media. Television seems to exert powerful impact and one

major implication is that television is shaping human motivation and behavior on daily basis.

In today’s society media has become a powerful influence on our lives. Social learning

theory relates to the topic in a sense that what students watch on TV affects their behavior and

change attitude. News that is shown by media exerts powerful impact. If media is covering news

related to journalistic killing then the students related to journalism will be definitely affected by

the news and changes occur in their thoughts and exert a powerful impact on them.

Both theories of media impact, Agenda setting theory and social cognitive theory tell the

public what to think about and cause changes in thoughts, behavior because behavior is

influenced not only by personal model but also by those presented in the news.


Chapter 4

Research Methodology

Research methods are the different techniques that are used to study the phenomena. This

is the strategic plan that is to carry out a good research. Appropriate research method is the key

to accuracy of results. Methodology is the process for conducting research and planning that how

the data would be collected and which would be the techniques used in the process of research. It

is the way to approach the conclusions. Choosing the research method to follow is the crucial to

the accurate results.

Hypothesis

H1: Students of mass media resist in opting journalism as a career due to journalistic killing in

Pakistan

Conceptualization and operationalization of Key terms and words used in this study

Neumann (1977:133) states, while starting the measurement process a researcher has to

conceptualize and operationalize each variable in the hypothesis. Conceptualization is a course in

which concept is refined by giving either conceptual or theoretical definition. Conceptual

definition has to be consistent with the researcher’s meaning of the concept.

According to shuttleworth (2008), operationalization is the method in which variables are

defined strictly into measureable factors. The process describes unclear concepts and permits

them to be measured empirically and quantitatively.

In present study, researcher has explained the conceptual and operation meanings of

important words used in research. The word being conceptualized and operationalize are the


parts of title, objectives, hypothesis of the research study .This process of conceptualization and

operationalization has helped researcher to clear the meaning of the key terms used in the study

and elucidate for the better understanding of the readers.

1. Impact

Conceptualization

A powerful effect that something, especially something new, has on a situation or person.

(Cambridge University)

A marked effect or influence (Oxford University)

Operationalization

By term Impact, researcher means the effect of something on someone it might be positive or

negative

2. Journalistic

Conceptualization

Relating to characteristic of journalism and journalist (Merriam-Webster)

Similar in style to journalism (MACMILLAN Dictionary)

Operationalization

By term journalistic, researcher means a word similar to journalism and journalist

3. Killing

Conceptualization

An act of killing someone or something (Merriam-Webster)

An act of causing death, especially deliberately (Oxford dictionary)

Operationalization


By term killing, researcher means putting someone to death.

4. Media

Conceptualization

The main ways that large numbers of people receive information and entertainment, that is

television, radio, newspapers and the Internet.(oxford dictionary)

Operationalization

By term media researcher means various means of communication through which news, data,

promotional messages are disseminated.

5. Students

Conceptualization

A person who is studying at university or college (oxford dictionary)

A person who studies something (Merriam Webster)

Operationalization

By term student means young person between 18 to 22 who is supposed to attend university or

college.

6. Journalism

Conceptualization

An academic study concerned with the collection and editing of news or the management of a

news medium. (Merriam Webster)

The activity or profession of writing for newspapers or magazines or of broadcasting news on

radio or television. (oxford dictionary)


Operationalization

By term journalism researcher means activity of gathering, assessing, creating and presenting

news and information.

Career

Conceptualization

A field for or pursuit of consecutive progressive achievement especially in public, professional,

or business life (Merriam Webster)

The general course or progression of one's working life or one's professional achievements (Free

online dictionary)

Operationalization

By term career researcher means what you do for a living

Research Design

It defines the overall strategy or plan of the research. Research design of the study refers

to the procedure or the way to conduct research. There are several methods to follow for a

research process. It is actually an outline of the study that what steps the study will follow for the

collection of data. Means of data collection are also stated at this stage.

As the killing of journalists in Pakistan is increasing and a large number of students are

graduating in field of journalism so the researcher has used Quantitative research to investigate

about the impact of journalistic killing on media students.


Survey Method

Survey is the tool of data collection. It is appropriate tool to gather information and

opinions. Survey method focuses on providing knowledge about the perception, understanding,

knowledge, awareness and behavior of target respondents. It would be a qualitative research.

Survey can be conducted through ways like structured interview, un-structured interview

and questionnaires. Usually questionnaire method is used to collect the information therefore the

researcher has designed questionnaire to carry out this research that will contain question about

journalistic killing in Pakistan and its impact on media students.

It is one of the most important types of research in social sciences. It is the systematic

way to get data. Surveys are being used in all the areas of life. It provides cheaper and quick

information.

Universe

To define the universe is to identify the boundaries of the body content to be considered.

The universe for this research thesis was students of Mass communication from Lahore College

for Women University and Punjab University.

Population

Population of the study involves a group of persons or aggregate items, things the

researcher is interested in getting information from for the study. The population for present

research was the students of Mass communication from Lahore College for Women University

and Punjab University.

Sampling

Sampling is the procedure for selecting the units from population for the inclusion in

research process. A sample is the representative of the population on the basis of which the


opinion is generalized. A crucial sampling frame provides a good sample that provides

appropriate opinion that can be generalized as the opinion of the whole population. For present

study purposive sampling has been used.

Purposive sampling

When the researcher has a purpose in mind, purposive sampling is applied and therefore a

sample of is taken out in which the people of interest are selected and other are excluded who are

not suitable for the research. For the present research the researcher has used purposive sampling

as a purpose was to select the sample that are students of journalism and who has impact of

journalistic killing.

Sample size

The sample size for present study was 250 students of Mass communication.

Tools for Data collection

The measuring instruments that will be used for this research work will be questionnaire.

The questionnaire has close-ended questions. The close-ended questions will be used to make

study easier for the researcher by making the responses measurable


Chapter 5

Data collections and Interpretations

After conducting survey from (250) respondents the researcher found at that most of the

students study Mass communication willingly and they want to adopt profession after the

completion of their study. The researcher wants to find out the impact of journalistic killing on

media students in adopting journalism as a career. Following graphs represent the point of view

of students regarding impact of journalistic killing. Most of the students are studying Mass

communication by will despite the fact that journalist are performing their duties on the risk of

their life. These graphs are the representation of the conducted survey and correspondent

responses. It is the actual presentation of the conducted data.

Figure No 1

29%

71%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

By force By Will

Why are you studying Mass communication as your Major

options


The figure illustrate that most of the students are studying Mass communication as their

major by will. As the figure depicts 71 percent are studying Mass communication by will and

only 29 percent students choose Mass communication by force.


Figure No 2

The statistical analysis of the above figure shows that most of the respondents said that

their parents force them to select Mass communication as their major subject. 15 percent said

that their siblings force them. Only 1 percent of total respondent answer that teacher force to opt

Mass communication. 25 percent of the respondent answer in the option social circle and 23

percent of the students choose Mass communication due to any other reason.

54%

15%

1%

23%

7%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

parents siblings teachers social circle anyother

Who Force you to Select Mass communication

options


Figure No 3

Above figure shows that about 61 percent of the total population opt Mass

communication by will ,16 percent said that field work encourages them to select this subject,

only 8 percent said that they opt Mass communication because of some famous media

personality and 15 percent of total respondent choose this subject due to any other reason.

61%

16%

8%

15%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Interest Field work Media personality anyother

If by will what encourages you to opt Mass communication

options


Figure No 4

The researcher aimed to ask the question from the respondent that after the completion of

study would they like to go in profession.80 percent of the respondent answer that they want to

opt profession after the completion of their study and only 20 percent answer that they don’t

want to opt profession.

80%

20%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Yes No

After competion of your study would you like to opt Profession

options


Figure No 5

According to the graph it shows that the respondent about 31% wants to become a

journalist.16 percent want to become news anchor. 11 percent would like to become reporter. 12

percent answer to adopt profession of host and 30 percent of the respondent go for any other

field.

11%

31%

12%

16%

30%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

Reporter Journalist Host News anchor anyother

Which Profession would you like to adopt

Options


Figure No 6

The researcher aimed to ask question from the respondent that what the role of journalist

is. About 16 percent of them answer that the role of journalist is to serve the public as watch

dog.24 percent answer reporting the truth is the duty of journalist. 8 percent of total respondent

said that role of journalist is to keep update. 52 percent of the total population agreed with all of

the above options.

16%

24%

8%

52%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

To serve public reporting the truth keeping update All of these

What is the Role of journalist accoring to you

options


Figure No 7

The graph depicts that 32 percent of the respondent watch Geo to keep them update. 31

percent watch Duniya TV, 16 percent watch ARY, 10 percent Samaa and only 11 percent

watched other channels for keeping themselves update.

10%

32%

16%

31%

11%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

Samaa Geo ARY Duniya Anyother

Which channel you watch to keep yourself update

Options


Figure No 8

The above graph shows that 10 percent of the total respondent follows the personality

style of their favorite journalist. 25 percent were to some extent follows the personality style, 8

percent to great extent, 23 percent follow rarely and 34 percent never follow.

10%

25%

8%

23%

34%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

Always To some extent To great extent Rarely Never

Do you follow the personality style of your favourite journalist

options


Figure No 9

Above figure shows that 83 percent of the total respondent have knowledge about

investigative journalism and only 17 percent answer that they don’t know about investigative

journalism.

83%

17%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Yes No

Do you know about Investigative journalism

options


Figure No 10

The statistical analysis of the above graph shows that 88 percent of the respondent knows

that investigative journalism is a dangerous field and investigative journalist face more threats

because they have to do in depth investigation of the crime. Only 12 percent answer that they

don’t know that investigative journalist face more threats.

88%

12%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Yes No

Do you know investigative journalist face more threats

options


Figure No 11

According to the graph it shows that 53 percent of the respondents agrees that journalist

perform their duties on the risk of their life. 42 percent are strongly agreed. Only 3 percent are

disagree and 2 percent said that they are strongly disagree with the statement that journalist are

performing their duties on the risk of their life.

53%

42%

3% 2%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Agree Strongly Agree Disagree strongly

disagree

Journalsit are performing their duties on the risk of

their Life ?

options


Figure No 12

The figure illustrate that 73 percent of the respondent do not know a victim of media

killing personally. 27 percent said that they personally know a victim of media killing.

27%

73%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Yes No

Do you Personally know a victim of Media killing

options


Figure No 13

The researcher aimed to asked question that how many of the total respondent recall any

news related to journalistic killing.78 percent of the total respondent answer yes that they can

recall news related to journalistic killings. Only 22 percent said No they don’t recall any news

related to journalistic killings.

78%

22%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Yes No

Can you recall any news related to journalistic killing

options


Figure No 14

The statiscal analysis of the above graph shows that 53 percent of the respondent feel

threatened after listening news about journalistic killing. 14 percent said that they never feel

afraid. 33 percent answer that they never feel threatened after listening such news.

53%

14%

33%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

To some extent To great extent Never

Do you feel threatened after listening about journalistic killing

options


Figure No 15

According to the graph it shows that about 34 percent said that killing of journalist are

due to the policy of organization they are affiliated with. About 4 percent respondents are

strongly agree. 43 percent will give their response in neutral. 15 percent are disagree with the

statement that journalistic killing is due to policy of organization they are affiliated with and only

4 percent will give their response in strongly disagree.

34%

4%

43%

15%

4%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

Agree Strongly Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree

Killing of journalist are due to policy of affiliated organization

options


Figure No 16

The statistical analysis of the above graph shows that 53 percent respondents are agree

that threats affect the work efficiency of journalists. 20 percent are strongly agree, 15 percent

will give their response in neutral way, 10 percent are disagree and 2 percent of the total

respondents are strongly disagree with the statement.

53%

20%

15%

10%

2%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Agree Strongly Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree

Threats affect the work effeciency of journalists

options


Figure No 17

The researcher aimed to asked question from respondent who want to quit journalism due

to journalistic killings.5 percent said they always want to quit, 21 percent said to some extent ,

10 percent to large extent and 64 % never want to quit due to journalistic killing in Pakistan.

5%

21%

10%

64%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Always To some extent To large extent Never

Do you ever want to quit journalism due to journalistic killings

options


Figure No 18

The figure illustrate that 22 percent of the respondent were agree that journalistic killing

is decreasing the importance of journalism as a career or subject. 6 percent are strongly agreed.

34 percent will give their answer in neutral way. 27 percent are disagree and 11 percent of the

total respondents are strongly disagree with the statement.

22%

6%

34%

27%

11%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

Agree Strongly agree Neutral Disagree Strongly disagree

Journalistic killing decreasing importance of Journalsim

options


Figure No 19

The researcher aimed to ask questions from students that did their parents force them to

quit journalism due to journalistic killings in Pakistan. 6 percent of the total respondent answer

that their parents always force them to quit journalism. 39 percent of the total respondents were

to some extent agrees with the statement and 7 percent were agree to great extent and most of the

respondent answer never.

6%

39%

7%

48%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Always To some extent To Large extent Never

Did your parents ever force you to quit journalism due to journalistc killngs

options


Figure No 20

According to the graph its shows that 90 percent of the respondent are aware of attack on

Hamid Meer. 63 percent answer no.

90%

63%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Yes No

Do you know about Hamid Meer Attack

options


Figure No 21

The above graph shows that 37 percent of the total respondent said that the attack on

Hamid Meer left psychological impact on them. About 63 percent of the respondent answer no

they are not psychologically affected by this news.

37%

63%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Yes No

Did it left any psycological imapct on you

options


Figure No 22

The graph depicts that 45 percent of the total respondent said that if they receive threat in

future they would like to stick to their job. 22 percent said they will quit their job and 34 percent

of the total respondent said that they will report the threat to the government.

45%

22%

33%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

stick to the Job Quit Job Report to gov

If you become a journalist in future what will you do after receiving threat

options


Figure No 23

Above figure shows that 13 percent of respondent are agree with the statement that media

organization, committee to protect journalist and government of Pakistan have taken initiative to

protect journalist.11 percent said they are strongly agree.49 percent will give their response in

neutral way. 17 percent of the respondents was disagree and 10 percent were strongly disagree

with the statement.

13%11%

49%

17%

10%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Agree strongly Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree

Do you think Media organizations ,and goverment have taken initiative to

protect journalist

options


Figure No 24

Above figure shows that 22 percent respondent are agree with the statement that there is

need for specialized training for police and lawyers to protect threats against journalists,6 percent

are strongly agree, 34 percent give their answer in neutral way,11 percent are disagree, 27

percent are strongly disagree with the statement.

22%

6%

34%

11%

27%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

Agree strongly agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree

Do you think there is need for specialized training for police and lawyers

to handle on threats against journalsit

options


Figure No 25

The figure illustrate that 6 percent of the total respondents said that media organization

should give logistic support to journalist, 26 percent recommend to give safety training to

journalist . 22 percent said budget should be allocated for the protection of journalist.

6%

26%

22%

46%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

Media org should give

logistic support to

journalist

Media org should give

safety training to

journalist

Budget should be

allocated for

protection of journalist

all of these

What would you recommend to protect journalist

options


Chapter 6

Discussion and Analysis

The freedom of expression is given to individuals and although it is practiced in most

states of the world but still individual when speaks up, they have to face consequences in many

countries on many issues. In country like Pakistan, where the press and the media have been

freed,the abductions,detentions,violence against journalists, threats and killings still exist.

According to the report issued by Freedom network Pakistan the year 2014 was the worst

ever in the history of the country for the media. The report says that 14 people related to media

including journalists, media assistants and bloggers were killed for their work and scores were

injured, kidnapped and intimidated in 2014.

In this research “The impact of journalistic killing on media students in adopting

journalism as a career” researcher has focused on the impact of journalistic killing on students.

Journalist plays a vital role in the society by circulating the news, covering and highlighting

issues and bringing them on the front for the national and international community. In Pakistan

and throughout the world number of students graduates in the field of journalism. The researcher

aimed at exploring how the study of students effect due to journalistic killing. The study aims to

find out if students feel afraid or they are willing to choose this profession. To find out the ratio

of students who quit journalism as a career due to the increasing trend of journalistic killing.

To find out the impact of journalistic killings on media student’s researcher has taken

survey from 250 students of Mass communication. For this purpose researcher has prepared a

questionnaire.


First of all the researcher aimed to ask question from the students that if someone force

them to study Mass communication or they choose this subject by will. 71 percent respondent’s

answer that they are studying Mass communication by will and only 29 percent said that their

parents, sibling, teachers and social circle force them to study Mass communication. This shows

that despite of the fact that there is increasing trend of journalistic killings in Pakistan students

want to select Mass communication as their major.

There are many professions but most of the respondents almost about 31 percent want to

become journalist in future. It shows that students are not afraid of journalistic killings.

Respondents said that the role of journalist is to serve the public, reporting the truth and

keeping update and 32 percent of the total respondents said that they watch Geo to for keeping

themselves update, 31 percent watch Duniya TV , 16 percent watch ARY and 10 percent Samaa

and 11 percent of the respondents watch other channels.

Around 34 percent of the respondents never follow the personality style of their favorite

journalist and 25 percent to some extent follow the personality style of their favorite journalist.

The researcher asked question from the respondent that if they are aware of investigative

journalism around 83 percent said yes and 88 percent said that they are well aware of the fact

that investigative journalist face more threats. This shows that students are aware of the fact that

investigative journalist face more threats but they want to adopt this profession.

Despite phenomenal growth of mass media in Pakistan, the country is still one of the

most challenging countries for journalists to perform their duties.63 percent of the total

respondents said that they are agree with the statement that journalist are performing their duties

on the risk of their life. 42 percent are strongly agree and only 2 percent are disagree and 3

percent are strongly disagree with this statement.


Around 73 percent respondents said that they do not personally know a victim of media

killings and 27 percent said yes they know a victim of media killings personally.

When the researcher asked the respondents to recall news related to journalistic around

78 percent said yes that they can recall news and 22 percent said no.

31 percent of the respondents said that they don’t feel threatened after listening about

journalistic killings and 53 percent said to some extent they feel threatened but 64 percent of the

respondents don’t want to quit journalism despite of the fact that there is increasing trend of

journalistic killing in Pakistan and journalist face threats.

Around 34 percent of the respondents said that they are agree with the statement that

killing of journalist or threats journalist face In Pakistan are due to the policy of organization

they are affiliated with. 43 percent give their response in neutral way, 4 percent are strongly

agree, 15 percent said that they are disagree with the statement and only 4 percent are strongly

disagree.

Threats and intimidation remain a serious problem for journalist and affect their work.53

percent of the respondents said that they are agree with the statement that threats affect the work

efficiency of journalist. 20 percent are strongly agree,15 percent give their response in neutral

way , 10 percent are disagree and 2 percent are strongly agree.

Around 22 percent of the total respondents are agree with the fact that journalistic killing

is decreasing the importance of journalism as a career and subject but they don’t want to quit

journalism due to journalistic killings.

The researcher aimed to asked question from respondent who want to quit journalism due

to journalistic killings.5 percent said they always want to quit, 21 percent said to some extent ,

10 percent to large extent and 64 % never want to quit due to journalistic killing in Pakistan.


Sometimes parents and family members stop their children to choose journalism a

profession due to increasing trend of journalistic killings in Pakistan but when the researcher

asked respondents around 48 percent said that their parents never force them to adopt journalism

as a profession due to journalistic killings, 39 percent said to some extent , 7 percent to large

extent and only 6 percent said that their parents always force them to quit journalism.

About 90 percent respondents are aware of the attack on Hamid Meer but they are not

psychologically affected by this news and about 45 percent of the respondents said if they

receive any threat as a journalist in future they will prefer to stick to their job.

It is the duty of media organizations and government to take initiatives to protect

journalists when researcher ask this question from respondents around 13 percent are agree with

the statement that media organizations, committee to protect journalist and government have

taken initiative to protect journalist,11 percent are strongly agree, 49 percent give their response

in neutral way , 17 percent are strongly agree with the statement and 10 percent are strongly

disagree.

Specialized training is important for police lawyers to handle on threats against journalist.

22 percent respondent are agree with this statement that there is need for specialized training for

police and lawyers to protect threats against journalists,6 percent are strongly agree, 34 percent

give their answer in neutral way,11 percent are disagree, 27 percent are strongly disagree with

the statement.

The researcher asked question from respondents that what would they recommend to

protect journalist and media professionals against threats and harassemnts.6 percent of the total

respondents said that media organization should give logistic support to journalist, 26 percent


recommend to give safety training to journalist. 22 percent said budget should be allocated for

the protection of journalist and 46 percent are agreeing with all of these statements.


Chapter 7

Summary and Conclusion

Journalism can never be silent: That it is greatest virtue and its greatest fault. It must

speak and speak immediately, while the echoes of wonder, the claims of triumph and the signs of

horror are still in the air.” (Iyengar, 2012)

It is not easy to understand Pakistan, a country full of contradictions and myths. As we all

know that Pakistan has for years been considered among the most dangerous countries in the

world for journalist’s community. With every day passing, journalism is turning into a fatal

profession in Pakistan. According to statistics more than 80 journalists have been killed around

Pakistan in the last century.

The foremost concern of the study was that the researcher focused is to find out the

impact of journalistic killings on media students .Journalist plays a vital role in the society by

circulating the news, covering and highlighting issues and bringing them on the front for the

national and international community. In Pakistan and throughout the world number of students

graduates in the field of journalism. The researcher aimed at exploring how the study of students

effect due to journalistic killing. The researcher also aimed to find out if students feel afraid or

they are willing to choose this profession. To find out the ratio of students who quit journalism as

a career due to the increasing trend of journalistic killing.

To get clear and effective approach according to the objectives of study , the researcher

has gone through maximum available literature on the phenomenon.

The researcher also provided theoretical framework to support present study by

explaining social cognitive theory and agenda setting theory.


The researcher also operationalized the core words and terms used in present research. To

carry out this research study, the researcher takes survey from 250 respondents.

The first objective of the study referred to find out the impact of journalistic killings on

media students and in order to determine this objective the researcher has taken survey and

analyzed that most of students are not afraid of journalistic killings and they want to adopt

journalism as a profession. They are agree with the fact that journalist are performing their duties

on the risk of their life.

The second objective of the study referred to investigate if media students want to quit

journalism as a career due to journalistic killings and the researcher has found that around 64

percent of the total respondents never want to quit journalism due to journalistic killings and this

shows that students are not afraid of joining journalism as a career or subject.

The third objective of study referred to find out to what extent journalistic killing is

decreasing the importance of journalism as a subject or career and researcher has examined that

most of the students are not agree with this statement that journalistic killing is decreasing

importance of journalism as a career or subject and students want to join journalism as a

profession.

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