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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.
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 2
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)
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 3
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
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 4
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.
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 5
“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
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 6
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?
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 7
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.
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 8
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
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 9
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.
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 10
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
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 11
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
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 12
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.
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 13
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)
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 14
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.
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 15
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.
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 16
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
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 17
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
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 18
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
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 19
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
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 20
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.
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 21
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
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 22
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
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 23
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)
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 24
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.
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 25
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
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 26
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
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 27
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 IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 28
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.
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 29
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
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 30
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
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 31
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
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 32
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
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 33
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
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 34
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
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 35
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
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 36
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
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 37
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
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 38
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
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 39
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
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 40
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
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 41
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
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 42
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
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 43
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
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 44
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
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 45
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
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 46
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
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 47
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
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 48
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
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 49
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
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 50
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
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 51
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
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 52
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
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 53
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.
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 54
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.
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 55
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.
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 56
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
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 57
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.
THE IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 58
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 IMPACT OF JOURNALISTIC KILLING ON MEDIA STUDENTS IN ADOPTING JOURNALISM AS A CAREER 59
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.