An Analysis of Media and Political Parallelism in Pakistan

Abstract

Political communication in the context of the third world, notably in Pakistan, often intertwines with media content, posing challenges to democratic processes. This study investigates the intricate dynamics between the press's relationship with the government and its consequential impact on media content. Political parallelism in media holds significant implications for the broader landscape of democracy, with various parameters such as media pluralism, sociology, and instrumentalization contributing to its manifestation. This research employs content analysis to explore the extent of political parallelism in the coverage of critical national issues by leading English newspapers in Pakistan, focusing on the period from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020. The study also explores the professional orientation of journalists through survey data collected from 285 participants, utilizing a convenient sampling technique. Additionally, qualitative interviews with mainstream journalists provide valuable insights. The findings suggest a notable prevalence of political parallelism in Pakistan's media landscape. Beyond the nexus between media and government, this study identifies journalistic norms, censorship, autonomy, advertisement considerations, and industrialists' interests as influential factors fostering political parallelism in the country.