A Study to Explore the Safety and Professional Challenges Faced by the Field Journalists in Pakistan

  • Ayesha Siddiqua Lecturer, Department of Mass Communication, National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad, Pakistan
  • Dr. Faiza Latif Assistant Professor, Department of Mass Communication, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Dr. Imran Muslim Assistant Professor, Department of Mass Communication, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Keywords: Conflict Coverage; Safety of Journalists; Self-Censorship; Peace Journalism

Abstract

Field journalists in Pakistan who have covered violent conflicts especially in the wake of Karachi, Baluchistan, and former FATA conflicts have repeatedly staked their physical, emotional, and financial security while fulfilling their journalistic responsibilities. The study at hand is majorly aimed at exploring the reactions of the field journalists in Pakistan concerning the professional and safety challenges faced by them. A purposive sample of 15 field journalists from mainstream newspapers and television channels of Pakistan was selected for conducting the qualitative in-depth interviews. The study concluded that the most frequently faced challenges by the field journalists in Pakistan included the tendency to self-censor one’s content and editorial judgment; working under loosely defined safety protocols; and absence of seeking psychological help in terms of handling Post Trauma Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Published
2020-09-22
How to Cite
Ayesha Siddiqua, Dr. Faiza Latif, & Dr. Imran Muslim. (2020). A Study to Explore the Safety and Professional Challenges Faced by the Field Journalists in Pakistan. Research Journal of Social Sciences and Economics Review, 1(3), 20-26. https://doi.org/10.36902/rjsser-vol1-iss3-2020(20-26)