0536Discussion Topic

Role of Community Journalism

Schedule
Opening Date and Time

Feb 25,2015 At 12:01Am

Closing Date and Time

Feb 26, 2015 At 11:59 Pm

Note: No extra or bonus/grace period is available for attempting GBD.

Discussion Question

The goals of community journalism are:

1. To give predominance to the national development projects
2. To follow the cultural and informational autonomy
3. To livelihood the democracy
Pakistan is a developing country. In this regard, community journalism is applicable to our
society. Do you think that our media is following the above mentioned goals while talking
about communities? Support your answer with the help of rational example.

Today the topic of our discussion is role of community journalism. In this regard we have to
discuss that is our media fulfilling the requirements and goals of community journalism. Let we
now start with our discussion.
The growth of electronic media over past few decades is very rapid in Pakistan. The media can
impact public opinion in a significant manner. The media is being considered as a fourth pillar of
the state. Electronic media has a role to play for resolution of problems being faced by Pakistan
i.e. political instability, bad governance, weak economy, population growth, friction between the
provinces and centre, violence and intolerance in the society, lack of national integration and
harmony etc. In Pakistan the electronic media is providing information at a very large scale. It is
being recognized as contributing significantly in important national issues. It has a role
in accountability process.
The Pakistani media is covering all the events related to the development of the country. Either, it
is being any international level project or the arrival of foreign ambassadors to invest in Pakistan;

the media covers all the issues and conveys it to the citizens. The recent example of this issue is
the investment done by our neighboring country China to make Pakistan a developed country.
Another example is the development work announced by Malik Riaz (Chairman Bahria Town) to
make Karachi an international city and put its name in the line of Malaysia and Dubai.
Our media also shows the correct and complete picture of our tribal areas where there is a lot of
poverty and because of this many people die every day. The recent example is the Thar and
Mithi. The situation of Thar and Mithi is becoming more critical and miserable. More than 500
children died due to pneumonia and malnutrition. Pakistan Army along with civil society groups
have set up field hospitals and distributing food packets among the affected people in Mithi and
Tharparkar. Lack of medicines and nutritious food has increased the miseries of poor residents.
Our media covers all the news related to these issues from different areas of the country.
Media supports democracy by bringing out the democratic norms and transfers the same in the
general public. Providing live coverage of parliament proceedings, activities of politicians and
programs on democracies are few of the examples. The electronic media in Pakistan has
recorded tremendous growth in a limited time period. Hence, media is strengthening
development in Pakistan; it has supported democracy, highlights public issues and has given
voice to neglected element of the society. Thus our media is fulfilling all the requirements of
community journalism.
This brings us towards the end of todays discussion.