JOURNALISTS’ PERCEPTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE INDUVIAL LEVEL OF INFLUENCES ON CONFLICT REPORTING

Abstract

This study aims to examine the variation in journalists’ perceptions with respect to the influences on reporting from the conflict zones across different provinces. The present study aims to bring new insights on power of various influences as proposed by previous studies and theories and examine the perceptions of the journalists across conflict zones in Pakistan. The results showed that individual level influences are important for conflict reporting. It is evident that personnel background, professional background, educational level, training, experience, gender and religious sect of the journalist influences the journalist work in the conflict zone. Hence, we observe significant differences in respondents’ perception about various items of individual level of influences. The results show that religion influenced journalists’ work to a great extent as the militants use the religious card emotionally. The participants expressed that if the journalists try to cover a story that goes against them, the blame is put on the concerned journalists as to be antireligion and anti-Islam because the militants consider themselves to be the true upholders of the religion. Hence, the respondents termed this scenario as confusing working environment for journalists who feel themselves insecure in such circumstances that, of course, affected their professional duties. Some of the conflict reporters viewed that though religious ideology has tremendous impact on conflict reporting, however it can be minimized by establishing the fact that journalists are not taking side of any party involved in conflict.