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Home , Bettani, Dawar (Pashtun tribe), Kohati

Socio-Economic factors affecting journalists: A case study of Southern districts based journalists of

Submitted By Nasir Iqbal Roll No. 02 Session: 2013-2015

Supervised By Dr. Abdul Wajid Khan

Department of Media Studies

The Islamia University of Bahawalpur

Table of Contents

Sr. No. Contents 1. Table of Contents 2. List of abbreviation 3. Certificate 4. Acknowledgment 5. Declaration of Originality 6. Supervisor’s Declaration 7. Abstract

CHAPTER 1 Introduction------1

1.1. Background/terms and definitions------2

1.2. Statement of the problem------7

1.3. Objectives of the study------7

1.4. Significance of the Study------8

1.5. The impediments of the journalist ------9

1.6. The impediments faced by the journalists in line of their reporting ------10

1.7. General Assumption------10

CHAPTER 2

Literature Review

Literature Review------11

Summary------24

CHAPTER 3 Theoretical Framework 3.1 Hypothesis------26 3.2 Variables------26 4.2. Media Development Theory ------27 CHAPTER 4 Research Methodology 4.1 Research Plan------29 4.2 Operationalization of Variables------30 4.3 Population------30 4.4 Sampling Size------30 4.5 Sampling Techniques------30 4.6 Data Collection Techniques------30 4.7 Pilot Study ------30 4.8 Data Analysis Techniques------30 4.8 Operational Definitions------30

CHAPTER 5 DATA ANALYSIS 5.1. General Analysis ------32 5.2. Hypothetical Analysis and Interpretation ------32

CHAPTER 6 6.1. General Findings------54 6.2. Justification of the Objectives------57 6.3 Hypothetical Analysis------58 6.4. Recommendations------59 6.5 Limitation & Delimitation------60 References------61 Annexture (Questionnaire) ------64

ABSTRACT

The research has been conducted to ascertain the issues or problems being faced by the journalists of Southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and to know the view points of the media men regarding the problems. The researcher gathered the data through a questionnaire consisting of 25 close ended questions. The researcher collected data on convenient method of sampling from the journalists of Southern Districts of KP comprises 280 in number and analyze the questions. The response rate was 87 % as total 243 respondents filled the questionnaire. The data was analyzed through SPSS to make sure maximum impartiality in the results. It is reveals that 78 % of the respondents consider that they are taking effects from pressure groups which affect their working. The results specified significance association between the lack of salary and the performance of the journalists. The lack of salaries force the journalists to incline towards unfair means earning and degrading the profession of journalism in the eyes of public. The results further show that security issues affect the performance of journalists and in return journalists failed to carry out objective journalism. The respondents agree that journalists working on district level are not professionally sound which results in compromising on objectivity and the media organizations least bother to arrange trainings for their capacity building. The results shows that the journalists are less equipped and are not provided proper equipment by their respective media organizations, necessary to cover journalistic activities properly.

It is concluded that media men are facing problems due to insecurity, financial constraints, threats from pressure groups and lack of trainings.

Keywords: Journalist, security, pressure group, Southern districts, socio-economic issues, professional/ safety training, equipment.

Chapter No. 1

INTRODUCTION

Journalism as a profession is involved and has to do something with everything. It encompasses almost every aspect of life and the media practitioners working it out are embedded in peculiar environment of various natures. This vital field necessitate conducive environment wherein journalists could deliver to the best of their potentials but it has been observed that certain issues at hand is a sort of check on media professionals. The researcher has observed that

Journalists affiliated with various media outlets in Southern Districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are also confronted with problems which are eating into their vitalities.

The researcher has undertaken the study with the purpose to probe the exact nature of issues which journalists confront in Southern Districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It has been observed that the socio-economic conditions in which journalists have to deliver in this particular region are not augur well for better prospects. The situation at times reflect that journalists covering different issues and events are passing through various kinds of problems including that facing political pressures from various quarters, security issues, financial constraints and equipped to a lesser degree in the domain of professional training and availability of necessary paraphernalia for better delivery. The researcher has also observed that at times media organizations have the influence over their correspondence and maneuver their reporting according to their own interests resulting in compromising the quality of journalism itself. Another phenomenon that the researcher observed is that of pressure groups which remain busy to develop pressure on

1 journalists and at times also pose threats to the journalists to toe in their line of reporting an issue or event.

Taking into account the socio-economic problems; journalists, here too, are arm twisted and are meagerly paid corresponding to price hike and market based salaries by their organizations. All these factors results in lack of interest on the part of journalists to fulfill their professional responsibilities in a desired way.

The researcher undertook the research study “Socio-Economic factors affecting journalists: A case study of southern districts based journalists of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa” to probe all the aforementioned problems and to locate the exact nature of the issues.

1.1 Background

According to International Media Support [IMS] (2009) journalists working for newspapers earn low salaries, almost no clear contracts and regular wages. The official minimum wage at a newspaper was Rs. 10,000 per month (120 Euros). In larger newspaper organizations a regular employee will get Rs. 15,000 to 20,000 a month. The salaries in large national newspaper organizations and particularly in English newspapers were higher.

As per General Secretary of Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) up to 80 percent journalists affiliated with the print media have no contracts or employment letters and the media houses avoiding to pay higher salaries. Dawn has made contracts with some journalists through a subcontractor to avoid complaints about wages directed at the newspaper itself (IMS, 2009).

The people of the districts are facing problems in getting education as compared to the people of other districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Therefore, the journalists of this area are not highly educated rather most of them having education up to Metric. Consequently the journalists cannot

2 fulfill the requisite demand of media organizations in arting and crafting news stories in better way.

Socio-Economic

Socio-economic concentrates on the relationship between social behavior and economics. Social economics examines that how social norms, ethics and other social activities influence consumer behavior to shape an economy which evaluates the existing condition of a society. It uses history, politics and other social sciences to examine the possible results to change the society or the economy (www.investopedia.com).

Journalist

A person who writes for newspaper and magazine or prepares news to be broadcasted on radio or television is called journalist (Oxford).

Southern Districts

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa abbreviated as KP and formerly known as North-West Frontier Province

(NWFP) and it is one of the four provinces of the country. It is situated in the Northwestern part of the country. Peshawar is the largest city and the capital of the province. It shares its borders with the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) to the West, Gilgit-Baltistan to the

Northeast, Azad Kashmir, Islamabad and Punjab to the East and Southeast and Baluchistan to the

Southeast. The KPK also shares its national borders with the through famous

Khyber Pass (en.wikipedia.org).

The seven Southern districts of the KPK are , Hangu, Karak, Bannu, LakkiMarwat, Tank and Dera Ismail Khan (DI Khan).

Kohat

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Kohat is the district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and it is the inhabitant of various such as , , Banoori, Kohati Hindkown, , Shenwar, and

Niazai. The total area of the district is 2,545 Sq Km (983 sq mi) and it has total population

949,000. Kohat is the home of local Kohatis who speak (Kohati ) but with the demographic changes in recent decades the Afghan refugees and tribal peoples arrived to Kohat and now language speakers are n majority (en.wikipedia.org).

Hangu

Hangu is a district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and the leading tribes of the district Hangu are Bangsh, Orkazai and Afridi. District Hangu total area is 1,097 sq km (424 sq mi) and its total population is 531,000. Pashto is the main language spoken in Hangu (en.wikipedia.org).

KARAK

Karak is a district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and only one tribe Khattak live in the district. It covers total area 3,372 sq km (1,302 sq mi) and its total population is 729,000. Pashto is the main language spoken in the district. The discovery of oil and gas reserves on large scale has made the district one of the richest districts of the province (en.wikipedia.org).

Bannu

Bannu is a district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The main tribes Bannuchi, , ,

Mehsud, , , Khattak and some Bangash and Sulaiman live in the district. The total population of the district is 10, 73,000 and it spread over an area of 1,227 sq Km (474 sq mi). Inhabitants of the district speak Bannuchi dialect Pashto. Cloth weaving and the

4 manufacturing of cotton fabrics, machinery and equipment are the major industries of the district

(en.wikipedia.org).

Lakki Marwat

District Lakki Marwat is one of the Southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and it was created in July 1, 1992. It was a Tehsil of district Bannu before it acquired the status of a district.

Its total population is 8,15,000 and it spread over an area of 3,164 sq km (1,222 sq mi). The inhabitants of the district speak Pashto of a specific dialect but a good number of people speak

Punjabi language in Hindko dialect (en.wikipedia.org).

Tank

District Tank is one of the Southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and total population of the district is 393,000. The district spread on an area of 1,679 sq km (648 sq mi).

The main tribes of the district are , Mehsud, Bhittani, Arain and Saraiki. Pashtu is the main language of the people but some people also speak Saraiki(en.wikipedia.org).

Dera Ismail Khan

It is one of the Southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and its total population is 19, 39,000.

The district covered an area of 7326 sq km (2,829 sq mi). Dera Ismail Khan touched with the districts of Punjab Bhakkar and Dera Ghazi Khan towards East, Southeast by South agency and Northwest by Tank and LakkiMarwat districts. Majority of the inhabitants of the district speak Saraiki, Pashto is also spoken and Balochi are spoken by few tribes. The

5 population is a mix of ethnic Saraikis, Baloch and Pashtun(en.wikipedia.org).

Media play a vital role towards the sharing of information among the members of the society because a large number of people mostly have to wish to read and watch media daily for getting information on different subjects like economy, education, social, political, religious and developmental projects. It is worth mentioning that unsocial and low educated persons have come in the field of media to work as a journalist for the satisfaction of their livelihood.

In Southern districts the social position of journalists are totally awkward and having lives below standard, which creates uncertainty in the minds of media practioners‟ of the area that‟s why positive journalism and integrity of the journalists become at stake.

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IMS (2009) reported many Pakistani journalists, editors, cameramen and other workers of media killings, physical assaults and oppression were permanent concerns. Violence and threats were serious issues that caused self-censorship and restricted the topics and geographical locations being covered by the media persons. Pakistan ranked number one in terms of journalists killed in

2009. From May 2007 to May 2008 15 journalists were killed, 357 were arrested, 123 suffered injuries in physical attacks, 154 were harassed. In 2008, 12 journalists were killed and at least 74 suffered critical or minor injuries in 41 cases of attacks.

1.2. Statement of the problem

The problem of the study can be described as „Socio-Economic factors affecting journalists: A case study of southern districts based journalists of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa‟.

1.3. Objectives of the study

1. To dig out social problems and its effects on the working of journalists in Southern districts

affiliated with different media organizations.

2. To explore the effects of prevailing economic conditions of journalists and its impact on

their performance.

3. To search out monthly salaries paid to journalists and its corresponding comparison with

price hike.

4. To explore security issues faced by media persons from various quarters in the region

including pressure groups and district administration.

5. To know about professional trainings, if any, arranged for media persons in the region for sound professional practices.

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1.4. Significance of the Study

Journalists educate the masses about different issues and events which of course affect on their lives. Most of the time they could be seen at interviewing experts and probe various issue faced by the people. They work on their beats and explore newsworthy events taking place in their respective areas. After gathering information on the event they present it to the readers and audience (work.chron.com).

The state of economy, poor financial conditions and lacks of equipments badly affect journalistic performance (Obeng-Quaidoo, 1988).

There is a need of creating necessary policy, legislation and professional trainings for the freedom of expression and media development. Through conducive environment the following goals can be achieved.

 It will improve the environment for the freedom of press and for the safety of journalists.

 It will enhance the capacity of the media organizations and its professionals.

 It will promote the community media which will be helpful in the free flow of information

for development.

UNESCO works for the promotion of free flow of ideas by words and images. It provides technical assistance on legal aspects, regulatory, policy and other such issues. It arranges professional trainings for the capacity building of the journalist and media institutions as well and plays a significant role for freedom of expression and development (en.unesco.org).

All such activities can be done in a conducive environment. But when journalists themselves are facing problems then their role in national development would be adversely affected. The

8 journalists working in the southern districts of KP are facing socio-economic problems. These problems multifaceted can create a great hindrance in the performance of their basic responsibilities. To highlight the problems and issues of the journalists and their solution is the dire need of the time. This makes the study in hand significant. As economic is the fabric of life and if a journalist is prosperous socially and economically then they would better deliver for the development of the society. The journalists working in Southern districts face more difficulties from the local authorities and influential individuals in their respective areas besides social and economic deprivations. Journalism is considered as one of the most important and respectable profession all over the world. A journalist highlights the issues of the people and trying to present the guidance for its solution. In this process the journalists are facing lot of problems like social, economic and life threats while covering day-to-day events in their respective area.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa especially in Southern districts the area location is totally different from the other parts of the province. The Sothern districts are comprised on seven districts where numbers of people are busy to fulfill their life achievements. The journalists carry the courage to report the problems of the people but at the same time they themselves face several problems in fulfilling these duties. Therefore, this area needs to undertake research and explores the mentioned problems faced by the journalist community in Southern districts.

1.5. The impediments of the journalist

A numbers of factors involved in that context i.e.

i. The socio-economic

ii. Educational iii. Undue Political interferences

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1.6. The impediments faced by the journalists in line of their reporting

i. Influence of the Newspapers management

ii. Language Problems

iii. Threats from different quarters (Pressure Groups)

iv. Conveyance

v. Lack of skills

vi. Public pressure

vii. Incentives (encouragement in the field of reporting) viii. Medical Facility

ix. Group Insurance

x. Residential problems

xi. Lack of Refresher Courses

xii. Non availability of Protocol xiii. Lack of awareness of new technologies xiv. Insecure future (monthly pension)

1.7. General Assumption

It is generally believed that Journalists‟ have faced social and economic problems while

reporting in Southern districts. It is also assumed that the study adopts proper tools for exploring

the socio-economic problems of the journalists.

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