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