THE ROLE OF PAKISTANI PRINT MEDIA IN COVERING THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE 2022 SINDH FLOODS

Abstract

Media coverage of climate change has intensified in recent years. Both
English and Urdu newspapers regularly emphasize calamities associated with
climate change. Pakistan confronts numerous substantial climate concerns that
affect its ecology, economy, and society. For instance, some of the most
significant environmental issues that the country is facing include droughts,
floods, erratic rainfall, cyclones, and heat waves. This study aims to examine the
frequency and nature of coverage pertaining to climate-related occurrences in
two prominent newspapers in Pakistan, Dawn and Jang. The research is
qualitative, employing content analysis to discover distinct themes. The study
encompasses the daily Dawn and Jang periods from October to December 2022.
The research evaluates content across various sections, including front, back,
international, and opinion pages, to assess how the issue of climate change was
framed in the context of the floods. Additionally, the research explores the
responses and initiatives launched by the Sindh government, such as the
formulation of the Sindh Climate Change Policy (SCCP), which aligns with the
National Climate Change Policy 2021.