Ethnic Newspaper Industry in Pakistan and Impacts of Corporate Ownership

Abstract

During the Indian independence movement, the Urdu-language ethnic newspapers played a significant role in instigating resistance against colonial authorities within local communities. However, later on, Urdu journalism underwent a transformation, shifting from the ‘advocate-journalist’ model to one dominated by corporate ownership in Pakistan. These commercial agents have faced criticism for using journalism as a shield for their other businesses, yet their presence has profoundly impacted current newspaper practices in various ways. Our case study of the Daily Express reveals that this newspaper, by implementing innovative journalism, technological advancements and efficient management practices, has influenced both preceding and subsequent Urdu dailies, transforming Pakistani newspapers into a modern print media industry. Despite these advancements, the impacts of corporate concerns also include a lack of adequate coverage on various human development issues and science-related topics, posing risks to the attractiveness of such papers for the reading public.

The Impact of Sensationalism on Urdu Press: A Quantitative Analysis

“…Later on, though, Urdu journalism in Pakistan experienced a change, moving away from the "advocate-journalist" model and toward a model controlled by corporations. Although these commercial agents have come under fire for using journalism as a front for their other ventures, their presence has had a significant impact on newspaper practices today in a number of ways (Kamboh, Ittefaq, & Hamed, 2023).…”

“…Daily Express has introduced new ideas about content, presentation, operations, technology, distribution, and hiring staff to the Urdu newspaper industry. It is unclear how much of these innovations in Pakistani print journalism have been embraced by rival publishing houses, even in spite of the Daily Express's innovations (Kamboh et al, 2023). Urdu newspapers gave South Asian Muslims a sense of independence, which greatly aided in the fight against colonial rule (Tahir & Baloch, 2009).…”