Media’s Role in Shaping Climate Change Discourse in Pakistan
Keywords:
Climate Change, Pakistani Press, Content Analysis, Media Representation, Public Perception, Environmental JournalismAbstract
This study investigates how leading Pakistani newspapers represent climate change by analysing content from Dawn, The News, and Daily Jang. Employing Framing and Agenda Setting Theory, the study identifies key sources, frames, and narrative tones. The findings indicate that while there is more climate change coverage, the focus is primarily on disaster reporting with limited attention to solutions and mitigation strategies. Compared with other Global South countries, press coverage in Pakistan remains narrow in scope, lacking the depth required to impact policy discourse and civic engagement. Thus, this research calls for a more balanced and proactive approach to climate change journalism in Pakistan, increasing the frequency and diversifying the tone of coverage in order to create public awareness and encourage meaningful engagement with this pressing global issue.
JEL Classification Codes: Q54, Q58
Submitted: Jan 27, 2025
Last Revised: June 30, 2025
Accepted: July 21, 2025
Conflict of Interest: The Authors declared no Conflict of Interest
Acknowledgment: No administrative and technical support was taken for this research.
Funding: No funding was received for this research
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