Study of Science News in Pakistani Newspapers: Jang, Nawa-e- Waqt, Express and Ummat

Authors

  • Sardar Ahmad Nazish PhD Research Student, Department of Mass Communication, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Nisar Ahmed Zuberi Dr. Adjunct Professor, Department of Mass Communication, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan.

Keywords:

Science News, Newspapers, Gastroenteritis, Pakistan

Abstract

A study of science news coverage was undertaken in four Urdu language newspapers published from Karachi along with a case study for contribution to the global efforts of science communication in Pakistan. Higher rates of science coverage have been found in Express, Jang, Nawa-e-Waqt, and Ummat at 6.5%, 7.2%, 9.49% and 12.3% respectively due to an event of gastroenteritis epidemic erupted in a locality of Karachi city. However, not much news of botanical sciences, computer sciences, and geological sciences could be traced. News relating to food safety, environmental sciences, wildlife, energy, metrology, marine biology, nanotechnology, space science, and engineering could be traced only below 1%. The study concludes that Pakistani newspapers lack proper coverage of science based news and their readers may be far behind in finding ways how to use newspapers particularly to inculcate better civic sense among the masses.

Author Biography

Sardar Ahmad Nazish, PhD Research Student, Department of Mass Communication, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan

Principal Information Officer, PCSIR Scientific Information Centre, Karachi, PhD Research Student, Department of Mass Communication, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan

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Published

2015-12-01

Section

Research Articles