THE PARALLELISM OF ENGLISH AND URDU PRESS IN PAKISTAN: CHALLENGES AND OUTCOMES

Abstract

This paper examines Urdu and English press in Pakistan to identify the differences between the two. Linguistically, both Urdu and English mass media function as the leading media of Pakistan; however, the differences of news and views in presentation, style, and focus refer to an information chasm that we call ‘information segregation.’ In our study, that spans over the period of one-year, i.e., January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023, we essentially engage in a critical discourse analysis of front-page news stories and op-ed articles (mostly editorials) of four national broadsheet newspapers, especially for two important incidents in 2023, i.e., (i) the May 9 riots, and (ii) the Jaranwala incident. Our analysis demonstrates that there is a difference of focus and presentation style especially in issues related to disputing the status quo and having a bold/critical stance on religiously controversial and sensitive issues such as blasphemy law. In this difference, English media appears to have an audacious approach as compared to Urdu media. With Walter Lipmann, we argue that news and views in media are subject to journalistic and editorial choices. Although studying the reasons of these choices is beyond the scope of this study, we contend that a linguistically different mass media in Pakistan creates (and perpetuates) different worldview for its audience, which is unaligned with inclusive and egalitarian norms of a democratic society.