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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on different countries because of which various health and safety measures were implemented, with digital media playing a pivotal role. However, digital media also pose significant concerns such as misinformation and lack of direction., Objective: We aimed to explore the effects of COVID-19-related infodemics through digital, social, and electronic media on the vaccine-related attitudes of caregivers and health care providers in Pakistan., Methods: This study employs a qualitative exploratory study design with purposive sampling strategies, and it was conducted at 3 primary health care facilities in the province of Sindh, Pakistan. Seven focus group discussions with health care providers and 60 in-depth interviews with caregivers were conducted using semistructured interviews through virtual platforms (ConnectOnCall and Zoom). Transcripts were analyzed through thematic analysis., Results: Our study reveals the pivotal role of electronic media, mobile health (mHealth), and social media during the COVID-19 pandemic. Four major themes were identified: (1) sources of information on COVID-19 and its vaccination, (2) electronic media value and misleading communication, (3) mHealth leveraging and limitations during COVID-19, and (4) social media influence and barriers during COVID-19. Health care providers and caregivers reported that the common sources of information were electronic media and mHealth, followed by social media. Some participants also used global media for more reliable information related to COVID-19. mHealth solutions such as public awareness messages, videos, call ringtones, and helplines promoted COVID-19 prevention techniques and vaccine registration. However, the overwhelming influx of news and sociobehavioral narratives, including misinformation/disinformation through social media such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter, were found to be the primary enablers of vaccine-related infodemics. Electronic media and mHealth were utilized more widely to promote information and communication on the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination. However, social media and electronic media-driven infodemics were identified as the major factors for misinformation related to COVID-19 and vaccine hesitancy. Further, we found a digital divide between the urban and rural populations, with the use of electronic media in rural settings and social media in urban settings., Conclusions: In a resource-constrained setting like Pakistan, the usage of mHealth, social media, and electronic media for information spread (both factual and mis/disinformation) related to COVID-19 and its vaccination had a significant impact on attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination. Based on the qualitative findings, we generated a model of digital communications and information dissemination to increase knowledge about COVID-19 and its prevention measures, including vaccination, which can be replicated in similar settings for other disease burdens and related infodemics. Further, to mitigate the infodemics, both digital and nondigital interventions are needed at a larger scale., (©Abdul Momin Kazi, Nazia Ahsan, Rawshan Jabeen, Raheel Allana, Saima Jamal, Muhammad Ayub Khan Mughal, Kathryn L Hopkins, Fauzia Aman Malik. Originally published in JMIR Infodemiology (https://infodemiology.jmir.org), 04.09.2024.)

Electronic media, particularly television (TV), remains an important tool which can contribute positively in achieving women's empowerment (WE) in developing countries. In Pakistan, TV morning shows are highly popular among women viewers particularly in urban areas and have emerged as a powerful tool to influence WE. Cognizant of this, the present study attempted empirically to investigate the influence of TV morning shows on urban women's empowerment, using a mixed method approach—a combination of qualitative and quantitative tools. In 2018, the study collected qualitative data from 66 episodes of five leading TV morning shows, and quantitative data from 260 women in Lahore—a metropolitan city of Pakistan. Findings revealed that TV morning shows presented the content on WE, and invited women celebrities to portray their success stories to inspire women viewers. Multidimensional assessment of WE showed that only 33% of surveyed women were empowered. It was also found that there was a need of improvement in women's control over resources, their mobility and participation in household level decision making. Regression analysis showed that TV morning shows related variables—women's intensity of watching morning shows, their interest in morning shows' content on WE and their interest in watching women celebrities in morning shows had positive influence on WE and its dimensions at different levels of statistical significance. Based on findings, the study has suggested some key recommendations for TV channels to support the national efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality and WE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Who will watch the watchdog" This praise became popular in Pakistan when Geo, one of Pakistan's most-watched television news channels in Pakistan, has many times violated codes of ethics that were proposed by Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) (Pakistan Voice, 2012, p. 2-6). Media plays an important role in our daily lives, as its basic function is to inform, educate and entertain. Today's world media is getting more and more power because it plays a role of watchdog on politicians, governments, judiciary and our actions and can quickly inform masses and disseminate information across the globe. Therefore, freedom of media is very essential if it plays a constructive and significant role for people living in a democratic country like Pakistan. But if the press itself is not free then how can it play a constructive role or can raise voice for the rights of the citizens. Edmund Burkey (1787) stated that media is the fourth-pillar of the state. He termed it fourth-pillar because of its constructive role in our lives, the press or media can only perform its sacred duties of the fourth estate if it is free and independent in covering different aspects of life, whether it is politics, education, health, religion, war zone or any other important topics. Most importantly, it is only possible if the job is done professionally, ethically and with full responsibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study presents a situated and context-bound model of electronic media reports by exploring their detailed information practices within the workplace actions. It further investigates the information sources they usually consult for news or story-making process and barriers that hinder them to acquire required information. Design/methodology/approach: The data were collected through semistructured, face-to-face interviews of electronic media reporters from the top news channels of Pakistan. These reporters had international exposure while having 7–20 years of work experience with different news channels. Findings: In relation to information practices, the model also highlights the seven steps involved in news-making process of electronic media. Initially inspired from Mckenzie's (2003) model of information practice, which was developed within the everyday life context, this model attempts to see the information practices of electronic media reporters situated at their workplaces and might be seen as an extension of previous works. Originality/value: This study is a unique attempt to find patterns of information practices situated in their workplace actions. The results of this study would be helpful for librarians and information specialists, who are working in media house libraries for the planning and designing of library services. Peer review: The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-07-2020-0308 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research article investigates the role of the news media and specifically electronic media since 2005, which has emerged as a strong force in Pakistan in the past decade and, under certain circumstances, shapes public policymaking in Pakistan. Media across the world is seen as a tool to shape public narratives and influence policymakers in crafting policies that adhere to the interest and welfare of the general public. Electronic media has emerged as a powerful medium of communication in Pakistan, even though its political decision-making role has mainly been ignored. The independence of electronic media in Pakistan is highly debatable; the emergence of private news channels has a relatively short span of age. Before the emergence of a broad spectrum of electronic media channels, a single state-owned news channel existed, and information flow was highly controlled. The influx of news channels made the news media landscape in Pakistan highly vibrant from 2005 onwards. During the Musharraf regime in Pakistan, the mushroom growth of electronic channels was witnessed, which made media the fourth pillar of the state. During the same rule, electronic media in Pakistan started influencing public policies and narratives and saw sanctions imposed by the same ruler. In Pakistan, electronic media played a more significant role in influencing public opinion, policies, and views that compel policymakers to draft policies accordingly. The public was made aware of their rights as citizens and reacted to government policies and current political happenings. Interestingly not just in Pakistan, but the international academia as well has not paid much attention to the media's influence on public policymaking. There is limited scholarly literature available as not much focus has been given to how media influences policymaking. This research article using a Foucauldian lens on "power-knowledge" will specifically examine how certain media groups in Pakistan have impacted policymaking and have played a significant role in major political happenings, which have directly impacted Pakistan's public policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to explore the factors of electronic media affecting the buying behavior of consumers especially the females in Pakistan. It is generally believed that females build their buying behavior from print and electronic media specifically while taking impression from related news, television dramas, showbiz activities, commercials, advertisements, celebrities, and other tools. This study is an effort to measure the impact of effects of advertising aired on electronic media on women's buying behavior in Karachi City. Overall, advertising has a great role in buying behavior. This quantitative research employs survey study as data collection tool from Karachi through random sampling. The researchers distributed 2000 questionnaires among females of academic departments of universities, housewives, journalists, teachers and students from various localities of Karachi. The results of the study showed that majority of the population was strongly affected by the commercials of various products aired on electronic media in Pakistan. A large number of females also opinionated that electronic media exploited their consumer and privacy rights and negatively led them to buy products which were not actually as per their requirements. The study was limited to the City of Karachi alone due to multiple factors including limited timeframe; however, this study may open new phenomena pertaining to this arena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Pakistan stands 5th among the highest TB burden countries in the world. The main objective of the study was to assess the impact of listening to the Radio and watching TV on awareness and knowledge about TB and its spread among men. Methods: The study was based on data from third countrywide Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS), 2012-13. From 12,943 occupied households, 13,558 ever-married women and 3,134 ever married men age 15-49 were interviewed. Men interviews record was selected and analysed for TB awareness and its relationship with electronic media. The relationship was tested by SPSS logistic regression analysis and the p-value of <0.05 was regarded as statistically significant. Results: The study showed that daily watching TV was significantly higher in urban areas and created more awareness of TB and its spread than rural areas. In rural areas, Radio listeners were more than urban areas. 33.2% to 58.7% men had knowledge that TB spreads by touching a person who has TB disease while 81.3% to 99.5% men had an awareness that TB is not spread by sexual contact with TB diseased person. Electronic media especially watching TV was statistically significant with awareness of TB and its spread. Conclusion: Men from urban areas, daily TV watchers and occasionally radio listeners had significantly high awareness about TB spread by air. Misconceptions about TB spread by utensils, sexual contact and touching TB person prevail. Radio and TV can play a vital role, through education, to control TB spread and taking complete treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronic media has got enormous popularity in present-day world. It has heavily influenced each sphere of life in the entire world. Information revolution has turned the world into a global village, where information passes from one part of the world to another in seconds. Media has connected the world and has not only drastically changed the lives of people but also influenced the policies, strategies of the governments. Media is considered as a soft power in the modern world that directly affects human minds and brings change in the attitudes and behaviors. Public opinion is not only influenced but shaped and designed by media, it has a great influence on strategic planning and environment. Modern societies are well aware of the fact that their survival is dependent on the wise and prudent use of media. The emergence of electronic media played a significant role in transforming Pakistani society into a well-informed society, but it raised several questions about the use and need of media in national cohesion and national security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents data about how Sindh journalists in Pakistan regard to the credibility of news media. Specifically, it focuses upon the credibility comparison between print versus electronic media, and English-language versus Sindhi-language/Urdu-language media. For data collection a cross-sectional survey of the purposively sampled 576 working Sindh journalists was conducted across all the district level press clubs in Sindh province. In results, it was found that the typical Sindh journalist considers that print media have higher credibility than electronic media. Moreover, generally the journalists viewed that compared with English the credibility level of Sindhi/Urdu media are less. However, in the regard of multi-lingual media the findings indicated that the journalists working for English media organizations perceived that English media are more credible than Sindhi/Urdu media. In contrast, the journalists working for Urdu media deemed that English media have less credibility than Urdu media. Whereas, the journalists working in Sindhi media organizations thought other way; that is English, Sindhi and Urdu media have credibility at about the same level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Livestock/poultry sector is a major contributor in the context of food provision as well as backstopping of the economy of Pakistan. The paper encompasses the outcomes of a study conducted regarding role of electronic media in the dissemination of information related to livestock/poultry. The data were collected through interview schedule from 330 randomly selected farmers from Faisalabad district. The analysis of the data reveals that mobile phone appeared comparatively more prominent electronic medium for getting livestock/poultry related information in an immediate and quick manner because of its interactive nature. Precautionary measures/cure against diseases was found to be the prominent area with regard to extent of information obtained and through various electronic media and its perceived effectiveness. Livestock/poultry products, marketing, and precautionary measures/cure against diseases were reported to be the prominent future preferred areas. There is a need to revitalize the electronic media (under study) for the effective dissemination of livestock/poultry related information. It is also emphasized to focus on livestock/poultry products, marketing, and precautionary measures/cure against diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The important role of media in any country is its culture and country?s success and principal aspiration of mass media ought to be the human solidity in all its magnitude. What is needed that people could engagethemselves in positive behavior? How to achieve it? The media?s objectives should be by highlighting the problems of citizens and not it could spoil everything by diverting the attention of people from important issues towards insignificant issues to create chaos and confusion among the masses. It is only possible if all truth is brought forward. The international media propaganda that the whole world is a global village with a new time order of living is monetary based slogan. To achieve this profitable/ commercial culture a new name is given to mankind that as common faith of ?Civic religion?. It is further coded/ camouflaged as ?democracy? i.e. a ?mankind?s religion? mean with ?democratic faith? that whole human beings have a common culture and ethics mean ?Living style?. The world is in the grip of money- making mass media i.e. woman, wine and wealth (www.com) oriented culture. That is a war against very aim of peace and prosperity of human being. This mass media cultural/ fashion war is only in few powerful companies/ agencies. A Pakistani electronic/ print media?s day and night broadcasting of a fashion is against the Islamic teaching. This broadcast of multi culture invasion has many organized ethical issues which are directly challenging the Islamic values and culture. In this paper to save guard against Islamic culture and Pakistan integrity/solidarity. The endeavor is made to highlight various aspects of mass media?s ethics invasion. And some remedial measures for countering this media?s culture offensive on divine Islamic culture and Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using democratic participant theory as a framework to explain media performance, this article examines the implications of ownership concentration and diversity on democracy and analyzes the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority's (PEMRA) endeavors to implement the principle of diversity as espoused in its mandate. It finds that though PEMRA accelerated the growth of electronic media in Pakistan, it failed to promote local and diverse media as PEMRA policies supported diagonal integration and lead to concentration of ownership. PEMRA was also criticized for suppressing independent media when it was brought under the control of Ministry of Information in 2007. The study concludes that regulatory mechanisms in developing countries like Pakistan are still a tool in the hands of the government to control media, and development of a participatory and diverse media is a normative ideal not yet translated into reality. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Medical preparedness and community education are the most valuable preventive tools for combatting the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to assess the role of media public health awareness campaigns on the knowledge of the general population about COVID-19 in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. A quantitative study using a pre-post design among 384 respondents was conducted. A structured questionnaire was administered to the participants twice: The first response ( t 1 ) was completed 1 month after the first case detection in Pakistan (March 2020). Media health awareness campaigns were launched just after the detection of the first case in Pakistan. Exposure to the media and knowledge relating to COVID-19 increased over time. Whereas, only a quarter of respondents judged the isolation of suspected cases in quarantine to be important to prevent the spread of infection in society at t 2 . Socio-demographic characteristics were not significantly associated with knowledge (gains). However, more frequent use of electronic media is associated with greater knowledge gains from t 1 , more than half did so at t 2 . Socio-demographic characteristics were not significantly associated with knowledge (gains). However, more frequent use of electronic media is associated with greater knowledge gains from t 1 to t 2 . The findings of this study provide evidence that awareness and knowledge related to COVID-19 symptoms and preventive measures increased significantly over time. The increased frequency of following the media indicates that health awareness campaigns are important for enhancing the knowledge of the general public regarding COVID-19., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Rehman, Zakar, Zakar, Hani, Wrona and Fischer.)