CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Investigative journalism is considered one of the most important types of news reporting. Despite facing severe obstacles such as life threats, economic pressure, and job insecurity, and many more, investigative journalists and reporters in Pakistan remain committed to uncovering wrongdoing and holding individuals and organizations to account. This study employs the Hierarchy of Influence Model and Communicative Ecology Model to analyze these challenges in depth. Moreover, opportunities are highlighted. Utilizing a mixed-method approach, both qualitative and quantitative data are gathered through interviews and survey. The interview results show that the challenges exist at the individual, organizational, social institution, and ideological levels except for the media routine level. Similarly, socio-cultural and technological factors hinder the work of investigative journalists and reporters. Moreover, psychological elements also play a role in affecting the work of investigative journalists and reporters. Through survey results, it is clear that journalists and reporters are affected at the individual, media routine, organizational, social institution, and ideological levels as majority of the respondents agreed that these challenges hinder their working. Socio-cultural and technological factors alike pose obstacles to the efforts of investigative journalists and reporters. Furthermore, psychological aspects also contribute to influencing the work of investigative journalists and reporters. However, regardless of these challenges, investigative journalists and reporters are determined to work and have also achieved opportunities such as the effective use of AI. Adding to this, they are labelled as the holders of democracy and are respected by the common public. The study concludes that, under the current circumstances, there exist challenges and opportunities for investigative journalism in Pakistan. even though the results of qualitative data cannot be generalized, it helped in understanding the issue in more depth; however, as for the quantitative data, it is generalizable, hence highlighting that these challenges and opportunities exist in investigative journalism.