“Solution Journalism” in Pakistani Print Media: A Comparative Analysis of English Press Coverage of Environmental Reporting in Pakistan

Abstract

This study provides a comparison of problem-solving journalism in the context of environmental issues reported in Urdu and English print media in Pakistan. Solution journalism, also known as constructive journalism, focuses on solving social problems as well as traditional journalism. This study explores how environmental issues are presented in Urdu and English newspapers in Pakistan, with particular emphasis on the presentation of solutions and their impact on public discourse, language and policy-making. This study uses content analysis techniques to analyze articles published in a sample of major Urdu and English newspapers during a specific period. The review included determining the environmental issues discussed types of solutions, tone of the report, and level of stakeholder involvement. This study also discusses editorial content that may affect the differences between Urdu and English newspapers. Preliminary findings show that there are differences in depth and scope in the coverage of environmental issues between Urdu and English newspapers. While Urdu newspapers tend to focus more on local and community-based solutions, considering the importance of readers, English newspapers often talk about international projects and the country. The study also found a difference on environmental issues, where Urdu newspapers focused on human stories, while English newspapers focused on policy implementation and research. The study's results have implications for journalistic practices in Pakistan and highlight the potential of problem-solving journalism to foster meaningful dialogue and encourage work on environmental issues. These findings are leading to a growing body of research on problem-solving journalism and its role in promoting social change.