In Pakistan Smog Season, News Outlets Miss Stories About Solutions

We analyzed 356 news stories related to smog in Pakistan during 2017 and 2019, which appeared in six newspapers. We found that only 15% of stories discussedthe public health implications of smog – mostly there was no mention of precautionary measures such as wearing masks, moisturising skin (to build a barrier effect against environmental substance), eating a balanced diet (to maintain a healthy immune system), and reducing time spent outdoors when smog is heavy.

Our research highlights how Pakistani media treat smog as a seasonal inconvenience , rather than a major public health emergency requiring urgent and sustainable attention.

As we collected data, we found that news articles related to smog started appearing after the issue intensified in both English and Urdu newspapers. Most news editors, especially in Urdu newspapers, only seemed interested in smog-related stories during smog season which is from October to February, though haze hangs in the sky throughout the year.

Pakistani media tended to attribute smog to local factors, including urbanization, industrialization, vehicle emissions, and the burning of waste or crops. The media remained critical of government efforts to reduce smog impacts but did not mention many sustainable policy options.

There are other regional issues at play here, too. Given the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict , the Pakistani media blame smoke from stubble burning on the Indian side of the border for smog outbreaks, irrespective of the direction of prevailing winds.

The media often cover the disastrous effects of smog, such as the strain on the economy, closure of schools, transport delays and utility supply disruptions. More than 20% of news reports in each newspaper were about such effects.

However, the media published far fewer stories about the knock-on effects on human health and about communities that were vulnerable to smog, such as daily wage laborers working outdoors and inhaling toxic air.

By adopting a more human-centred and solutions-journalism approach (rigorous reporting that's focused on responses to particular social and environmental challenges), the media landscape in Pakistan could become much more comprehensive.

Solutions-focused reporting of smog should ideally cover environmental justice by showcasing how vulnerable communities are more affected by smog . With more human-centered story angles, the media can explain the health implications of smog.

Linking routine actions, such as burning fossil fuels, crops and waste, to major health issues , such as respiratory disease is essential. Powerful storytelling can emphasize how mitigating those effects can benefit human health.

Media coverage of sustainable solutions could be increased. Currently, the media focus mainly on stories about short-term policy actions. That includes emphasizing the ban on outdoor activities and holidays in schools or publishing stories about the number of registered cases against farmers burning crops. Stories might also cover tickets issued to smoke-emitting vehicles , industrial units sealed during smog season and the temporary pause to development projects to control smog .

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The 2019 media coverage we analyszd highlighted sustainable solutions in just 12 instances. That included stories about tree planting, rooftop gardening and urban forestry . Although people mostly read and understand Urdu , the number of stories based on solutions journalism in Urdu newspapers is lower than in English newspapers.

Solution-focused journalism can help demonstrate how stern policy action reduces environmental challenges and creates opportunities – for example, using crop stubble for cement production and knowing which trees are best for reducing air pollution .

The road to improving public understanding of smog starts with increasing the scientific and environmental literacy of journalists in Pakistan. Once reporters and editors are more comfortable with the science, they will feel better equipped to craft solutions-focused narratives that engage their audiences in powerful stories about what is happening to air quality in Pakistan and other developing countries.

Rabia Qusien is a postdoctoral researcher with the Alliance for a Sustainable Future, George Washington University . David Robbins is an associate professor at the School of Communications and Co-director at the DCU Institute for Climate and Society, Dublin City University .

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article .

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