Resource Pack: Journalists’ Guide to Ethical Election Reporting

The resource pack is designed to equip journalists and information practitioners across Pakistan with the knowledge and skills necessary for ethical, responsible, and informed election reporting

Authors: Majid Nizami, Mudassir Rizvi

Design: Aniqa Haider

Media Matters for Democracy 2022: Year in Review

Published by Media Matters for Democracy, ‘2022: Year Review’, documents and celebrates the major achievements of MMfD last year.

Design: Aniqa Haider

Media Coverage and Natural Disasters: Analyzing Electronic Media’s Coverage of Pakistan Floods 2022.

Published by Media Matters for Democracy, this research study analyses reporting on the 2022 Floods in Pakistan by the broadcast media.

Authors: Yasal Munim, Muhammad Arslan
Design: Aniqa Haider

Fact-Checking and Verification: Navigating the Misinformation Landscape in Pakistani Newsrooms and Beyond

This research study investigates the existing systems of fact-checking and information verification
employed by journalists and newsrooms in Pakistan.

Author: Momina Mindeel
Design: Aniqa Haider

The Glass Ceiling Prevails: Career Paths of Pakistani Women Journalists

The research published by Media Matters for Democracy seeks to highlight the issues that hinder women journalists’ way to success, such as the wage gap, gender discrimination, and harassment.

Author: Ayesha Khalid
Design: Aniqa Haider

Comparative Analysis: Digital Media Regulatory Landscape in Pakistan

Published by Media Matters for Democracy, this study compares Pakistan’s digital media laws with regulatory frameworks in India and Bangladesh and suggests a set of regulations that do not infringe on the fundamental rights of citizens.

Author: Yasir Abbas
Design: Aniqa Haider

Criminalising Speech: A Comparative Analysis of Pakistan’s Criminal Defamation Laws

Published by Media Matters for Democracy, this study explores how criminal defamation undermines the right to freedom of expression in Pakistan.

Author: Salwa Rana
Design: Aniqa Haider

Quality of News Coverage of the Covid-19 Pandemic in the Pakistani Press

Published by Media Matters for Democracy, this research examines the quality of Covid-19 news coverage in Pakistan’s mainstream print, broadcast media by analysing content published between 2020 and 2021.

Authors: Waqas Naeem, Aroosa Shaukat
Design: Aniqa Haider

State of Pakistan’s Media Economy

State of Pakistan’s Media Economy

Published on September 1, 2022

The publication is a step towards mapping and analysing the media’s economic landscape of the country, and its role in ensuring media and digital freedoms. 

Social Media in a Mental Health Dismissive Society

Published by Media Matters for Democracy, this study examines the 2021 Facebook Papers revelations in Pakistani context and explores Big Tech’s negligence towards young users.

Author: Hamza Shahid
Design: Aniqa Haider

Misinformation on YouTube: Use of Misleading Titles to Promote Hateful Narrative against Aurat March in Pakistan

Published by Media Matters for Democracy, this study examines the extent of misinformation spread through videos on YouTube against the annual Women’s March in Pakistan.

Author: Amel Ghani
Design: Aniqa Haider

Towards Meaningful Connectivity: A Policy Paper

Published by Media Matters for Democracy, this policy paper is a comparative analysis of Pakistan’s internet access and related policies…

Connecting the Disconnected: Mapping Gaps in Digital Access in Pakistan

Published by Media Matters for Democracy, this study explores the situation for open and equitable access to the internet and digital resources in Pakistan.

Authors: Hija Kamran, Sadaf Khan, Salwa Rana, Zoya Rehman, Maria Malik

Design: Aniqa Haider

Badshah Ka Raaz

Badshah Ka Raaz

Published on April 27, 2022

Published by Media Matters for Democracy, this comic tells us the story of three friends, Ali, Imran and Harris, as they learn the importance of verifying their news source.

Story by: Aeman Malik
Illustrator: Naffay Masood

Sarah Ki Hoshyaari

Sarah Ki Hoshyaari

Published on April 25, 2022

Published by Media Matters for Democracy, this comic tells us the story of Sarah and her mother as they learn to counter misinformation in their everyday lives.

Story By: Aeman Malik, Safa Imran
Illustrator: Naffay Masood

Protecting the Data: A Comparative Analysis of Pakistan’s Personal Data Protection Bill. 2020

Published by Media Matters for Democracy, ‘Protecting the Data’ is a comparative analysis of global data protection practices in relation to local proposed legislation

Author: Jannat Ali Kalyar
Designer: Aniqa Haider

Misinformation in the Public Eye: Public’s Perception and Response to the ‘Infodemic’

Published by Media Matters for Democracy, ‘Misinformation in the Public Eye’ studies public’s perception of misinformation and their ability to identify and push-back misinformation on various mediums.

Authors: Amel Ghani, Sadaf Khan
Designer: Aniqa Haider

Women Journalists and the Double Bind: The Self-Censorship Effect of Online Harassment in Pakistan

Published by Media Matters for Democracy, ‘Women Journalists and the Double Bind’ examines the factors that push women journalists to limit their professional expression and practice self-censorship. 

Research Team: Aroosa Shaukat, Waqas Naeem
Designer: Aniqa Haider

Disorder in the Newsroom: Media’s Perceptions and Response to the ‘Infodemic’

Published by Media Matters for Democracy, with support from Friedrich Naumann Foundation, the study attempts to assess just how deep the ‘information disorder’ goes, how it affects the newsrooms, and how are the journalists and media dealing with it

Authors: Sadaf Khan, Amel Ghani
Designer: Aniqa Haider

Women Disconnected: Feminist Case Studies on Gender Digital Divide Amidst COVID-19

Published by Media Matters for Democracy, ‘Women Disconnected’ examines the impact of the gender digital divide on women in Pakistan during the coronavirus pandemic. The research is based on a survey with 215 women from across Pakistan and a series of in-depth interviews.

Authors: Hija Kamran, Zoya Rehman, Zoha Batool Khan
Designer: Aniqa Haider

Public Trust in the Media During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Published by Media Matters for Democracy, the study looks at the information needs and news consumption behaviour of the Pakistani public during the pandemic.

Author: Waqas Naeem
Designer: Aniqa Haider

Sahafat Ke Alif Bay Pay: A Guidebook for Digital Journalists

Published by Media Matters for Democracy, this guidebook is aimed at journalists who want to learn more about they key concepts of digital journalism

Author: Waqas Naeem
Designer: Aniqa Haider

Policy Paper on Independent Media Regulation

Policy Paper on Independent Media Regulation

Published on December 17, 2020

The paper reviews the international trends and policy approaches in media regulation, and presents a brief history of different media regulations in Pakistan to contextualise the policy analysis, which is focussed on the issues with the nature and impact of broadcast media regulation.

White Paper Online Media Regulation

White Paper Online Media Regulation

Published on December 15, 2020

The regulatory efforts and policy measures undertaken by the government regarding online media during the past two years have raised serious questions about the protections for press freedom and freedom of expression on the Internet in Pakistan

White Paper on Reforms for the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016

Prepared and Published by Media Matters for Democracy, this white paper outlines the reforms required under Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 in pursuance of civil liberties and fundamental rights

Author: Waqas Naeem

A Democratic Fundamental: Making the Case for Free Speech and Expression

Published by Media Matters for Democracy, ‘A Democratic Fundamental’ presents an overview of all laws governing free speech and expression in Pakistan.

Authors: Noor Ejaz Chaudhary, Omer Imran Malik
Designer: Aniqa Haider

Misinformation kya ye khabar durust hay

Misinformation kya ye khabar durust hay

Published on June 20, 2020

Published by Media Matters for Democracy, this booklet aims to serve as a tool of support for consumers of information to help them make decisions about the authenticity of the content they are consuming.

Author: Waqas Naeem
Design: Aniqa Haider

Media Matters for Democracy 2019: A Year in Review

Published by Media Matters for Democracy, ‘2019: A Year in Review’ documents and presents some of MMFD’s achievements from 2019, and celebrates the team and their work.

Author: Sarah Zafar
Designer: Aniqa Haider

Data Journalism in the Newsroom: A Digital Guide

Data Journalism in the Newsroom: A Digital Guide

Published on January 18, 2020

Published by Media Matters for Democracy, ‘Data Journalism in the Newsroom’ offers it’s readers a thorough insight into the best practices of data journalism

Author: Waqas Naeem

Data Journalism in Pakistan: Challenges and Prospects

Published by Media Matters for Democracy, ‘Data Journalism in Pakistan’ offers recommendations and resources about data-driven journalism for journalists, news organisations, and media development organisations.

Author: Waqas Naeem