Acta Universitatis Danubius. Communicatio, Vol 6, No 2 (2012)

Abstract

The article analyses Pakistan’s newspapers’ performance with regard to civil society in 2003 by using content analysis approach.  There is no gainsaying that a strong civil society guarantees a strong democracy.  In Pakistan, spells of military rule have stunted the growth of democracy, adversely affecting civil society. Media too has suffered as a result.  Normative theories of media call for laying down norms and conventions for media.  In democracy, all sections of society should be represented in media. In Pakistan’s case, due to military regimes and quasi democratic governments, combined with the demands of market economy, the media have largely not been able to fulfill this responsibility towards society. Social Responsibility demands that the media must fulfill its responsibility towards society, while giving a free space to all voices of society. In Pakistan, whether newspapers played that role in 2003 when civil society had accelerated its campaign to end honor killings and crimes against women is investigated. The findings show that newspapers did support civil society, showing a gradual movement towards a more responsible press.