Step into any living room in Pakistan during prime time, and chances are you’ll find the TV tuned to a news channel — not for news, but for drama. Anchors shouting over each other, political guests trading insults, breaking news banners flashing every few seconds — this is what defines much of Pakistan news channels today. But the question is: why has drama become more important than facts?

What happened to real journalism, and how did media ratings, infotainment, and the lack of news ethics transform our media landscape into a reality show?

🎭 The Shift From Journalism to Infotainment

Once upon a time, news was meant to inform, educate, and guide public opinion. Today, that noble mission has taken a backseat to infotainment — a hybrid of information and entertainment. While infotainment has its place, the overreliance on it has blurred the lines between fact and fiction.

Why?

Because drama sells.

Pakistan news channels have realized that viewers are more likely to tune in if there’s controversy, shouting matches, or scandal. So rather than presenting balanced discussions, they serve up dramatic spectacles designed to keep eyes glued to screens.

📈 The Tyranny of Media Ratings

The biggest driver behind this transformation? Media ratings.

In the race to become the most-watched channel, every broadcaster in Pakistan is chasing the same metric: Television Rating Points (TRPs). The higher the TRPs, the more advertising revenue the channel earns. But achieving high ratings requires capturing — and holding — audience attention.

This has led to:

• Sensationalized headlines

• Emotional, biased coverage

• Repetition of viral content rather than fact-based reports

• Prioritizing political shouting matches over policy analysis

As a result, the actual news — the facts that affect real people — gets buried under layers of noise.

🧠 The Psychology Behind the Drama

It’s not just about supply; it’s also about demand.

Studies show that humans are naturally drawn to conflict. Our brains are wired to pay more attention to emotionally charged content, which is why arguments, scandals, and crises get more views. Pakistan news channels exploit this psychological tendency by framing even routine events as dramatic showdowns.

Even weather reports are turned into panic-inducing segments. Court hearings are dissected like sports matches. Crime stories are presented like thriller movies. The line between news ethics and entertainment is fading fast.

📰 Journalism in Crisis: Ethics Take a Back Seat

One of the most damaging consequences of this shift has been the erosion of news ethics. Journalism is supposed to be built on credibility, accuracy, fairness, and independence. But these principles are often sacrificed in pursuit of viral moments and higher ratings.

Some common ethical violations in journalism in Pakistan include:

• Running unverified news just to break it first

• Inviting polarizing guests to spark fights

• Publishing biased content for political favors

• Ignoring important social issues because they “don’t sell”

As newsrooms prioritize speed and drama, fact-checking and accountability get sidelined.

📺 The Role of Talk Shows and Anchor Culture

Talk shows have become the face of Pakistan news channels, but many of them are less about journalism and more about performance.

Anchorpersons — once expected to be neutral moderators — have now become celebrities in their own right. Their personal opinions dominate discussions, and they often play the role of judge, jury, and executioner. Instead of leading balanced debates, they push narratives, trigger confrontations, and steer the conversation toward conflict.

This personality-driven model may attract eyeballs, but it damages the credibility of journalism.

🏛️ Politics, Propaganda & Power

It’s impossible to talk about Pakistan news channels without mentioning the deep influence of politics. Many channels are aligned (openly or covertly) with political parties, using their platforms to push specific narratives and discredit opponents.

This politicization of media leads to:

• Selective coverage based on party loyalty

• Blackouts of important protests or events

• Framing news in a way that benefits one political camp over another

• Manipulating public opinion through disinformation

And when news ethics are ignored in favor of political interests, the public loses faith in media altogether.

💻 Social Media Pressure: Speed Kills Quality

In today’s digital age, social media plays a huge role in how pakistan news channels operate. Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube have become both competitors and influencers. To stay relevant, mainstream media tries to mirror social media trends — even if that means promoting fake news or clickbait headlines.

This rush to stay “viral” often compromises the accuracy of reporting. Journalists now write for clicks, not for truth.

In turn, public discourse suffers — people are more misinformed than ever.

📉 The Cost of Prioritizing Drama

While drama may help in the short term, the long-term damage is already visible:

• Loss of public trust: A Gallup Pakistan survey shows declining trust in media credibility.

• Polarization: Divisive reporting is turning people against each other.

• Neglect of real issues: Education, healthcare, labor rights — these stories are ignored.

• Depression and anxiety: Constant exposure to negative, high-stress news content affects mental health.

All of this raises the urgent need to rethink what kind of media we want.

✅ What Can Be Done?

Reforming Pakistan news channels won’t be easy, but it’s not impossible. Here are some steps forward:

1. Stronger Regulation of Media Ratings

Ratings should measure quality, not just quantity. Content diversity, public interest, and factual accuracy should be part of the equation.

2. Media Literacy for Viewers

The public must be educated to spot biased or unethical journalism. Only then will demand shift from drama to depth.

3. Enforcing News Ethics

Independent watchdogs like PEMRA and press councils must take stronger action against fake news, hate speech, and unethical reporting.

4. Incentivizing Real Journalism

Awards, funding, and visibility should go to journalists who highlight social issues, investigative reports, and community stories.

5. Supporting Public Interest Media

Non-profit or donor-supported news platforms can offer an alternative to commercialized, ratings-driven models.

🔗 Related Resources

To explore how the media in Pakistan is shaping public understanding of real issues like education, politics, and justice, check out our video library and insightful blogs.

🧠 Final Thoughts

The media is called the fourth pillar of democracy — but what happens when that pillar begins to crumble under the weight of media ratings and infotainment?

Unless we address the declining state of news ethics and hold Pakistan news channels accountable, we risk turning our entire media ecosystem into nothing more than noise. It’s time for viewers, regulators, and journalists to demand better — not just louder — news.