WAR REPORTING: STRESSES AND THREATS TO WAR REPORTERS

Abstract

The countries like Pakistan where media institutions have experienced varied mode of actions and activities since the country came into being as an independent state in South Asia; War on terror is, of course, a new phenomenon the country has been facing from the last two decades. Thousands of Pakistanis, civilians as well as security personnel are killed and slaughtered by terrorist groups. War against terrorism has become an international issue where Pakistan plays a central role by giving tremendous sacrifices of sacred lives and valuable properties. Media houses and war reporters, in this war, made great contribution to get the public well-aware and informed. This research study primarily focuses on the issue of stresses and threats to war reporters which are regularly faced by them in the line of their professional duties. It also investigates contributing factors that make the work more challenging and create hardships for reporters in reaching the war zones. The population of the study were the reporters working in tribal areas of Pakistan and Editors working in the media houses. The sample for this research study was 100 reporters working in war-zone tribal areas of Pakistan and 50 Editors working in the media houses. The empirical analysis of data reveals that reporters working in all tribal agencies of Pakistan are facing same level of life threatening situations. The study also indicates that reporters who have more experience are facing more threats to life than the less experienced reporters.