Samaa TV Agenda against KU

Our national media in mainstream channels are inclined j agenda-setting theory to a large extent. From small to large scale media organization, they produced agenda based messages with many reasons behind the news.

When media organizations are supposed to favor particular political party perspective then we can see big channel diverging public opinion on different political issues.

Samaa TV Agenda against Karachi University

  Here we have examined the Samaa TV to produced agenda based news story not long before.

On 16^th March 2018, Samaa TV produced a special news story about the allegation of sexual harassment by a student against Teacher from Karachi University. Mr. Hassan Abbas was alleged for harassing female student on Whatsapp messages and asking for pictures. Screenshots of those messages were displayed to public with manipulation as further clarified by the accused teacher Hassan Abbas from the department of petroleum technology.

“it was normal chat which manipulates by the passed student and some faculty member against me. I am here to present myself to the anti-harassment committee”. said Mr. Hassan  Abbas in a video message.

The reputation of Karachi University was on the verge of defamation.

Though this news was important for the safety of female students but Samaa TV took this news as a tool for propaganda against KU. Their agenda was somehow to defame Karachi University. Therefore they run a proper campaign and special transmission in order to influence public opinion about the credibility of Karachi University.

Samaa TV reporter Sonia Shehzad has been disallowed to enter Karachi University to cover the protest of students against “harassment” taking place in the varsity. As it is most unacceptable for student advisory council to allow media in such condition but Samaa TV took this as negative outlook.

Samaa TV successfully executes their agenda as the teacher was suspended, also the University of Karachi removed Dr. Nasreen Aslam from the post of the anti-harassment committee head. New harassment committee established.

The result of this agenda comes out with the doubtfulness of middle-class families as they were worried about their daughters learning in such environment. KU was defamed somehow and kept on strict checking by Sindh government but media analyst declare agenda setting behind this news story which was used for personal gain by the organization.

Here is how the Samaa TV set agenda against Karachi University.

Ø Enticing headlines against  KU administration

Ø Hashtag speak up campaign started by Samaa Tv

Ø Calling out KU students for speak up

Ø Samaa Special transmission Speakup on primetime.

Ø “bolo! daro mat” special-transmission

Ø Speakup becomes a Top trend on twitter

Ø Negative image of a university was displayed

Ø Exaggerate the story

Agenda-setting theory seems quite appropriate to help us understand the vast role of the media, especially in political communication systems. But if our media organization used this theory for their personal gain then media ethics and responsibility devoid of their real position.

The way our channel set the agenda on different national issues is to be considered very important. because media is one of the representatives of our country in the world.

Pakistani media should have positive agenda for the development of our nation. Rating and personal benefits of media message must be discouraged.

On the other hand, we as the consumer of media messages should understand the logic and agenda behind message rather accepting it blindly. This is the only way we can produce a better image of Pakistan to the world.