Content Analysis of Crime Reporting in Print Media: Evidence from Pakistan

Ikram Shah1, Noor Elahi2 & Marryam Saeed3

Abstract
This research endeavor aims at systematically examining the newspapers‟
coverage of crimes incidents in Pakistan. A retrospective quantitative content
analysis of Pakistani print media was conducted for a period of one year i.e. 1st
January 2017 to 31st December 2017. Two reputed national level newspapers;
Daily Dawn English-language and Daily Jang Urdu-language, were selected based
on newspaper circulation ratings and readership. Descriptive analysis of the study
highlights those discrepancies in crime reports exist between Daily Dawn and
Daily Jang. Urdu-language newspaper gives more coverage and published articles
on many types of crimes as compared to English-language daily. Similarly,
English daily newspaper reported urban areas‟ crimes more frequently in
comparison to Urdu daily, however, articles on violation against women and child
abuse are equally reported in both dailies.

Keywords: Crime, Media, Newspaper, crime Context