Media, Bias, and Current Flood Destruction

07/09/2022

Global temperatures are causing extreme precipitation to become more frequent and more severe worldwide, particularly in mid-latitude regions and wet tropical areas like South Asia. In developing nations, excessive rainfall is expected to lead to more frequent and severe regional floods with consequences that extend beyond economic losses, including extensive loss of life.

In such disasters, the media can be a double-edged sword. Although it may assist awareness about natural disasters and efforts, media bias may unintentionally divide society. It is a well-known secret in our country that most traditional mainstream media outlets report political news in a biased way per their political incline. In the 2018 elections, we have seen how national media can be used as a campaign so that the audience’s political beliefs can be altered, impacting their voting behaviour in favour of one party.

It would be unfair to lecture journalism, ethics, or freedom of speech in a country that ranks as one of the deadliest countries in the world for journalists. It is no longer a secret that censorship is enforced by a handful of individuals with the same uniform perspective, regardless of civil autocracies or martial dictatorships.

Those who pay greater attention to mainstream media tend to perceive prejudice and bias towards reporting nationalist parties. Though such an attitude of mainstream media denies pluralistic values in society but is somehow understandable, keeping our political history in mind. However, it is beyond comprehension; Why are the purely social issues such as current high-magnitude destructions linked with ordinary lives not being reported and highlighted as they should be?

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), heavy monsoon rains and floods have affected 2.3 million people in Pakistan since mid-June, and at least 95,350 homes have been destroyed. Leaving the Sindh and Balochistan provinces most impacted in terms of human and infrastructure harm. Nearly 3,000 kilometres (1,864 miles) of roads and 129 bridges have been damaged, preventing flood-impacted areas from being accessed through roads.

So far, these rainfalls and floods have destroyed crops, agricultural land, and local infrastructure, with floods reportedly cutting off access to those areas by land. Above mention figures by OCHA are just initial minimum damages; correct assessments are ongoing and will take time. Effected families assessed thus far are left unattended by the government. They require emergency shelter, non-food items to face the severity of the weather, food and water, sanitation, health, and other support on an urgent basis.

While international media outlets such as CNN and Aljazeera are covering, it is tempting to see that our national mainstream is not keen to give due coverage. It seems mainstream media outlets have become echo chambers where biased opinions are channelled. They lead their audiences into the newsrooms, where they only hear information that conforms to their political beliefs. Instead of addressing societal problems, these media outlets have turned into propaganda-spreading outlets that serve prominent political parties for their political gain. These outlets are potentially affecting the beliefs of news consumers and altering their behaviours, further dividing an already divided society.

Regional media has comprehended from time to time to raise these neglected local issues in their coverage. At the same time, some social media users and influencers have taken it upon themselves to raise those issues. However, mainstream media’s access to mass audiences inside and outside the country is undeniable. A vast viewership gives them the ability to impact the opinions and actions of many, which could be crucial to helping the flood-affected families in this time of turmoil, as witnessed during the 2008 earthquake.