FRAMING CLIMATE CHANGE IN SINDH’S PRESS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE DAWN, JANG AND KAWISH E-NEWSPAPERS IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

This study examines how climate change is represented and framed in the news coverage of three widely circulated newspapers in Sindh, Pakistan, each serving a distinct linguistic and socio-economic readership. Climate change has become one of the most consequential public issues of the era, and in Pakistan the situation has grown graver than ever after the catastrophic floods of 2022 and the recurrent heavy monsoon rainfall that has continued to devastate Sindh. In this context, climate-change communication has emerged as a salient concern for scholars, journalists and policymakers alike. The newspapers analysed are Dawn (English), Jang (Urdu) and Kawish (Sindhi), which broadly correspond to elite, middle-class and lower-class audiences respectively. Using quantitative content analysis supported by descriptive statistics, the study measured the frequency, content type (news, columns and editorials) and temporal distribution of climate reporting across pre-flood, flood and post-flood periods, and related these patterns to differing editorial priorities and audiences. The findings show that all three outlets acknowledge climate change as a public problem, yet they diverge sharply in emphasis: Dawn devoted the largest and most balanced share of its content to climate news and analytical columns; Jang covered the issue moderately but allocated the bulk of its space to non-climate matters; and Kawish carried no dedicated climate news during the study period, signalling limited attention in the Sindhi-language press. These variations underline the agenda-setting power of the media in shaping public perception and environmental debate in Sindh. The study contributes to the growing literature on climate journalism by offering comparative lessons for reporters, editors, policymakers and researchers seeking to communicate climate risk more effectively and to engage the public.