Ph.D. Defence of Muhammad Faheem
Mr. Muhammad Faheem, Ph.D. Research Scholar has submitted thesis on "Self-Censorship in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: How do Journalists Cope With Pressures" to the University of Peshawar, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Journalism & Mass Communication.
The oral examination (Public Defence) is scheduled to be held on April 15, 2026 at 12.00 noon in the Department of Journalism & Mass Communication, University of Peshawar. The abstract of the thesis is attached herewith.
All those interested in the said research work may participate in the event. They may raise relevant questions during presentation by the scholar for further evaluation.
Abstract
Journalism in Pakistan has become a dangerous profession, especially in conflict-affected areas like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where journalists often resort to self-censorship to protect their lives and continue supporting their families. Over the course of four decades of militancy, counterinsurgency operations, and political volatility, journalists have operated under extreme, intersecting pressures. Research on media and conflict in Pakistan has largely focused on terrorism and macro-level analyses of propaganda and media regulation. However, little attention has been given to how social structures, community expectations, and the growing influence of digital and social media contribute to the complex web of pressures that shape journalists’ choices. This dissertation investigates the multifaceted factors that compel journalists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and its Tribal Districts bordering Afghanistan to practice self-censorship. Grounded in the Hierarchy of Influences (HOI) model developed by Shoemaker and Reese (2011), this qualitative ethnographic research has employed focus group discussions with journalists across eleven districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the Newly Merged Districts. A Thematic Analysis of the data has identified the complex influences on journalistic practice. Findings reveal that journalists confront coercion from both state security institutions and militant groups, exacerbated by socio-cultural pressures from tribal and familial structures. Restrictive religious norms, political interference, acute financial precarity, and digital-era challenges such as online harassment and surveillance have introduced additional vulnerabilities. The research argues that these pressures are deeply interconnected and mutually reinforcing, forming a systemic “Coercive-Silence Loop.” Within this loop, self-censorship, manifesting as lexical adjustments, story avoidance, and source anonymization, emerges not as an individual failure but as a normalized, collective survival strategy and systemic adaptation to sustained vulnerability. This dissertation extends the HOI model from a static hierarchy to a dynamic, cyclical framework by proposing the “Coercive-Silence Loop.” This framework offers a nuanced theoretical understanding of journalism within conflict-affected and fragile democracies. By foregrounding the lived experiences of local journalists, the study contributes to academic discourse and offers practical implications for media institutions, policymakers, and international organizations seeking to safeguard press freedom and promote journalistic resilience in high-risk environments.