Crisis Communication Competencies in Journalism Education: A Curricular Analysis of Crisis-Related Instruction in Journalism and Mass Communication Programs in Pakistan

Abstract

This paper aims to make a comprehensive evaluation of curriculum in Pakistani universities specializing in crisis coverage. The exercise was carried out under the umbrella of World Press Freedom Day by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the investigation puts under scrutiny the level in which the Pakistani journalism programs do in pushing students to report and tackle complicated contingencies. Analysis is focused on the key courses, in particular conflict and war reporting, emergency and disaster journalism, media and crisis communication, pandemic writing, and information verification in emergencies. Exploring these courses, the study aims to contribute to the discussion of the freedom of the press and media independence in the conditions of crisis. Information was obtained via the websites of the universities and other forms of correspondence, which was via mail and through WhatsApp, in cases where the programe outline could not be found. Thematic coding results show that the courses related to crisis would be available only in a small number of departments and at the same time are incorporated in the programe of a bachelor in the 7th and 8^th semester.