Publication

This policy brief discusses the coverage of extremism, domestic terrorism and US relations in the Pakistani media. It is argued that the Pakistani media has not yet developed an adequate or widely accepted strategy for responding to this context of persistent extremism and conflict. In a worrying trend, the rapid rise of extremist radio stations in certain provinces has been mirrored by an increase in terrorist attacks. The authors argue that the Pakistani media must balance demand-side pressure for sensationalist content with the need for professional standards and reform, while also competing with extremist rhetoric and confronting physical dangers and limitations.