Blasphemy Crisis Construction: A Case Study of Christians Minority Targeting at Jaranwala over Blasphemy Allegations in Pakistani Print Media

Abstract

This research uses Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to analyze the journalistic coverage of the Jaranwala event (August 2023) in Pakistani newspapers. The study's overarching goal is to decipher the event's narrative construction via media coverage by analyzing the effects of power dynamics, ideology, and linguistic methods. The study examined headlines from Dawn and The News newspapers over a certain period (August 16–23, 2023). Used a qualitative research approach. The CDA framework guides the study, emphasizing the construction of narratives about events through word choices, framing, and overall representation. At CDA's core is the idea of power interactions by Van Dijk (1993) and the ways ideology impacts communication and examines the use of specific textual approaches to create and convey meaning by Fairclough (2003). The results showed that the two newspapers' headlines are quite different from one another. Dawn seems to have a more state-centric perspective, one that puts an emphasis on order and may minimize the concerns of the Christian community. The News takes a more critical stance, calling attention to injustice, religious tolerance, and power inequities. This study adds to our understanding of how the media influences public opinion and how people around the world see religious tolerance in Pakistan. This research sheds light on the significance of essential media comprehension and the power of competing narratives to influence social dynamics.