Environmental Coverage on local TV Channels in Lahore: A thematic Analysis of Media Practices and Gaps

Abstract

Environmental decline has become one of Pakistan's most serious concerns, demanding regular media attention and public interest. Even with the increasing importance of environmental communication, the function of local television channels in shaping public knowledge of ecological concerns remains unexposed. This study analyzes how local TV channels in Lahore present environmental issues, the dominant frames, the news selection patterns, and the institutional constraints that direct content production. Based on Agenda-Setting Theory and Framing Theory, the study applies qualitative thematic content analysis to assess news bulletins and feature segments of three Lahore-based news channels. The analysis determines that reporting on the environment is primarily event-oriented, episodic, and reactive with little depth or follow-through. Reporting is mostly confined to visible crises like smog or flooding, with long-term environmental regulation and preventive measures rarely in focus. Challenges in institutions like a shortage of environmental beats, restricted training for journalists and editorial reliance on official sources also limit the scope of substantial coverage. Findings reveal a clear disconnect between environmental conditions and media representation at the grassroots level. The research concludes that building environmental journalism in Lahore implies capacity development, committed newsroom resources, and partnership among the media organizations, academia, and environmental institutions to provide informed and sustainable environmental discussion in Pakistan's local television landscape.