information

t was 8am on February 8, 2024 — the day we had all been waiting for since the ouster of former prime minister Imran Khan in April 2022 in a no-trust motion.

Proudly standing outside a bustling polling station with the election commission-issued pass, I took some pictures, recorded a video of a voter and tried to send these to my newsroom. As I tapped my hand-held gadget’s screen, the no-internet signal came on.

The internet services had been disrupted despite the assurances given by the authorities to the courts that these would remain accessible on the polling day. This downtime was a major blow to the news coverage, multiplying the already overwhelming challenges faced by journalists and media outlets.

In the absence of live reporting of what was going on, wagging fingers became a popular way of catharsis. Fake news got a free rein.

Digital journalism relies on swift access to information and consistent connectivity. However, digital newsrooms in Pakistan face substantial obstacles. The challenges have been increasing despite technological advancements. Today, I see more impediments than I did five or six years ago.

With Twitter (now, X) officially banned since February 2024, frequent internet shutdowns and a restrictive regulatory environment under the recently enacted/ amended Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, reporting has become a daunting task. These limitations not only obstruct journalists’ work but also diminish public confidence in the mainstream media, driving audiences to alternative information sources that carry a lot of misinformation.

For digital journalists, the internet is more than just a tool — it is the very essence of the newsroom. Modern newsrooms rely on immediate access to information, real-time interaction with reporters in the field and the ability to publish and disseminate stories swiftly. Persistent network issues and internet outages, like the ones on the polling day, disrupt these critical components.

In the past few months, working in a digital newsroom has become increasingly difficult. Reporters in the field struggle to transmit videos, images and firsthand accounts due to poor connectivity or outright internet shutdowns. This in not just a mere operational inconvenience; the reporting holdup is a catastrophe in terms of its long-term consequences.

When newspapers and TV are unable to cover the most happening events in a timely manner, audiences turn to social media platforms, where information, misinformation and disinformation spread like wildfire. In today’s fast-paced environment, journalists stationed in various regions join forces on different projects using online content management systems or collaborative editing tools. When there is internet gagging, meeting deadlines becomes impossible for media persons and no one is interested in stale news.

These limitations not only obstruct journalists’ work but also diminish public confidence in the mainstream media, driving audiences to alternative information sources.

Meanwhile, authoritarian encroachment on digital spaces extends beyond internet blackouts. The crackdown on virtual private networks, key for those seeking unrestricted access to information, has deepened the problem. These undemocratic restrictions have not only hit journalism hard but have also dented the country’s digital economy.

The IT industry has reportedly lost about $300 million on account of internet outages. Long-term repercussions of such restrictions could be catastrophic, not only for the media but also for businesses, entrepreneurs and the tech community. The upshot of these restrictions is far-reaching.

The delays in reporting resulting from these limitations have lowered the credibility of journalism. Audiences are drifting away from conventional media towards immediate information accessible on the likes of TikTok, Instagram and Telegram. However, if these are not edited responsibly, these spaces can turn into breeding grounds for unbridled disinformation.

With the global media tilting towards data journalism, segmenting audiences and multimedia storytelling, Pakistani journalists risk lagging behind. Many are already content with sending only basic news notifications. While the world is embracing artificial intelligence applications, we seem to be regressing into a primitive state.

Faced with challenges, digital journalists are finding ways to adapt to the environment. Newsrooms are constantly experimenting with new communication tools, looking for solutions to network disruptions and crafting strategies to ensure the flow of information continues. Yet, no matter how resilient the journalists may be, the core issue remains: a media environment cannot function effectively under restrictive conditions. The government must recognise that censorship, instead of controlling narratives, only fuels misinformation and distrust.

For Pakistan to remain relevant in the digital age, policymakers must reassess their approach to digital governance instead of banning VPNs. Ensuring seamless internet connectivity and access to information, safeguarding freedom of the press and fostering an environment favourable to technological and media innovation should be at the forefront of national policy discussions.

The writer is a digital media journalist currently working with Geo.tv. He can be reached at wasifshakil@gmail.com