Media Matters: Amplifying Education Through Journalism

Education often takes a backseat in a country where political and economic crises dominate policy discussions. Pakistan is grappling with an education emergency of unprecedented scale with over 26 million out-of-school children. Acknowledging the grave situation, the Prime Minister declared a nationwide education emergency in May 2024. However, the urgency has failed to translate into widespread action. The announcement made headlines, but nearly a year later, how often do we hear about it in mainstream media? How frequently has the media followed up on the progress of the education emergency? Unlike political or economic issues, education is rarely a drawing-room conversation, let alone a media priority. Despite the magnitude of this crisis, education struggles to claim the space it deserves in national discourse.

To address the role of media in education advocacy, Zarar Khuhro -Senior Anchorperson at Dawn News, and Myra Imran – Staff Reporter at The News International, joined us for Episode 10 of the podcast, Let’s Talk Education Season 3.

The Challenge – Education is Not “Breaking News”

Media channels thrive on immediacy, drama, and spectacle. Education, however, is a long-term issue—it’s not politics, it’s not entertainment, and it doesn’t provide instant gratification.

“Education is not an easy sell in the media landscape. It’s not politics, it’s not entertainment, it’s not something that grabs instant attention. And that’s a huge problem.” remarked Khuhro.

Sensational stories often dominate newsrooms, while education struggles to make headlines. If education coverage only surfaces when a high-ranking official—such as the Prime Minister—mentions it, then we’re failing to keep the conversation alive. The lack of sustained media engagement has made the education emergency an “invisible emergency.”

The Shrinking Space for Education Journalism – A Systemic Issue

According to Myra Imran, the neglect of education in journalism is a systemic issue:

“Education and other social issues are often considered ‘soft beats’ in journalism, usually assigned to women. But when media downsizing happens, these beats are the first to go. We have lost so many experienced reporters who used to cover education.”

Thousands of trained journalists have been laid off in recent years, making it even harder for education stories to get coverage. With limited budgets, media houses often prioritize breaking news, political crises, and entertainment over in-depth social reporting. As a result, many stories—especially those from rural or underprivileged areas—go untold.

“A newsroom in Karachi will not send a reporter to interior Sindh to cover a struggling school. There’s no budget for that,” Khuhro pointed out.

The Power of Storytelling: Humanizing the Crisis

Numbers may highlight the severity of the crisis, but statistics alone fail to move people. Stories, on the other hand, create connection, urgency, and action.

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Khuhro shared an inspiring example from Tharparkar, where students from low-income schools designed water filtration systems to address their community’s drinking water crisis.

“These kids knew that their biggest challenge was access to clean water. They weren’t just learning science but using it to solve real problems. That’s the power of education,” he emphasized.

Success stories like these don’t just showcase challenges—they inspire action and hope. “People need hope,” Khuhro added. “Real-life stories of children overcoming barriers inspire change more than a front-page ad ever could.”

Making Education a National Priority

If education isn’t naturally a media priority, how do we make it one? Both Khuhro and Imran emphasize that civil society and the media must collaborate to frame education as a national crisis—not just a social issue but a matter of security and economic stability.

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“Lack of education isn’t just a social issue—it’s a national security threat,” Myra Imran stressed. “If you leave millions of young people unskilled and unemployed, you are setting the stage for civil strife, crime, and lawlessness.”

Education must be linked to the country’s progress and security to command the attention it deserves. The challenge is not just about raising awareness—it’s about sustaining momentum. The solution lies in collective commitment and collaboration among all stakeholders. We can only make education a national priority through collective advocacy and push policymakers for structural reforms needed to revolutionize the education sector. 

Click below to watch the full episode