Economic Recession in the Media Industry and Survival of the KPK's Journalists

Abstract

Media was hit by the economic recession of 2018-19, and hundreds of media workers lost their jobs, but at the same time, many journalists survived. This study is focused on how the journalists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) survived during this media crisis and how they equipped themselves to face the challenges faced by them. Their approach towards the recession was positive, and they also accepted the challenges to enhance their capacity to fulfil the requirements of their respective organizations. The study at hand is qualitative in nature, wherein the researcher employed the technique of in-depth interviews. Twenty journalists among those who have survived during the economic recession, with a minimum 5 years of experience in the field from Khyber Union of Journalists and Peshawar Press Club, were interviewed. The results show that recession made the journalists ponder on polishing their other skills by enhancing their capacity to produce diversified content to sustain their jobs in the field.