ISLAMABAD : Dr Shafiq Manzoor, a faculty member at the Islamia University of Bahawalpur, has stressed that the media must represent ordinary citizens and give priority to the concerns of marginalised and underprivileged communities.
Speaking at the thesis defence of PhD scholar Zaheer-ud-Din Babar, Dr Manzoor highlighted the important role of both traditional media and social media in bringing the challenges faced by disadvantaged communities into public focus.
She said amplifying the voices of people whose concerns are often overlooked should remain a key responsibility of media organisations and professionals.
Highlighting the challenges confronting male and female journalists, Dr Manzoor emphasised the need for media professionals to stay informed about emerging trends and the rapidly changing media landscape. She said journalists must adapt to evolving circumstances while upholding the fundamental principles of their profession.
Responding to a question, she observed that technological advancements had significantly transformed the media industry, but journalism’s core responsibilities remained unchanged. Accurate reporting, highlighting public concerns and representing marginalised communities continue to be essential functions of the media, she added.
Meanwhile, three PhD scholars supervised by Dr Shafiq Manzoor have successfully defended their doctoral theses in recent days. The achievement marks a hat-trick for the academic in research supervision and reflects her contribution to higher education.