NEWSPAPER READING HABITS AND POLITICAL PARTICIPATION: A CASE STUDY OF ISLAMABAD PAKISTAN

Abstract

Newspaper play a vital role in political awareness of the common masses. With the help of newspaper, people knows what is happening around them and they well engage with world activities. They know about their rights, increase civic engagement and increase the trust for public institutions. That may lead to increase political participation. The researcher studies newspaper reading habit and political participation under the theory of Mediatization. This theory indicates the role of newspaper, its coverage and its effects on society. The researcher selected the area of Islamabad Pakistan, because the readers of newspaper were more available in that area. The data was collected from 13 respondent through interview guide. The finding of the study showed that the reading habit of newspaper is increasing the political participation. Newspaper brings awareness about the political role and political awareness among the people. They understand the vote power and they elect the right person through their vote. The result offindings shows that people well aware about the benefits of reading newspaper but they ignore them because the increasing use of social media decrease the importance of newspaper in common masses. Even in Pakistan the reading habit of newspaper in a miserable condition in female. In Pakistan economic and politically situations was also motivated for political participation. For political information newspaper was considered the reliable source. The results of findings shows that there was a strong relationship between newspaper reading habit and political participation.