Journalism education in Pakistan: key gaps in curriculum development

Journalism practice is continuously evolving by virtue of technological advancements, and the changing industry’s demands require journalism students to be well-trained to integrate theory with their practices. Bridging the gap between the theory and the practice of journalism has thus emerged as of pivotal importance for journalism schools across the world. Curriculum development plays a crucial role in not only integrating theory with practice but also ensuring the overall quality of provided education and learning outcomes. This study specifically reflects upon the case of Pakistan. The country has a multilingual and pluralistic news media landscape, with several radio, television, print, and online media outlets operating at local, national, and international levels. The expansion of Pakistan’s news media landscape in the private sector, especially during the past two decades, has inspired the country’s youth to choose journalism degree programs for better career prospects. Despite this backdrop, research into journalism education and curriculum development is still limited in the country. Therefore, drawing on Taba’s model of curriculum development, this study aims to explore the key gaps in the curriculum development of journalism education in Pakistan. To achieve this aim, this study uses the qualitative method of in-depth interviews (online) and uses thematic analysis to address the findings.