Muhammad Yousaf

This study aims to investigate how the superior-subordinate communication mediates policy formulation and employees' dedication in work engagement among the serving bureaucracy in Punjab (province of Pakistan) government. The study used a cross-sectional design vis-à-vis survey method to collect data from a representative sample (n=250) of serving bureaucrats of the Punjab government. The findings showed that there was a positive association between policy formulation (PF) and dedication towards work engagement (WE). Furthermore, the findings revealed that the relationship between policy formulation (PF) and dedication towards work engagement (WE) was partially mediated by superior-subordinate communication (SSC). The study addressed the research gap regarding the association of the policy formulation (PF) and dedication towards work engagement (WE) by examining the mediation of superiorsubordinate communication (SSC) in their association by progressing the LMX theory in a less ...

The COVID-19 pandemic may have reached a turning point as the World Health Organization and the global community of nations step up plans for mass vaccination campaigns. However, the COVID-19 vaccine-related conspiracy theories (e.g., falsehoods about birth control, women infertility, surveillance, and microchip humanity, etc.) have built new momentum for vaccine hesitancy. To this end, several nations worldwide, including Pakistan, are struggling to boost public trust and enthusiasm to get vaccinated, especially in an anxious and complicated atmosphere propelled by multiple, new and the deadliest variants of COVID-19. To address this critical research gap during these intensifying conditions of vaccine hesitancy, the present study makes the first attempt to explore the potential effects of various communication strategies, including public service message (safety benefits versus fear appraisals), media types (i.e., traditional versus digital), self-efficacy, perceived benefits and ...

This study aims to investigate how the superior-subordinate communication mediates policy formulation and employees' dedication in work engagement among the serving bureaucracy in Punjab (province of Pakistan) government. The study used a cross-sectional design vis-à-vis survey method to collect data from a representative sample (n=250) of serving bureaucrats of the Punjab government. The findings showed that there was a positive association between policy formulation (PF) and dedication towards work engagement (WE). Furthermore, the findings revealed that the relationship between policy formulation (PF) and dedication towards work engagement (WE) was partially mediated by superior-subordinate communication (SSC). The study addressed the research gap regarding the association of the policy formulation (PF) and dedication towards work engagement (WE) by examining the mediation of superior-subordinate communication (SSC) in their association by progressing the LMX theory in a less researched context of Pakistan. The results explained how more sophisticated work engagement could be achieved in the implementation of the policies by improving the communication channels between superiors and subordinates among the different ranks of the bureaucrats.

This paper examines the framing of the Kashmir conflict in the editorials of three Pakistani English newspapers, The Nation, The News, and Dawn during dictatorial (Musharraf regime, 2005-2007) and the democratic regime (Zardari regime (2008- 2010). It argues that in case of conflict press conforms to the government policies, change in governments also has an effect on how the press changes its coverage on the conflict according to the policies of the government. The study utilizes a content analysis method to examine the use of framing techniques in the newspapers. Findings supported that the Pakistani press indexed the ruling elite’s stance in both regimes. It was found that during the dictatorial regime, as Kashmir conflict was high on agenda, Pakistani English press gave more coverage to Kashmir conflict as compared to the democratic regime. The results also showed that during the dictatorial regime, the dialogue frame to resolve the Kashmir conflict between India and Pakistan was high, which was also in line with the policy of Musharraf’s autocratic regime. Surprisingly, the press coverage in both regimes regarding the self-determination right for Kashmiris in the light of UNO resolutions, Pakistan’s longstanding stance, was minimal. The implications of the results are discussed.

The book entitled “McQuail’s Mass Communication Theory” is an apt account of media, society and culture. The book provides theoretical debates that are supported by empirical research evidence. McQuail provides an introduction of the evolution of media and society to date. The book presents a number of theoretical debates and research paradigms that further explore media content in a very explicit manner. Comprising of 20 chapters, the book has been categorized into eight parts i.e. preliminaries, theories, structures, organizations, content, audience, effects and the epilogue. The book expounds the function of theories which play in understanding the media and its role within the society and on people which consume the media content.

The understanding of Chinese culture and arts from the perspective of other cultures and countries has been the mainstream trend in the past. From ‗The Travels of Marco Polo' to the film ‗Red Lanterns', Chinese culture has mostly suffered a status of being depicted and interpreted but not examined as a vibrant civilization for real communication and interaction. Mostly, Chinese culture has been depicted as a culture of difference, misery, and agony. This approach has hampered communication between China and other nations in the past and even today. Chinese culture and arts have a long history of its own, it is extensive and profound, and needs more understanding, respect, logical evaluation and new approaches to communication. Authors argue that the rich cultural characters and charm need to be communicated across cultures via new media platforms. In this new world of digital media and information, especially, on the mobile terminal and the mode of UGC (User Generated Content), the traditional cultures and arts have new opportunities for their propagation, transportation, and demystification in real time circumstances. This essay assesses the communication of Chinese traditional culture and arts in the contemporary digital era and offers social-contextual analysis to reveal the internal tensions ambiguities, strategies, issues and prospects in its communication through digital platforms.

This study in the context of neo-liberalism policies and wake of deregulation of electronic media in Pakistan in 2007, explores whether Pakistani press called more for freedom of speech or the responsible role media needs to play in the society. It is a content analysis of editorials, opinion articles, and letters to editor of two English and two Urdu dailies Dawn, The News, Jang, and Waqt-i-Waqt in the period of 2007-2012. The findings show that there is a significant difference in the coverage on media freedom and media accountability. Print media corporations, in Pakistan did hardly held themselves accountable for the violations of media ethics and took refuge in the right to press freedom and marginalized the concept of media accountability.

Despite being two of the most populous and neighboring countries in the world, India and China have long been unfamiliar about each other. Although both of them are tagged as “emerging economic powers” in today’s world, China and India are much different in terms of political system, social structure, and cultural traditions. Owing to such differences and even prevalent stereotypes between the two countries, most of the information about them is channeled by their media systems. The review of literature presented in this article shows that the Chinese media and communication scholars are concerned more about Chinese media in India and not vice versa. As a reaction to this unbalanced literature, this article demonstrates a pilot content analysis of three different types of online news media in China, namely Sina News, Caixin Net, and Global Net. The major findings are as follows: Indian image on these media platforms is mainly negative, followed by neutral and positive. Among others, India–China relations, military expansion (some with territory/border issues), and oddities in the Indian society are most reported topics. Moreover, Indian portrayal by the online media is nationalist and defensive, being deemed as a “neighboring competitor,” and is subject to political or geopolitical agenda. All in all, the image of India presented by these Chinese online media platforms is a critical entry point for China’s self-reflection about its cultural ego-centrism, orientalism, and Westernizing political–economic modernization process. For a future with better mutual understanding and brighter China–India relations, this article offers a series of suggestions for both scholars and practitioners of different professions, including the epistemological revitalization of both countries’ geopolitical position in the Global South and in the grouping of emerging economies like Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa against the former Western dominant powers.
Keywords: Chinese media, ego-centrism, India–China relations, India image, modernization, orientalism

The book “Social Research Methods: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches”, deals with the process, methods and significance of social research in the current globalized world. An attempt has been made by the author to present research before the readers of the book in a simple, easy and understandable language. The book consisting sixteen chapters has been organized into five parts i.e., foundations of social research, planning of research, methods of quantitative data collection and analysis, techniques of qualitative data collection and analysis and communicating with others.