Journalists' Perceptions of Environmental Sustainability Regulations in Sindh, Pakistan: A Quantitative Approach

Abstract

This study investigates the perceptions of environmental journalists in Sindh, Pakistan, regarding environmental sustainability regulations and their involvement in environmental advocacy. This research is designed to gather empirical evidence of the perceptions of journalists by putting the topic in the context of quantitative survey-based studies instead of collecting it qualitatively, as much of the literature on environmental journalism in Pakistan has done so far. Using a structured questionnaire, data was collected from a total of 300 journalists comprising print, broadcast, and digital media. The analysis unfolds the relationships between journalists' awareness of environmental laws with respect to their perceived effectiveness of enforcement, reporting challenges, and the outcome concerning media advocacy-public engagement and policy impact. Using ANOVA and correlation analyses, data reveal that awareness levels varied significantly by demographic groups and were strongly associated with perceived efficiency of enforcement and quality of coverage by the media. Findings point to systemic impediments, such as political interference as well as a lack of institutional support, to investigate reporting and environmental communication. This study also contributes to discourse designed for sustainable environmental governance by emphasizing the need for targeted training, institutional reforms, and even more improved legal literacy among journalists. These insights are critical to making the mass media a key catalyst for sustainability accountability and environmental care in the Global South.