COMMUNITY JOURNALISM

(MCM 531)
ASSIGNMENT NO: 02 (FALL 2015)
TOPIC: WRITING COMMUNITY NEWS
TOTAL MARKS: 15
DUE DATE: 16/02/2015

Scenario:
Development communication is the systematic use of communication for national development.
Same techniques have been applied of news writing while making development news. The
objectives of development news are to give a voice to the people to create a forum for exchange
of information and to strengthen democratic process and practices by creating dialogues between
the people and the decision-makers.

Task:
Keeping in view the objectives of development news, write two news stories as a community
journalist that highlight your community problems related to following heads:
Socioeconomic/cultural issues
Health
Natural disaster

New story on socioeconomic/ cultural issues:

The major problems of the society are linked with the providence of basic necessities of life to
the people making up the society. If the basic needs of a man (food, shelter, and clothing) are not
fulfilled then the deprivation of these needs gradually transform into different forms of social
menaces. Pakistan is a developing nation; every developing nation in the world has its own set of
socio-economic problems. The main issue is the extent and intensity of the socio-economic
problems of Pakistan which have soared to alarming levels. Pakistan has been facing a lot of
social problems from its creation in 1947. In the start there were the problems of lack of funds,
rehabilitation of refugees, poor infrastructure and widespread poverty of masses. Quaid-e-Azam
tried his best to solve these problems and get the state machinery working but due to his sudden
death he could not eradicate these problems completely.

Talking about different communities of Pakistan; same problems are also faced by every single
community of Pakistan. At present the gravest problem of Pakistani communities is the
precarious law and order condition. Terrorism has become a headache for federation and a
nightmare for public. Besides terrorism there are other social problems which are older and more
widespread. The biggest of these is poverty. Most of the people dont have access to adequate
basic needs of life. Poverty itself gives rise to various other social problems. Corruption is
another huge social problem in every community of Pakistan. From clerical staff to higher
offices and bureaucrats, all are involved in corruption of one kind of the other. Corruption in
government departments is so much deep rooted that a common concepts prevails that the system
doesnt let honest people to work peacefully. There is a lack of accountability due to which
wealthy people and those in power are sure that they cant be held responsible for their deeds.
These social problems directly affect the masses. Apart from these there are several economic
problems which have broken the backbone of national treasury.
Economic prosperity serves as backbone for the overall progress of a nation. When citizens of a
country are freed from the worries of earning a livelihood to sustain their lives; they divert their
attention to more successful things. They focus on education, improvise healthcare, develop
technologies that make life easy and much more. There are many economical issues that are
faced by every single community of Pakistan amongst which power crises and war on terrorism,
root of basic problems. There are many other economic problems including tumbling stock
market and declining of exports. To get rid of these socio-economic problems the government
has to improve the law and order situation, poverty alleviation and stern accountability.
Successive governments have taken steps to solve various socio-economic problems. But these
problems are so deep rooted that they have not been successful in putting an end to these
problems. At last, government as well as every single citizen of Pakistan has to play its own
specific role to bring about a positive change.

News story on health issues:

Pakistan is currently working towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Health
issues in Pakistan are administrated mainly in the private sector which accounts for
approximately 80% of all outpatient visits. The public sector was until recently led by the
ministry of health which is the department for provision of medical services, responsible to
frame the health policies at a national level. We have a number of diseases in Pakistan which
causes death including malaria, diarrhea, dengue fever, tuberculosis, cancer, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis
and last but not the least polio. These diseases are controllable but sometimes it cause death
because poor patients cannot afford expensive medication. Expensive medicines hospitals were
being supplied with expensive drugs. The prescribed medicine has to be given to most of the
patients on a regular basis which is a tough task for a low income man. Patients have to pay their
private physician enormous amounts of money just to get a checkup. This is the reason why the
majority of the people are left with poor medical services.

In Pakistan major chunk of population is living below the poverty line in such scenario where
from food to petrol everywhere fire of inflation has engulfed the poor man, the recently price
hike in medicines has added another worry in the list of poor masses. Pakistan's health care
system is inadequate, inefficient and expensive public sector along with a mixed unregulated
private sector. These poor conditions in the health sector may be attributed to a number of factors
like poverty, malnutrition and unequal access to health facilities. The poor in Pakistan is not only
deprived of financial resources but also lack access to secondary and tertiary health care services.
The health issues in Pakistan are rising on its peak because lack of awareness, poverty and
illiteracy. WHO sponsors programs to prevent and treat such diseases as there are number of
hospitals that government and ministry of health needs to be arranging, conducting health
awareness programs and increased number of doctors so that middle class man and a poor patient
can visit to doctor easily. These sectors need to be regulated and monitored by Government.
Children are also amongst the hepatitis patients and their number is growing sharply. Malaria is a
problem faced by the lower class people in Pakistan. The unsanitary conditions and stagnant
water bodies in the rural areas and city slums provide excellent breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Like adults, children also suffer from malarial diseases, which need serious attention of
healthcare policymakers. Diarrhea is rampant in the country due to use of contaminated water.
Children under the age of five face multiple obstacles, including birth injuries and infectious
diseases. Millions of children suffer from short and long term adverse consequences of illnesses,
malnutrition and injuries that impact their well being and options in life, including fewer
educational opportunities and diminished future economic prospects. At last, the government has
to take some serious decisions related to the health issues because our future is totally depend on
the health of todays generation.

News story on natural disasters:

The number of natural disasters has considerably increased in the 21st century in Pakistan as
compared to 20th century; there have been more disasters in first 10 years of 21st century. When
viewing disasters in relation to populations, analysts look at several factors, particularly the types
of areas hit and the demographic groups affected by it. In the first week of September 2014
heavy monsoon rains and floods in the catchment areas of the eastern rivers of Chenab, Ravi,
Sutlej and Jhelum resulted in flash floods that collapsed homes in Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan and
Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K). The recent floods that have affected various parts of the
country and that have caused heavy loss of human life, property, damage to crops, roads and
infrastructure. According to the latest figures, 367 persons lost their lives, more than 2.5 million
people were affected by the floods and rains and 129,880 houses were partially damaged or
destroyed. Over 1 million acres of cropland and 250,000 farmers were affected in most cases
resulting in the loss of standing food, fodder or cash crops. Non-farm sources of livelihoods and
services affected include many small enterprises, manufacturing and processing business and
loss of wage employment due to disruption of the economy. The province of Punjab has been

among the worst affected where the rain has submerged villages and left thousands of people
homeless.
In order to ensure timely response to the current flood situations in the country, all concerned
authorities and departments including National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA),
Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), Armed Forces, Rescue 1122 and district
administration are working day and night to cope with this critical situation. In wake of
devastation caused by recent floods in Punjab; the rescue and efforts are continuing and in full
swing. The rescue and relief operations are underway in different areas of Punjab to shift people
to safer places. The military choppers, boats and rescue 1122 personnel are continuing flood
relief operation on round the clock basis. 19 helicopters and 574 boats are being deployed for
rescue operations in the flood hit areas. NDMA has so far provided 20,000 tents, 10,000 plastic
mats, 20,000 blankets, 471,000 aqua tablets, 30 mobile filtration plants, 31 boats and 100 life
jackets to Punjab. Also 3,000 tents, 1,000 blankets and 1,500 plastic mats have been provided to
Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K). National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) at NMA is
monitoring flood situation round the clock and is in constant and regular coordination with
PDMA Punjab. Both federal and provincial governments are ensuring their best possible
measures to save life and property of people and to provide maximum relief.
In response to the recent floods that have affected various parts of Punjab along river Chenab and
river Jhelum, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan and that have seriously caused heavy loss to
human life, property, damage to crops, roads and infrastructure, the government has mobilized
all resources for efficient rescue and relief on ground. In order to ensure timely relief assistance
and to further gear up rescue and relief operation as per governments instructions, NDMA has
mobilized its relief stocks which are being provided to Punjab and Azad Jammu Kashmir.
NDMA teams are still in the field for monitoring and coordination with local administration to
supplement the relief efforts. NDMA is still engaged with all concern authorities to ensure timely
response to save the life and property of the people. NDMA and Pakistan Army is providing
every resource and coordinating rescue and relief operations with the PDMA to ensure maximum
life saving response. NDMA and PDMA has already speeded up its relief activities especially in
the more affected areas of Punjab.
The water is still over five to six meters high in many areas and floating rubbish and dead animal
bodies in the water are a major source of concern. Dirty and smelly water is a breeding ground
for mosquitoes, giving birth to the risk of malaria and other waterborne diseases. Punjab
government has declared emergency in 21 districts that are directly hit by the floods. Health
ministry has also declared emergency observing the threat of gastro, fever and skin diseases in
the flood hit areas. Hundreds of thousands of people are still in urgent need of food, temporary
shelters, medical services, mosquito nets and repellent, safe drinking water, hygiene promotions
interventions and household items. NDMA is in constant contact with concerned provincial and
district authorities of the flood affected areas to ensure timely coordination of all relief efforts.
PDMA have been providing with all kind of necessary assistance by NDMA.
Disasters are not going to go away and there is no alternative to focus on disaster risk reduction
framework as a holistic approach. Similarly, the climate change needs to be read by those

wielding power in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. After years of repeated disasters, if policymakers
remain blind to this challenge, then surely they are only contributing towards the destruction of
Pakistan, as we know it.