Reality Control
Reality Control: Journalists in Pakistan and other countries worry about the state of media. A book called Dictating Reality: The Global Battle to Control the News by Martin Moore and Thomas Colley studies how governments control news and shape public opinion. It includes examples from India, Russia, China, and Mexico.
Media Control
The book shows how governments and media systems create their own version of reality. In India, it discusses “Godi media.” Some TV channels promote strong nationalist and pro-government views. They use loud, emotional, and dramatic reporting. The book links this trend to journalists like Arnab Goswami and events such as the 2019 Balakot incident.
Media Influence Factors
The book also explains how money influences media. In India and Pakistan, many media outlets depend on government advertising. This affects their reporting. In India, advertising forms a large part of media income. Government spending plays a major role. This creates pressure on editorial independence.
The book also covers China and Russia. In China, the media promotes a positive image of the government and counters negative foreign reports. China also spends heavily on global media influence. In Russia, media focuses more on shaping domestic opinion about the Ukraine war than targeting foreign audiences.
Media Bias Debate
Critics say the book is selective. It focuses mainly on non-Western governments. It does not fully examine Western media coverage of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Critics argue that Western media often avoids strong language about Israel and underrepresents Palestinian suffering.
One example includes coverage of the Al Ahli hospital attack in Gaza. Western media later verified the details through investigations. However, early reporting faced criticism and correction. Critics say this shows bias and pressure in news reporting, even in free media systems.
Media Truth Questions
The book also discusses misinformation in modern media. It highlights outlets like Fox News as examples of bias in democratic countries. Critics argue the book treats these cases as exceptions, not part of a wider system.
Overall, media systems in both authoritarian and democratic countries shape different versions of reality. This raises questions about how independent journalism really is today.
Published in Dawn,19th May 2026
