Domestication of Global News Events by Media: Framing of Panama Papers Event in Pakistani Newspaper “Dawn”

Abstract

The international news event “Panama papers leaks” not only revealed the participatory role of international investigative journalist community but it engaged the domestic media houses around the world to follow the unanimous framing patterns in the beginning. Initially, Pakistani media took it as a foreign news event but eventually within a very short time frame their role transformed into a participatory tool in policy discourse discussions. Three phases of this “domestication” process gain an important value through print media “Dawn” publications. The study analyzed these important phases. To draw theoretical results the “domestication theory” is used for the formation of research gap. To cater empirical results the framing analysis methodology is used and through application located three dominant frames within print media “Dawn” publications. These dominant frames changed and evolved during each phase of the “Panama papers leaks” “domestication” process. The first phase dominant framing coded as ‘national shame’ demanding the campaign against injustice/white collar crimes’. The second phase dominant framing was ‘nation-state taking action’ and the third phase dominant framing was more about ‘celebrating justice’. The results divided, the “domestication” process into three phases of dominant framings through print media publications. The notion that it was a complete media effort is obscured. Hence, However, there were other participants of these news framings without them it would have been nothing but a lost slogan in a rich political environment. In Pakistan the results of recent three years of political exercise reflected the presence of factors which determined the public narrative. Thus, these news framings triggered the domino effect which shaped voter’s political thought process. The general elections of 2018 in Pakistan were the final outcome of the “domestication” process initiated from the “Panama Papers Leaks”. The media played a platform role for political actors who shaped polling results by framing the information published in international leaks. However, state institutes played a key role by practicing their constitutional duties throughout this period.