Electronic Media and Interpersonal Discourse: Mediation in Crise

Abstract

This paper envisages how electronic media portrays the most sensitive issue of
militant insurgency in the country and subsequently mediated through
interpersonal discourse to develop their social consensus. The uses and
gratifications theory addresses an individuals’ social integrative needs through
interpersonal interaction, within a social network as conversational currency.
The media, exclusively electronic media provide a common ground for social
integration among individuals and provide an opportunity to pent-up their
catharsis regarding militant uprising through interpersonal communication to
build up their social harmony. This study investigates the extent to which
exposure of television news is leading to the acceptance of violence and the level
of emotional empathy, pro-violence attitude and compassion fatigue towards
war on terror among television news viewers. Therefore, effect of television
news regarding coverage of assassination attempt on Malala Yousafzai,
frequency of interpersonal discourse through social networks of the university
students was examined through quantitative research technique. Subsequently,
participation of interpersonal interaction, willingness to share this tragedy with
their family members was measured just after this incident while using a 5-point
Likert scale survey instrument. The study empirically supported that young
generation have an emotional attachment to such sensitive issues which is
further mediated through family members.