Learning Session on “Media and Politics in the Digital Age: Constructing Narratives and Combating Fake News” for the China Fellowship Program at the University of Sargodha

On 17th March 2026, a learning session on “Media and Politics: The Construction of Political Narratives” was conducted under the joint China Fellowship Program at the University of Sargodha (UoS). The session was led by Dr. Hina Shahid, Head of Arts and Media Department, Foundation University Islamabad.
Dr. Hina Shahid emphasized the pivotal role of media as a political institution in modern democracies, highlighting how it acts as a bridge between political leaders and the public while simultaneously shaping and mediating political messages. She discussed various forms of media, including traditional and digital platforms, and their influence on political communication and public perception.
While discussing the construction of political narratives, she explained how media framing, storytelling techniques, and the focus on conflict and personalities often shape electoral campaigns and political discourse. She further elaborated on the limited control political actors have over mediated content, stressing the growing importance of strategic communication and media engagement.
The lecture also addressed the rising challenge of fake news in the digital era. Dr. Hina highlighted how misinformation and disinformation spread rapidly through social media due to algorithmic amplification, user engagement, and viral sharing. She discussed the societal impacts of fake news, including its influence on public opinion, erosion of trust in institutions, and potential to create social divisions. The session concluded with an interactive question-and-answer segment, where students actively engaged with the speaker on topics including media ethics, political bias, digital literacy, and methods to identify authentic information in an age of information overload.
The session was moderated by Ms. Yusra Binte Nisar, Research Assistant at Pakistan Research Center for a Community with Shared Future (PRCCSF) and Ms. Alishba Aslam, Research Officer at Pakistan Institute of China Studies (PICS), University of Sargodha (UoS).