Media Mobilization or Media Malaise: Evidence from the University Students of Lahore

This study examines the relationship between the university students' news media use, the perception of politics, and their attitude towards political involvement in Lahore in the framework of media mobilization or media malaise perspective. It also examines if this relationship is moderated by traditional and online news media. Data was gathered from an online survey of 300 students enrolled in the three private universities in Lahore. The survey results of the university students revealed that mostly students receive their political information passively from Facebook and Television and do not actively seek out political news through newspapers, magazines or websites. Facebook seems to be the most favored source of information among students. All the students, irrespective of their background and academic disciplines, appear to consume media more or less in the same way. Overall, the students have neutral or negative views about politics and are largely uninterested in political activities. They do not find it important and beneficial. However, it is found that the students attentive to political news and information are more likely to hold a positive perception of politics and see involvement in politics more positively. The study, therefore, concluded that among the university students of Lahore, media mobilization theory holds true for traditional media. However, for online media, media malaise theory seems to hold more weight.