FROM 2022 to 2025, media departments across Pakistan organized 16 international media conferences.
Over 950 research papers were presented in these gatherings hosted by both public and private sector institutions, including FCCU, PU, UCP, UMT, University of Gujrat, University of Sargodha, University of Faisalabad, BZU Multan, and others from Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
These conferences appeared to signal a positive shift in academic engagement in the field of communication and media studies.
However, a closer look reveals a more complex picture.
While the frequency and visibility of these conferences increased, their actual contribution to the development of meaningful research culture remains limited.
The sheer number of papers presented—nearly 1,000—may give the impression of progress, but fewer than 75 papers were subsequently published in internationally indexed and peer-reviewed journals.
This raises concerns about the quality of research being produced and whether these conferences are encouraging depth or merely providing a platform for superficial academic activity.
A key issue is the weak academic rigour seen in many of the papers.
Common shortcomings include poor research design, lack of theoretical foundation and substandard writing.
Many conferences did not enforce a strict peer-review process before accepting papers, resulting in a proliferation of work that does not meet international scholarly standards.
In such an environment, quantity seems to be valued over quality.
Another concern is the symbolic nature of internationalization.
Some conferences did feature foreign academics—especially the ICA hub at FCCU and AMCAP events—but their involvement was often limited to keynote speeches.
True academic collaboration, such as joint research projects or co-authored papers between Pakistani and international scholars, was rare.
The presence of international voices at these conferences, while adding prestige, did not necessarily translate into meaningful global academic exchange.
Moreover, these academic activities remain highly centralized.
Punjab and Islamabad dominated the conference scene, while institutions in Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remained largely absent or minimally involved.
The imbalance reflects broader structural disparities in Pakistan’s higher education system where elite institutions in major cities have access to better resources and networks.
Peripheral universities, by contrast, often lack the capacity and funding to engage in such events, let alone host them.
Perhaps the most glaring weakness of these conferences is the lack of follow-through.
Once the events conclude, there is little evidence of any lasting impact.
Rarely do these gatherings result in special journal issues, research collaborations, policy briefs or curricular reforms.
This limits the sustainability and institutional memory of what should ideally be turning points in academic discourse.
The themes tackled—such as artificial intelligence in journalism, misinformation, media regulation and climate communication—are undoubtedly relevant.
However, the failure to connect these discussions with broader policymaking, media industry practices or journalism education weakens their significance.
Without deliberate efforts to link research with real-world challenges and national priorities, these conferences remain isolated from the societal and political fabric of the country.
That said, these conferences are not without value.
They provide young academics an opportunity to present work, gain feedback and build networks.
For institutions, they offer visibility and a semblance of research culture.
Yet this culture remains performative in many respects.
There is an urgent need to move from performative scholarship to impactful research.
For this to happen, several steps are necessary.
First, universities must prioritize quality over numbers by enforcing stricter peer review mechanisms and encouraging publication in credible international journals.
Second, they must work to bridge the gap between research and policymaking by creating platforms that translate academic work into actionable insights.
Third, the government and the Higher Education Commission should provide support to institutions in underrepresented provinces so they too can engage meaningfully in national academic discourse.
Finally, fostering long-term international partnerships, rather than one-off guest appearances, can embed Pakistani research into global conversations.
In conclusion, the recent wave of international media conferences in Pakistan reflects a growing academic appetite but also exposes the limitations of current practices.
To transform these events into catalysts for intellectual and societal development, a shift in approach is required—one that values depth over display, collaboration over ceremony and impact over image.
—The writer is a senior media academic, former Dean of Mass Communication at Beaconhouse National University and University of Central Punjab, and currently a Professor at the University of Central Punjab.
