Role of Social Media and Mass Media during COVID-19: A Comparative Study Conducted in Sialkot, Pakistan

In this study media coverage on COVID-19 in the city of Sialkot is discussed. The purpose of this research is to analyze media’s role in timely disseminating information and updates on COVID-19, and its effects on people’s lives. Theoretical framework used in this research study is magic bullet theory. We designed a quantitative approach to conclude our hypothesis and choose 150 respondents in the city of Sialkot to fill the survey questionnaire related to COVID-19 pandemic. Questionnaire stratification is used as sampling method to gather data from survey and z-test is used to present the results. The results show that social media compared to other mediums of media, i.e., TV, radio, and newspaper, was an effective source of spreading awareness, latest updates, guidelines motivation for vaccine as well as different myths during the pandemic era.