Journalism Versus Anchorism: A Case Study of Sar-E-Aam Program of ARY TV and its Reporting Approaches

The study explores the effects of media with regard to different programs designed to highlight social issues. This is the critical analysis of “Sar e Aam” programmes by the ARY News. It is known for attracting viewers through investigative journalism, and the content claims that it exposes corruption, crimes, and social injustices through operations. The show's content is qualitatively analyzed through the pattern of anchorism, which is linked with journalism by some anchors without having education in media studies. Based on the Social Responsibility Theory, the study finds that while focusing on sensationalism some aspects of standardized journalism have been challenged. It was found that the anchor invaded the subjects' privacy during the operations, which is the mandate of law enforcement agencies. This research contributes to the broader discourse on media ethics in Pakistan, calling for a more balanced approach that upholds journalistic integrity while serving the public interest.