Generative Search Is Changing Journalism: How Pakistani Media Can Stay Relevant

Pakistani journalism is under threat — not just from censorship or economic pressure, but from AI itself.

As people move from search engines to AI-generated answers, the power to inform is shifting. News organizations that don’t adapt to Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) will see their traffic, reach, and relevance evaporate.

What Is Generative Search?

Generative search refers to platforms like:

ChatGPT
Perplexity AI
Gemini (Google’s AI)
Meta AI or TikTok search bots

These don’t list headlines — they summarize information into conversational answers. And they do it in seconds.

Instead of showing a Dawn, Express Tribune, or Geo News article, they might summarize a report — without linking back. That’s a huge problem if your newsroom depends on clicks or ad revenue.

Why This Matters for Pakistani Media

Pakistani media houses are still optimized for:

Google News
Social media trends
Traditional SEO

But these aren’t enough anymore. AI search engines aren’t just crawling — they’re rewriting. If your story isn’t optimized for AI summarization, it’s invisible.

How AI Picks What to Feature

AI platforms are trained to select:

Clear, structured, factual content
Trusted sources with clean metadata
Direct answers in plain language
Content that answers user intent, not just breaks news

In other words: if your reporting isn’t structured in a way that AI can parse, it won’t be quoted.

What Pakistani Newsrooms Must Do

1. Reformat Stories for AI

Use subheadings, bullets, and TLDRs
Add structured summaries or key points at the top
Tag stories with schema.org metadata (e.g., NewsArticle, Person, Event)

2. Use Answer-Based Headlines

Instead of “Electricity Prices Increase Again,” try:

“Why Electricity Prices Are Rising Again in Pakistan – September 2025 Explained”

That headline answers a query — which AI engines prefer.

3. Include FAQ Sections in Articles

Example:
Q: What is the new electricity rate in Karachi?
A: Rs. X per unit as of September 2025.

These sections are gold for AI snippets.

4. Build Domain Authority

AI trusts outlets that are:

Frequently cited by others
Accurate and up-to-date
Transparent about authorship and sources

5. Track GEO Performance

New analytics tools like ChatGPT traffic checkers or Perplexity referrer logs can show if your content is being summarized (not just visited).