Peace journalism workshop begins at FCCU

LAHORE: A two-day peace journalism workshop organised by the Faculty of Humanities at Forman Christian College (A Chartered University), in collaboration with the Journalism & Media International Center (JMIC) at Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway started here on Tuesday.

The event, titled “Global Journalism as an Instrument for Peace and Safety of Journalists,” aims to explore the role of journalism in fostering peace and ensuring the safety of media professionals.

The inaugural session featured a welcome address by Dr Altaf Ullah Khan, Dean of Humanities at FCCU, who emphasised the critical need for objective reporting in conflict zones and the importance of integrating global perspectives into local journalism practices.

The workshop was moderated by Dr Muhammad Saqib, Assistant Professor in the Department of Mass Communication at FCCU. Attendees included faculty members from FCCU’s Department of Mass Communication and representatives from various mass communication departments across Pakistan.

The day’s sessions featured speakers addressing critical topics. Dr Rehman Ullah presented on “The Mental Health of Journalists in Conflict Zones,” highlighting the psychological challenges faced by journalists and strategies for resilience. Dr Muqarab Akbar discussed “Peace Journalism and Social Media: Opportunities and Challenges,” examining the impact of digital platforms on traditional journalism and the ethical considerations involved. Riffat Ullah addressed “Conflict Zones: Objectivity vs Safety,” exploring the delicate balance journalists must maintain between unbiased reporting and personal security. The workshop will continue Wednesday (today).

Certification workshop

Punjab University Centre for Clinical Psychology (CCP) organised a two-day certification workshop on ‘Delivering Behavioral Activation for Muslims’. On this occasion, Professor of Health Equity & Inclusion, University of Leeds, UK Prof Dr Ghazala Mir, Director CCP Prof Dr Saima Dawood, faculty members and clinical psychologists from various universities were present.

The workshop focused on incorporating religious and cultural practices into behavioral activation, used as a therapeutic approach to treat depression and other mood related psychological problems.

Prof Mir emphasised how Muslims can find both spiritual and psychological growth through this modality. In the workshop, practical demonstrations, case vignettes, recorded sessions and reflective exercises were conducted.

Dr Saima Dawood said that PU CCP being the pioneer institute of clinical psychology, provided the platform to all the departments which are offering degrees in clinical psychology for this certification training in order to be 'master trainers' free-of-cost. She said that the participants learnt effective implementation of behavioral activation with Muslim clients which enhanced their clinical acumen too.