Pakistani journalists direly need safety training

Rawalpindi

Speakers at a training workshop said that Pakistan is considered one of the most dangerous countries for media professionals in the world, where proper training for the safety of journalists is direly needed.

They stated this at the two-day training workshop for Lahore based journalists at Pir Mehr Ali Shah Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR), here on Saturday.

The workshop was arranged by Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC), with an aim to improve reporting on education-related issues and capacity strengthening of journalist. The workshop will also provide a suitable frame for journalist to exchange experiences and discuss various approaches for increasing the news coverage.

Prof. Dr. Rai Niaz Ahmad, Vice Chancellor, PMAS-AAUR was the chief guest at the inaugural session along with Director General, PHEC Dr. Shahid Sorya, while more than 20 journalists are attending the training.

Those who addressed the participants included journalists, Umer Cheema, Matti-Ullah Jan and Ummul Baneen Mirza. They delivered lectures on media ethics, reporting accuracy, investigative reporting techniques, Digital Journalism and the safety of journalists.

They stressed the importance of neutrality and keeping credibility intact while reporting on sensitive issues. They also talked about how a journalist can used impartial data in their stories and the latest trend in reporting, data journalism, tools and discuss to enhance their skills in finding data and getting information out of governments. They threw light on the ethical principles and stressed upon an unbiased approach towards reporting on any issue. Speakers shared how news about education may be reported so that it becomes more capturing for the readers and audience.  Participants were also get training on producing informative short video reports. Speakers also discussed the experience of international journalism as a way of improving their own standards.

Prof. Dr. Rai Niaz Ahmad, while addressing welcome the participants and briefed the participants about the university research, development and academic activities. He appreciated the objectives and intensive efforts behind the training and said that journalists can play a pivotal role in development of the society. He was of the view that media should focus on the positive aspects of our society as well and emphasized on the quality work in journalism. He said that we are brave & peaceful nation and its journalist duty to present positive image of the country by responsible development reporting.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Dr. Shahid Sorya briefed the aims and objectives of organising this training workshop and hoped that PHEC will organize such kind of workshop in future as well.

Participants of the workshop along with PMAS-AAUR Vice Chancellor and DG PHEC also round the campus. Vice Chancellor briefed them about the Mehr Bio-gas Station, Mehr Mineral Water, Rain water harvesting projects initiated by the University. Journalist appreciated the efforts and developments being made by the University for socio-economic Uplift of the farming community with special emphasis on rain-fed agriculture in the country.

Syed Sajjad Kazmi President, Lahore Education Reporter Association (LERA), thanked the PHEC & PMAS-AAUR for arranging the training session and said that such workshop should be organized in future as well.