IPDC NEWS BULLETIN TRAINING COURSE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED IN QUETTA SERENA

“Provincial government is sincere in addressing issues of women journalists and we are making efforts for resolving issues of women whereas Media is the World’s most powerful tool and it’s an art that we should know how to use, and we have fought for the freedom of journalism” said the chief guest, the advisor to Chief Minister of Baluchistan and spokesperson, Jan Balidi at an inaugural session of a four-day workshop for Pakistan’s women television journalists, arranged by WMC and funded by the UNESCO’s International Program for the Development of Communication (IPDC) started on 28th August till 31st August 2013, in Serena Hotel, Quetta. A total of 18 participants composed of journalists and students from Baluchistan University took part in the workshop with the main objective to strengthen their professional capacity in news gathering and news production.

Television news production and its significance were the key subjects during the workshop, that include brief history of the media, the characteristic of state versus private television channels, the importance of the credibility of journalists and anchors, newsroom cycle, news gathering.

On the occasion Senator Khurseed Balocha said “We criticize media a lot though it is portraying facts, instead of being critics we should appreciate the positive aspects of media because it keeps us aware”.

Mr. Haris Bin Aziz, rundown producer, CNBC Pakistan gave lectures and practical training on rundown. Along with him news anchor, Geo News, Mr. Mohammad Junaid gave practical training on the newsroom and anchoring, live news anchoring in studio & live field anchoring of events.

Ms. Fauzia Shaheen, Executive Director of Women Media Centre (WMC) Pakistan, gave a brief introduction at the inaugural session of the workshop, an organization acting as UNESCO’s partner in implementing the workshop. IPDC is the only multilateral forum in the UN system designed to mobilize the international community to discuss and promote media development in developing countries. She also explained that women of Baluchistan needed much awareness and training, and how they can further strengthen their acquired skills.

Resource person Mr. Hashim Kakar, reporter, Aab Tak, said “The usual picture occurring in minds is not true where we believe that Baluchistan is an entirely tribal society, where women are not given permission to excel their careers or take up chances in any field”. Another guest Mr. Raza-ur-Rehman, bureau chief of Express News & President Press Club, Quetta said “This workshop is training and a positive step towards strengthening capabilities of women journalists”.

Mr. Khalil Ahmed, Reporter, Dawn News & Mr. Naseem Ahmed, Reporter, Jung Newspaper shared their experiences and explained the process of field reporting.

Participants produced a News Bulletin after the practical and theoretical training, under the supervision of the trainers.

Mr. Jalal Noorani, Station Head, Quetta Bureau made the participants tour the Bureau Office of Samma TV and explained the process of News Production, News Reporting, specially the News Room where he briefed about the News Reading, Editing, and how the News is aired. Participants really enjoyed and appreciated this special visit. This exposure and experience for them was of much guidance and interest.

Ms. Yasmeen Lehri, MPA, Baluchistan, distributed the certificates among the participants on the final day after showcasing of the News Bulletin produced by the participants in four-day training workshop. Women Media Center and IPDC were praised for their outstanding and challenging efforts.