Peshawar Report-IPDC

26^th-29^th, October, 2013

         Women Media Center Pakistan arranged a four day training workshops funded by the UNESCO’s International Program for the Development of Communication (IPDC) in six Major cities of Pakistan- (Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Hyderabad, Quetta and Peshawar which was the last station of the series. These workshops aimed to magnify the skills of print and electronic female journalists & students of Pakistan and entourage them for the media field. Women Media Centre got an opportunity of training around 100 journalists, students and media persons inculcating them with the norms and basic tactics of media in them.

The four day training workshop at Peshawar being the last activity for the project 2013 was arranged from 26^th-29^th October, 2013 funded by the UNESCO’s International Program for the Development of Communication (IPDC) in at Pearl Continental Hotel to enhance the skills of print and electronic female journalists and students of mass communication from Peshawar University. The four-day Workshop began with the introduction of IPDC and its project’s brief overview glancing at the aims and objectives of the 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. The Program not only provides support for media projects but also seeks an accord to secure a healthy environment for the growth of free and pluralistic media in development countries.

Ms. Fauzia Shaheen, the Executive Director of WMC, Pakistan highlighted the sole objectives of organization and how the organization is providing training to the female students of journalism and working journalists, she shared the achievement that WMC not only focused on capacity building of the trainees but our trained journalists and female students are now working for media channels in a professional environment practicing their acquired skills.

The first day of workshop began with the lecture on Rundown and its importance for news reporting which was conducted by Mr. Muhammad Arsalan (Rundown Producer of Capital T.V and former producer of Geo News). In the lecture he explained the factors of Rundown that is:  sequence, timing, placement and treatment with their importance for a rundown. The second day was based on scripting, as how to write a creative script. He explained about the effective ingredients of well-written and creative script writing and its importance for an event and the journalist itself. The third session predicated on News and its characteristics which included beeper, packages, editorial, live situation, as live, and donut. The session included a practice round in which the participants came up to show their skills and understandings by putting their learning into action. Mr.Qazi Asif, senior script writer, Waqt News elaborated the factors important for effective and worthy news script and how to deliver it in an appropriate form. The Fourth session after the lunch break bolted on the slugs of headlines, that is the signals and initials of news genre. The starting, the script prepared, the edited copy, Gfx ready and to be aired slugs. The practical work followed each session.

The second day consisted on a lecture by Mr. Safiullah, Bureau Chief, Dunya TV comprising the news reporting, news and packages for substance in Electronic Media. The first session followed with the vignette on material work by Mr. Mohammad Arslan, Rundown the next session embarked on by Mr Qazi was based on scripting, practical work and copy editing. The session included presentations and sharing of experiences. The last session dealt with camera handling conducted by Mr. Daniyal, Capital TV. The participants were taught the methodology and tactics of camera handling.

The third day started with the session by Ms. Sidra Saeed Assistant Producer, Capital TV based on how to coordinate with field reporter and desk. The second session was presided by Ms. Bareera Butt of Dunya news TV, Islamabad on final reporting for female journalists and its norms. The third session included the ‘As live’ beeper. There was practical work for As-live Beeper. In this the participants were taught how to broadcast a news bulletin and they were also made to practice it along with cameras and team practically. The last session of the day was conducted by Mr. Wajid, News Broadcaster, Khyber TV based on live and field anchoring with its pros and cons. Mr. Bukhar Shah, Reporter, The News also shared his experiences to the participants in order to magnify their learning.

The fourth day sessions included the shooting and recording of News Bulletin by the participants, in an entirely news room environment, which was the practical application of the erudition of the four day workshop. The session moreover lead to the evaluation and comments by the participants, they appreciated the efforts of WMC and UNESCO’s IPDC for providing a platform where they not only learned but also implemented the observations and experiences by practicing the teachings of the workshop. The day was ended concluded by showcasing the News Bulletin, the practical work done by the participants.   The last day of the workshop was concluded  with the address of the Chief Guest, Local Body Minister of Peshawar Mr. Shafqat Mehmood and Secretary information Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azmat Hanif Orakzai who encouragingly said, “During the last decade a revolution has been ushered in media and presently about 100 news channels are operating in Pakistan. The Media organizations were facing tough competition and playing very effective role in opinion making. The 18^th Constitutional Amendment  has guaranteed right to information and in the same context the provincial government has drafted right to information bill 2013, which will not only prove beneficial for the general public but also for the media persons.”