LAHORE - The two-day journalism conference titled ‘Media and Society, Future and Beyond’ concluded Sunday. The Punjab Information Department, Foundation for Promotion of Academic Collaboration (FPAC), German Press Foundation (DPV) and University of Central Punjab have jointly organised the event.  A total of 203 papers on media research were presented in different sessions.

Senior journalist Mujeebur Rehman Shami said the way Pakistani media covers terror attacks and political activities have no precedent worldwide.  “The importance of message and messenger is still relevant today. To report such issues the reporter must be mature and have understanding of issues,” Shami stressed. University of Central Punjab School of Media and Communication Studies Dean Prof Dr Mugheesuddin Sheikh stressed the need for revisiting the media curriculum. He urged the international media to highlight the issues of Palestine and Kashmir.

Assistant Professor at Institute of Communication Studies of Punjab University Bushra Hameedur Rahman talked about critical thinking in media studies. She said ICJ should go beyond the city of Lahore.

“Punjab University, ICS recently made ‘Media and Communication Academics of Pakistan which extends its collaborations to such forums,” she added. Government College University Faisalabad Department Mass Communication Head Dr Salma Amber and Dr Muhammad Ashraf Khan of Bahuddin Zakaria University thanked the global support for organising the conference.

Dr Sajjad Ahmad Paracha said the next conference theme should be on peace and conflict resolution.

Dr Hanan from University of Management and Technology called for including journalists and researchers from Balochistan. Head of conference Professor Amir Rafique said mass communication academia is looking for the global support in future years too.  President German Press Foundation Christian Zarm said German delegation learned a lot from interacting with Pakistani academia and journalists.