VC underlines need for science journalism

Ahmedpur East - Islamia University Bahawalpur Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Mukhtar has urged the media houses to introduce Science Journalism in Pakistan and highlight the historical services of Pak scientists as it was necessary to correct the misperception that West had a monopoly on science. He was addressing the certificate-awarding ceremony of three-day Basic Journalism Training Workshop organised by the Rural Media Network Pakistan in collaboration with UNESCO at Media Studies Department of Islamia University Bahawalpur. Resource Persons Khalid Saeed former Research Coordinator Tokyo University Japan, former Punjab Information Department Director Nazir Khalid, IUB Mass Communication Department Chairman Dr Ghlam Shabir Baloch, RMNP President Ehsan Ahmed Sehar and Dean Faculty of Arts IUB Dr Najeeb Jamal also addressed the ceremony while Dr Shehzad Ahmed acted as moderator. Commenting on Western media watch dogs reports that Pakistan was the most dangerous country for journalists last year, the VC termed it a conspiracy against Pakistan which is being hatched by anti-Pakistan elements. He asked the mediamen to highlight Islamic values and foil the nefarious designs of the enemies. Dr Mukhtar underlined the need for the promotion of positive values by electronic media. He observed that sensationalism and terrorized images were badly affecting the children and youth. He appreciated the holding of Basic Journalism Training Workshop by RMNP and UNESCO in Media Studies Department of Islamia University Bahawalpur and said that these kind of workshops be continued so the Mass Com students could upgrade their media skills. Vice Chancellor told the audience that after assuming the charge of his office, he had made the doors of IUB open for every one so the healthy and extracurricular activities be reactivated without any hurdles. Reacting on the demands of Chairman Professor Dr Ghulam Shabbir Baloch,he asked him to submit PCI for the establishment of Television Studio in Media Studies Department and direct to utilize funds allocated for media lab. Earlier, RMNP President Ehsan Ahmed Sehar presented a set of books and CDs of Commonwealth Broadcasting Association (CBA), UNESCO, Thomson Foundation, World Editors Forum, World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers and RMNP amounting to 1000 Euro to the VC for the Media Studies Department and announced Rs20,000 cash award for position-holder student while Dr Mohammad Mukhtar distributed certificates among 67 participants. It is worth mentioning that in three days long basic journalism training workshops, beneficiaries watched the documentaries about Access to Information and Disaster Reporting while Resource Person Khalid Seed conducted two sessions about electronic media and the use of internet through multimedia presentations. Other resource persons Ex-Director Information Department Bahawalpur Division Nazir Khalid, District Information Officer Mutant Nasir Hameed, Distict Information Officer Nouman Masood Khan, Professor Dr Ghulam Shabir Baloch,Professor Dr Mohd Sajjad Paracha, Dr Mohd Wajid Khan, Mohammad Shehzad, Prof Shumaila Ahmed, Prof Shafaq Manzoor ran different sessions on the importance of public relations, sub-editing and news reporting, disaster reporting, basics of electronic media, working methods in electronic media newsroom, art of interview, covering protest and violent mobs, conflict reporting, article and feature writing etc which will be followed by practical exercises. RMNP President Ehsan Ahmed Sehar highlighted the press freedom situation and briefed the students about the tools to protect media freedom. Two training manuals on the Basics of Journalism, and Safety for Journalists produced by RMNP authors in Urdu were distributed among all participants.