KARACHI:The Karachi Press Club in collaboration the Centre for Excellence in Journalism at the Institute of Business Administration (CEJ-IBA), Karachi conducted workshop on ‘Mobile Journalism and Election Coverage’ at the Karachi Press Club previous day.
The day started with a session on mobile journalism, conducted by trainer Manzar Elahi Turk. He introduced the concept of mobile journalism to reporters and shared tools and tips on how effectively they can use their phones to cover elections.
CEJ director Kamal Siddiqi spoke to the journalists about media ethics and the coverage of the upcoming elections. Journalists should be mindful of ethics and safety while reporting during elections, he advised. They should report but not become part of the elections, he added. “Journalists are observers not activists.”
Former Chief Editor Pakistan Press International (PPI) News Agency Farooq Moin spoke on how journalists must do their legwork ahead of the elections. They should stick to their work and not indulge in giving opinions, he said. “Journalist should have prior knowledge about election rules and regulations.”
Later, senior journalist Abul Hasanat conducted a session on different aspects of profiles a reporter should focus on while reporting on constituencies, “Look for past development projects and funds allocated for the constituency, then write about problems, issues faced by people living in those areas,” he advised.
CEJ lecturer Shahzeb Ahmed held a session on data journalism and how reporters can use data to tell stories. “Your stories can become more appealing and credible for readers when you incorporate elements of data and visuals,” he said.
The last sessions of the day were conducted by seasoned journalist Abdul Jabbar Nasir on pre and post-election analysis, reporting in the field on the elections day and how to report the election results.
Nasir, who has vast experience of covering the general elections, local governments’ elections and the by-elections in the metropolis, shared with the participants various techniques on drawing analysis of the contesting candidates and political parties as well as reporting the election results.
He told the journalists to carefully read the election nomination forms and election results forms of the Election Commission of Pakistan, as there were various sections that could provide important information and data.
He minutely covered various aspects needed to accurately report the polls results and how the journalists covering them should behave with the polling staff at the polling stations. He underscored the need for closely observing the atmosphere in the constituencies of the elections, timing of the votes and public turnout needed for comprehensive reporting on the polling day.
Karachi Press Club President Ahmed Khan Malik and Secretary Maqsood Yousfi lauded the collective efforts of the Karachi Press Club’s Skills Development Committee and the team of the Center for Excellence in Journalism-IBA for conducting ‘Mobile Journalism and Election Coverage Workshop.’
President and Secretary Karachi Press Club said that skill development workshops will be held around the year for KPC members.
In the end Secretary Maqsood Yousufi, Joint Secretary Naimat Khan, Secretary Skills Development Committee Naeem Akber Sahoutra and trainer Abdul Jabbar Nasir distributed certificates among the participants.