A comprehensive life insurance plan and better protection must be provided for on-field reporters by the government and media house owners, journalists said at the concluding session of the two-day workshop on Free, Independent, Responsible Media (FIRM) under the umbrella of Individualland, a non-partisan consultancy.
The two-day workshop was held to provide awareness for the media on the issues relating to reporting on the current terrorism incidents with the collaboration of Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung fur die Freiheit. Participants, drawn from across the country, deliberated about the challenges faced by journalists on the frontlines of the ongoing war against terror. They said violence against journalists was increasing which was hampering news gathering, subsequently they complained about being poorly protected on the field and almost non-existent insurance cover for them and their families. Participants also deplored the death of investigative journalist Saleem Shahzad who died at the hands of assailants yet to be known. MPA Ayesha Javed who joined the workshop as guest speaker stressed the need to legislate to protection a journalists’ ‘right to information.’ She said a comprehensive safety plan and insurance cover for journalists and their families was necessary. Participants of the workshop were distributed certificates at the workshop’s end.
