KARACHI: The Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE) has announced the establishment of a Media Academy to unveil, update and upgrade the talent of working media practitioners through knowledge about modern media trends and technology, training courses and related networking.
The announcement was made in a ceremony organised by CPNE, with Deutsche Welle (D.W) Academy’s Deputy Country Manager Lena Elter, D.W Academy representative and Deutsche Welle Pakistan Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Asif Khan in attendance among other prominent participants.
Speaking on the occasion, CPNE Secretary General Jabbar Khattak said that regular programmes of media education and media training, training modules on journalism, computer use, marketing, circulation, distribution and revenue generation would be taught at the academy so that the capacity of people engaged with different sections of media could be enhanced through academics and training workshops.
It is pertinent to mention that despite their association with the media, training in these departments has been ignored by media personnel in Pakistan.
Jabbar Khattak said that the courses offered by the CPNE Media Academy will be altogether different from media education of other universities because the academy will only impart knowledge and training of ‘applied skills’ to persons associated with different sections of the media.
He said that under the Academy’s ‘Continuing Media Education’ programme, and with the cooperation of the D.W Academy, foreign experts will be called to deliver knowledge about modern trends and technology in media so that media institutions may acquire manpower laced with practical talent.
The CPNE secretary-general said that the academy will also impart required expertise to ensure the implementation of Journalists’ Code of Conduct. He said the academy’s training programmes will particularly focus on curbing fake news, hate and extremist material.
Lena Elter said that regular training of media persons is necessary for understanding modern trends in media and taking benefit of technology, therefore, the establishment of CPNE Media Academy is a landmark occasion.
She further said that D.W Academy will focus on significant objectives like imparting training on physical, psychological and digital security of people associated with media in Pakistan over the next three years. The two countries will also share experiences with media institutions.
Asif Khan lauded efforts being made by CPNE to train and raise awareness of journalists, media workers and others associated with media and said that CPNE Media Academy will become a catalyst of positive changes in Pakistan’s media scenario.
He said that the academy may also help reduce the distance between educational institutes and media institutions while adding that D.W Academy will cooperate with CPNW Media Academy, Editors Club and the helpline for editors and journalists.
Earlier, CPNE Vice President Ikram Sehgal said that training of physical protection saves you from body damage but unfortunately, it’s not in vogue in Pakistan.
He said that it is imperative to pay attention to journalists’ physical, psychological and digital security.
Ghulam Nabi Chandio provided the participants’ information about the helpline launched by CPNW, while CPNE Programme in charge Aamir Mehmood shed light on the objectives of the Editors Club, saying that it is an open forum to seek networking, knowledge and awareness.
CPNE Vice President Tahir Farooq appreciated the establishment of the academy and said that imparting professional training journalists and media workers will enhance the capacity of newspaper organisations and media houses.
The ceremony was attended by ex-secretary general Aijaz-ul-Haq, as well as senior members Hamid Hussain Abidi, Tahir Najmi, Arif Baloch, Abdul Khalique Ali, Abdul Rahman Mangrio, Faisal Zahid Malik, Muzaffar Ejaz, Maqsood Yousufi, Ahmed Iqbal Baloch, Javed Mehr Shamsi, Mehmood Alam Khalid, Ali Bin Younus, Yahya Khan Sadozai, Tauseef Ahmed Khan, Mian Tariq Javed, Sher Muhammad Khuhawar, Usman Arab Saati, Muhammad YounusMahar, Kamal Siddiqui, Syed Raza Shah, Nasir Dad Baloch, Muhammad Tahir, Nasir Khattak, Munazzah Seham, Haseena Jatoi, Hameeda Ghanghro and Sidra Kanwal.