Bifdjournalistisnetwork's Blog

Photos of the final workshop

bifdjournalistisnetwork — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 12:31:36 +0000

Click to view slideshow.

List of The Participants Of The Third Workshop

bifdjournalistisnetwork — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 03:41:03 +0000

Chaudhary Imtiaz Ahmed, Balochistan Bureau Chief Of Apna TV, based in Quetta

Shiek Zubair Ahmed, Department of Journalism and Mass Media, University of Balochistan, Quetta

Asadullah Galib, Correspondent Daily Tawar, Turbat

Hafeez Baloch, Correspondent Daily Eagle, Gwadar District

Ahmed Yar, Correspondent Express News, Noshki District

Mehboob Shahwani, correspondent Pakistan Television, Kalat District

Mohammad Iqbal, student of Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, University of Balochistan

Shiek Zubair Ahmed, Department of Media and Journalism, University of Balochistan, Quetta

Haider Aajiz, correspondent Samaa TV, Chagai District

Phulan Khan, correspondent Daily Eagle, Kech (Turbat) District

Abdul Ahid Baloch, correspondent Daily Aaj Kal, Panjgur District

Mohammad Ismail, Correspondent Daily Duniya, Kharan District

Abudl Haq Baloch, Correspondent Daily Awam, Khuzdar District

Haji Tayyab Yalanzai, Correspondent Daily Tawar, Noshki District

Faizullah Durrani, correspondent Daily Zamana, Mastung District

Abdul Manan, Correspondent Daily Express, Sherani District

Hayatullah Shaheen, correspondent Daily Intekhab, Qila Abdullah District

Sajjad Haider, MA Journalism Student, University of Balochistan

Certificate Distribution Ceremony of the 3rd BIFD-NED Workshop

bifdjournalistisnetwork — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 19:04:34 +0000

Younus Baloch Report about the workshop in Daily Azadi May 5, 2010

bifdjournalistisnetwork — Thu, 06 May 2010 07:33:07 +0000

A report about the second workshop by Younas Baloch, a Khuzdar-based journalist, who attended the learning program. The report was published in Daily Azadi, Quetta, on May 5, 2010

Certificate distribution of the second workshop

bifdjournalistisnetwork — Mon, 03 May 2010 20:39:57 +0000

Senior journalist Saleem Shahid of Dawn confers a certificate of participation to Roma Altaf, a student of Department of Media and Journalism, University of Balochistan

Senior journalist Saleem Shahid of Dawn confers a certificate of participation to Younas Baloch, a journalist working for Daily Azadi in Khuzdar District

Senior journalist Saleem Shahid of Dawn confers a certificate of participation to Khadim Bugti, correspondent Daily Jang in Kohlu District

Senior journalist Saleem Shahid of Dawn confers a certificate of participation to Allah Noor Nasir, correspondent Daily Azadi in Loarali District

Senior journalist Saleem Shahid of Dawn confers a certificate of participation to Allah Noor Nasir, correspondent Daily Azadi in Loralai District

Senior journalist Saleem Shahid of Dawn confers a certificate of participation to Ali Baloch, correspondent Daily Tawar and President of Gwadar Press Club

enior journalist Saleem Shahid of Dawn confers a certificate of participation to Amjid Ali Baloch, a student of Department of Media and Journalism, University of Balochistan

Senior journalist Saleem Shahid of Dawn confers a certificate of participation to Abdul Wahid Shahwani, correspondent Daily Bakhabar Khuzdar

Senior journalist Saleem Shahid of Dawn confers a certificate of participation to Barkat Baloch, Bureau Chief Daily Intekhab, Panjgur District

Senior journalist Saleem Shahid of Dawn confers a certificate of participation to Saleem Ahmed, correspondent Indus News, Naseerabad

Senior journalist Saleem Shahid of Dawn confers a certificate of participation to Mathiullah Achakzai, stringer Associated Press in Chaman District

Senior journalist Saleem Shahid of Dawn confers a certificate of participation to Naseer Bugti, correspondent Daily Azadi in Dera Bugti District

Senior journalist Saleem Shahid of Dawn confers a certificate of participation to Maqbool Nasir, correspondent Samaa TV in Turbat District

Senior journalist Saleem Shahid, who heads the Quetta Bureau of Dawn, is conferring a certificate of participation to Mirza Jalil Ahmed, staff memeber the Baloch Hal, Quetta

Senior journalist Saleem Shahid, who heads the Quetta Bureau of Dawn, is conferring a certificate of participation to Khalid Aziz, correspondent Express News at Washuk District

Senior journalist Saleem Shahid, who heads the Quetta Bureau of Dawn, is conferring a certificate of participation to Abdul Raziq, a staff member of Balochistan Express, Quetta

Senior journalist Saleem Shahid, who heads the Quetta Bureau of Dawn, is conferring a certificate of participation to Akhtar Gul, correspondent INP, Zhob

Senior journalist Saleem Shahid, who heads the Quetta Bureau of Dawn, is conferring a certificate of participation to Shahnaz Baloch, a student of Department of Media and Journalism at the University of Balochistan

Senior journalist Saleem Shahid, who heads the Quetta Bureau of Dawn, is conferring a certificate of participation to Rehmatullah, correspondent Express TV in Jhal Magsi district

Senior journalist Saleem Shahid, who heads the Quetta Bureau of Dawn, is conferring a certificate of participation to Karim Dad correspondent Daily Intekhab in Sherani District

Certificate distribution of the first workshop

bifdjournalistisnetwork — Mon, 03 May 2010 16:33:29 +0000

Abid Mir, Editor Daily Asaap, conferring certificate of participation to Sana Mazhar, a student of Media and Journalism Department, University of Balochistan: Abid Mir, Editor Daily Asaap, conferring certificate of participation to Adnan Hamid, a student of Media and Journalism Department, University of Balochistan

Chief Guest Ayub Tareen of BBC conferring a certificate of participation to Haji Aurangzaib Syapad, a freelance journalist from Kharan District

Chief Guest Ayub Tareen of BBC conferring a certificate of participation to Ashiq Baloch, correspondent Sabzbath Balochistan Television at Lasbela District

Yousaf Ajab, a freelance journalist from Kalat District, is receiving his certificate of participation from chief guest Ayub Tareen, correspondent BBC in Quetta

Zafar Baloch, correspondent Daily Balochistan Express, receiving a certificate of participation of from BBC correspondent Ayub Tareen

Chief Guest Ayub Tareen of BBC conferring a certificate of participation to Saif Baloch, Quetta Bureau Chief News TV One

Chief Guest Ayub Tareen of BBC conferring a certificate of participation to Afzal Raz, correspondent Daily Azadi, Sibi District

Chief Guest Ayub Tareen of BBC conferring a certificate of participation to Mohammad Ali Baloch, correspondent Daily Balochistan Express in District Jaffarabad

Chief Guest Ayub Tareen of BBC conferring a certificate of participation to Nisar Baloch, correspondent News TV One in Kharan District

Chief Guest Ayub Tareen of BBC conferring a certificate of participation to Riaz Baloch, correspondent News TV One in Chagai District

Karachi-based journalist Urooj Zia conferring a certificate of participation to Mohammad Khan Sasoli, a Khuzdar-based journalist

Karachi-based journalist Urooj Zia conferring a certificate of participation to Rafiq Chakar Baloch, correspondent of Daily Eagle in District Panjgur

Karachi-based journalist Urooj Zia conferring a certificate of participation to Mohammad Khan Sasoli, the Noshki correspondent of Daily Mashriq, Ibrahim Baloch

Karachi-based journalist Urooj Zia conferring a certificate of participation to Ali Jan Mangi, who works for Daily Bakhabar in District Naseerabad

Karachi-based journalist Urooj Zia conferring a certificate of participation to Latif Johar, correspondent of Daily Jang in Awaran District

Editor Daily Asaap Abid Mir conferring certificate of participation to Hafeezullah, correspondent ARY One World in Jhal Magsi District

BIFD-NED workshop calls for full implementation of FOIA

bifdjournalistisnetwork — Sat, 01 May 2010 15:16:22 +0000

A group photo of the participants of the second BIFD-NED workshop

QUETTA, APRIL 28, 2010:

Journalists from different districts of Balochistan have appealed to the government to ensure the smooth implementation of the Freed of Information Act (FOIA 2002) for the provision of accurate information to every citizen of the country, including the journalists, in order to improve the quality of journalism in the country.

Journalists hailing from print and electronic media organizations in fifteen different districts of Balochistan discussed in detail the Freedom of Information Act (2002) in a three-day long workshop on “Media, Democracy and Human Rights”. The workshop was organized by Balochistan Institute for Future Development (BIFD) with the collaboration of the United States-based National Endowment for Democracy (NED) at Quetta Press Club.

Rahma Mohammad, a Karachi-based journalist, addressing the participants of the workshop

Speaking to the participating journalists, Malik Siraj Akbar, project director of BIFD, said Pakistan was the first South Asian country to opt for legislation concerning the freedom of information by promulgating Freedom of Information Act (2002) while Balochistan enacted its freedom of information act on November 27, 2005 to become the first province in the country to do so. However, multiple factors, such as public ignorance about the FOIA and lack of cooperation by the government departments under varying pretexts, hindered the proper implementation of the FOIA in Balochistan.

Malik Siraj Akbar, Project Director BIFD, speaking on Freedom of Information Act 2002

“Access to information is the basic right of every citizen of the state. At least 90 countries in the world have legislated on freedom of information. Eight years since the adoption of the FOIA in Pakistan, this legislation has not benefited the masses yet. There is an urgent need for the government to address the gray areas in the act in order to make it easy for the people to access government information,” he said.

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2002, every citizen of the country is entitled to have access to all official information by submitting a form with the concerned government department. Barring a few exceptions, the department is legally bound to provide the requested information within 21 days. In case of refusal by the government authorities to share information, the applicant can complain with the Ombudsman against the lack of cooperation.

“The FOIA can be greatly helpful to the journalists if they try to aggressively use their right to information and push for official information to be used in their stories,” he said.

Senior journalist Siddiq Baluch spoke to the participating journalists on media and government relations by saying that the media in Balochistan had been strictly controlled since the colonial rule. Journalists working in the province had to face official threats, intimidation from local tribal chiefs and other pressure groups who wanted to dictate journalists’ professional works.

Seasoned journalist Siddiq Baluch speaking on "Government and Media Relations"

Baz Mohammad Kakar, President of Balochistan Bar Association, who spoke on the role of the media in the judicial movement, said both the judiciary and the media simultaneously struggled for their liberation against dictatorship. Had the media not supported the lawyers’ movement, former military dictator General Pervez Musharraf would never be dislodged from this undemocratic seat.

Baz Mohammad Kakar, president of Balochistan Bar Association, speaking on "The Role of the Media in the Judicial Movement"

He regretted that the media and the lawyers failed to maintain similar friendly and cooperative relations with each other in the aftermath of the restoration of the judiciary in the country.

It was the first time in the history of Balochistan that district correspondents were introduced with modern journalistic tools such as the use of internet, creating blogs, integrating stories on social networks like Facebook and Twitter. The workshop participants were instructed how to create their own blogs so that stories from remote areas which do not qualify for publication in the mainstream press reach a wider audience.

Participants of the workshop being introduced with blogging and social networks

“I feel like reinventing myself after attending this workshop,” said Javeria Tareen, a participant of the three-day workshop, “I have learnt how to cover human rights issues and target a larger audience.”

Participants of the workshop being introduced with blogging and social networks on Day III of the workshop

Karachi-based journalist Rahma Mohammad spoke on forms of media and covering human rights issues in the media.

Rahma Mohammad, a Karachi-based journalist, speaking during the workshop on the problems and prospects in the Pakistani media

While Masooma Qurban, an assistant producer working with Samaa TV, gave an in-depth presentation on reporting about women’s rights.

Masooma Qurban, a journalist of Samaa TV, speaking about reporting on women's rights issues

Participants of the workshop visited the Balochistan Assembly where they were briefed by the deputy secretary, Mohammad Azam Davi, about the history and functions of the Balochistan Assembly.

A group photo of the participants of the second BIFD-NED workshop with the staff of Balochistan Assembly

They also saw the recently developed media-center of the Balochistan Assembly which has been established by a USAID grant to provide better facilities to reporters who cover the proceedings of the Balochistan Assembly.

Participants of the second BIFD-NED workshop visiting the Balochistan Assembly Hall

Senior journalist Saleem Shahid, who distributed certificates among the participants of the workshop, spoke on the role of the district correspondents in covering human rights issues. He urged them to avoid reporting hastily but to concentrate on fact-checking because a journalist’s credibility, he said, entirely hinged on the accuracy of facts mentioned in his report.

Saleem Shahid, Quetta Bureau Chief of Dawn, speaking on reporting on human rights issues by the district correspondents

The workshop was attended by the following journalists:

Maqbool Nasir, Samaa TV, Kech District

Allah Noor Nasir, correspondent Dunya TV, Loralai District

Naseer Bugti, correspondent Daily Azadi, Dera Bugti District

Mathiullah Achakzai, stringer Associated Press (AP), Chaman District

Khalid Hussain, correspondent Express News, Washuk District

Saleem Ahmed, correspondent Indus News, Naseerabad District

Barkat Baloch, Bureau Chief Daily Intekhab, Panjgur District

Abdul Raziq, correspondent Daily Balochistan Express, Quetta

Abdul Wahid Shahwani, correspondent Daily Bakhabar, Khuzdar District

10-

Karim Dad, correspondent Independent News of Pakistan (INP), Sherani District

11-

Mirza Jalil Ahmed, correspondent The Baloch Hal, Quetta

12-

Khadim Bugti, correspondent Daily Jang, Kohlu District

13-

Javaria Tareen, Correspondent Weekly Express, Quetta

14-

Mutasim Qazi, Student of Mass Communication and Journalism Department, University of Balochistan

15-

Amjid Ali, a student of Mass Communication and Journalism Department, University of Balochistan

16-

Roma Altaf, a student of Mass Communication and Journalism Department, University of Balochistan

17-

Shahnaz Baloch, a student of Mass Communication and Journalism Department, University of Balochistan

18-

Ali Baloch, Correspondent Daily Tawar, Gwadar District

19-

Rehmatullah Baloch, correspondent Express, Jhal Magsi District

Younas Baloch, correspondent Daily Azadi, Khuzdar District

Akhtar Gul Mandokhel, correspondent Daily Intekhab, Zhob District

journalists from Quetta, Turbat, Gwadar, Panjgur, Khuzdar, Sherani, Chaman, Loralai, Zhob, Dera Bugti, Kohlu, Naseerabad, Washuk,Jhal Magsi. Students from the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Balochistan, also attended the learning program.

It was the second workshop held by BIFD and NED for the journalists of Balochistan. The second event provided a chance to the reporters from the districts which were not represented in the previous workshop. Read reports of the previous workshop

Mutasim Qazi on BIFD-NED workshop on Media, Democracy and Human Rights

bifdjournalistisnetwork — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 21:28:07 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzl4dwl0GMY

Mutasim Qazi, a student of Media and Journalism, University of Balochistan, attended the second workshop on media, democracy and human rights. He expresses his views about what he learnt at the workshop organized by Balochistan Institute for Future Development with the collaboration of National Endowment for Democracy at Quetta Press Club on April 26-28, 2010

bifdjournalistisnetwork — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 21:19:20 +0000

Mathiullah Achakzai, a Chman-based journalist who participated in a three-day long media workshop on democracy and human rights held by Balochistan Institute for Future Development (BIFD) with the collaboration of National Endowment for Democracy, shares his experiences.

Rahma Mohammad speaks about the second BIFD-NED workshop

bifdjournalistisnetwork — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 21:12:29 +0000

Rahma Mohammad, a Karachi-based journalist, tells about her experiences as an instructor at a three-day long media workshop on democracy and human rights held by Balochistan Institute for Future Development (BIFD) with the collaboration of National Endowment for Democracy.