Student event: CARMA’s first day generates excitement in participants

Students thrown into real life media situation to test skills.


Rahib Raza January 07, 2011

LAHORE: The Convention for Aspiring Reporters and Media Anchors (CARMA) organised by the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) Daily (journalism society) pushed off on the first day of its 4-day period with activities that tested the skills and comprehension of student delegates regarding today’s journalism and media. The event was judged by professional journalists, editors, reporters and producers.

The activities kicked off at 9 am, registered delegates were sequestered into teams consisting of two or three members. Teams then signed up for events that were of interest to them. Some headed off to get a better grasp of reporting while others made their way to sessions focused on real-life scenarios that the new media is currently facing. The first day consisted of two rounds.

Round 1 staged a scenario of a terrorist attack on a bank and asked delegates to show their understanding of journalism. LUMS Daily president Asghar Kazi said, “The activity set up a typical event that journalists would cover. The aim was to educate students about the scenarios journalists could face on a daily basis.” Round 1 was appropriately called ‘Shootout’. Delegates, now, had to give live coverage of this event using microphones and cameras. There were scored on reporting, editing and overall presentation, their understanding of this scenario was key to their success.

Round 2, ‘Discover the Difference,’ set up a question and answer session in a press conference. Delegates’ analysis skills were being judged here by media professionals from The Express Media Group and Geo Network. Delegates were provided with an article that was the basis of the press conference and their level of understanding was the basis of scoring in this round.

Salman, a delegate from BNU, said, “This activity will certainly be good for us, more so than any lecture. This is such a perfect way to understand what this career holds for us.”

LUMS Daily media coordinator Amna Wasim said, “Students were given real scenarios in different events. After completing the tasks set out for them, they will have some idea of reporting and news analysis. Hopefully, journalist ethics is also in their mind.”

LUMS Daily, she said, had put this event together so that students could grasp what it meant to be a successful journalist.

Hamza Ghaffar, director of CARMA, said, “I hope this event will improve the skills of our delegate. They might just be the shining stars of tomorrow.” Shahla Khan, a judge from Geo TV, said, “I was impressed by their efforts. The delegates had done some excellent research. Certainly, they missed out on some things, but overall it was a fantastic job.”

Students from the National College of Arts, Beaconhouse National University, Lahore Grammar School, Institute of Business Administration, Punjab University and Karachi university participated. Beaconhouse Liberty campus head delegate Eman Wasim said, “CARMA is a wonderful platform for young, enthusiastic and inquisitive minds like ours. It helps us put our views about the media on a platform.”

CARMA continues today at the same venue. Judges will announce the results of Thursday’s activities. Students will be given new activities today.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7th, 2011.

COMMENTS (1)

anonymous | 13 years ago | Reply whoever wrote this got some information wrong =( what are called 'rounds' were actually separate competitions that were taking place simultaneously.... and day 1 had the registration, opening, workshop and movie...it was day 2 when competitions started...
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