Online journalism: Journalists told to exercise caution when reporting on conflict

Workshop held for journalists to discuss importance and ethics of online journalism

BAHAWALPUR: Ending crime and brutality in society will not only bring about prosperity but will also help create strong communities, Bahawalpur RPO Ehsan Sadiq said at a two-day workshop, Online Journalism and Reporting Disputes, held at the Bahawalpur Press Club on Thursday. “Journalists, especially those working on online platforms have an important role to play in this regard,” he said.

Sadiq was the chief guest.

He appreciated the efforts of Bahawalpur’s journalists in promoting quality journalism. The crime rate in Bahawalpur region has dropped significantly in the last few months, he said.

Dr Zafar Iqbal, the lead trainer, and journalists Mubashir Zaidi and Asif Ali Bhatti held several training sessions for journalists. They said the right skill-set for journalists was required to report on conflict so that they could help end hatred and discrimination in the society.

Zeeshan Shafqat, an online journalism and social media expert, said, “The introduction of modern technology in journalism had changed journalism as we know it. The facsimile has been replaced by e-mail and online news websites, social media and blogs, he said. “Media houses around the world now online presence and even video-logs.”

He said journalists in Pakistan would have to adapt their skill-set accordingly and learn about modern standards of journalism.

Dr Zafar Iqbal cautioned journalists to be wary of the kinds of conflict they chose to cover. “Our job is to build strong communities and end hatred and fissures within the society,” he said. Journalists must caution themselves against reporting on stories which could further those fissures.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 29^th, 2016.