The U.S. Department of State and the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) launched a training seminar for 150 alumni of the U.S.-Pakistan Professional Partnership in Journalism program today at the Institute for Business Administration (IBA) City Campus in Karachi. U.S. Consul General Karachi Brian Heath opened at the new Centre for Excellence in Journalism (CEJ) the three-day event, which will feature international trainers, panelists, and keynote speakers covering issues related to journalism ethics, digital media, and investigative reporting.
“Programs like the U.S.-Pakistan Professional Partnership in Journalism create understanding and build bridges between our two countries. They enable Pakistani journalists to see how their American counterparts cover the news. When they return home, the exchange visitors can use the skills they have learned to further develop Pakistan’s vibrant media,” said Consul General Brian Heath.
The three-day seminar is the first major public event hosted by the CEJ, a U.S.-funded institute dedicated to providing professional, interactive courses on cutting-edge media innovations for Pakistani journalists. At the Centre, U.S. and Pakistani faculty offer training in investigative journalism, multimedia reporting, social media engagement, journalism ethics, digital and physical security, and data journalism.
The U.S. government invests an estimated $40 million annually on exchange programs for Pakistani citizens, sending more than 1,300 participants to U.S.-sponsored exchange programs in the United States. The U.S.-Pakistan Professional Partnership in Journalism program has brought nearly 200 Pakistani journalists to the United States for one-month professional exchanges since 2011. This three-day seminar also includes presentations from members of the Pakistan U.S. Alumni Network (PUAN) on their community service and networking activities across the country. PUAN, among the largest alumni networks in the world, is comprised of more than 15,000 students and professionals who have participated in U.S. government sponsored exchanges.
To learn more about the CEJ, visit: www.icfj.org/our-work/center-excellence-journalism-cej.
Or more about PUAN, visit: http://www.facebook.com/pakalumni.
