Workshop on "Media and the ICTs" for media journalists in Karachi

May 23, 2001

SDNP and the Communications Unit of IUCNP conducted a training workshop for media journalists from 21-22 May 2001 on "Media and the ICTs" in collaboration with the Karachi Press Club. About 20 participants belonging to various newspapers and news agencies attended the event. The primary objective of the workshop was to impart the skills needed to use the Internet, e-mail and search engines, so that media professionals can improve the quality of their work. Mr. Muhammad Rafiq, Country Representative IUCN Pakistan, spoke with special reference to the environment and IUCN.

Mr. Nauman Hafeez Ansari of SDNP Karachi, who was the resource person for the workshop, helped the participants to explore websites related to information rich environmental resources and development news. These websites were briefly described in the handouts given to them, together with relevant mailing/discussion lists.

A special group activity with reference to World Biodiversity day (May 22) was also conducted during this workshop. Participants were asked to search Pakistani content on biodiversity and environmental education online, discuss the search engines they used and describe the search techniques employed.

In the end, the chief guest Mr. Zakria Sajid, Director Press Institute of Pakistan distributed certificates to the workshop's participants. Mr. Rashid Ali Khan, chief reporter APP and Vice President Karachi Press Club also presided over the final session.