Daniel Pearl-Saleem Shahzad Media Training Program

Drawing inspiration from Daniel Pearl and Saleem Shahzad – American and Pakistani journalists killed in the line of duty while covering a common war against terror in Pakistan – the Alfred Friendly Press Fellowships (AFPF) and the Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) have begun training 14 Pakistani journalists in conflict and investigative reporting as well as safety for journalists working in conflict-affected regions.

In Pakistan, the journalists have received a five day journalistic training program and will receive a two day safety and first aid training. After completion of these trainings, the best participant will be chosen for a 2012 U.S.-based reporting fellowship.

This training program will build a cadre of well-trained journalists able to safely conduct journalistic inquiries that uphold universal principles of transparency, good governance and accountability. We seek $35,000 to partially support the U.S.-based Alfred Friendly-Daniel Pearl fellowship.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The 11 male and 3 female participants have been recruited from Bajaur Agency, FATA, Lahore, Landikotal, Peshawar, Quetta, SWAT. The participants work for: Daily Express, Dunya TV, Express News, Express Tribune, GEO TV, Khyber News, The Nation, Nawa.i.waqt, The News, The News International, PACT radio, Radio Pakistan, Samaa TV and Urdutimes.com.

There are three components to the Daniel Pearl-Saleem Shahzad Media Training:

1. Five-day journalistic training that took place from October 9-13 in Karachi. Topics covered include:

·The watchdog role of the press and the responsibilities to neutrality, balance and accuracy

·Interviewing techniques to elicit information, even from hostile sources

·Techniques to gather and present information

·Establishing newsroom protocol for safety of those covering volatile environments

·How to psychologically and physically deal with threats

·Local news gathering

(schedule at http://tinyurl.com/3pgzq3k)

2. Two-day first aid and safety training to take place before December 1. This is a mini hostile environment and first aid training like that offered by many western media organizations to their correspondents prior to sending them into conflict-affected regions

3. Six month reporting fellowship in the United States to take place from mid-March through August, 2012. One journalist will be chosen to participate in the reporting fellowship at a U.S. news organization. Training seminars will be offered at the beginning, middle and end of the fellowship. Additional opportunities include investigative reporting conferences and Computer Assisted Reporting (CAR) courses. Daniel Pearl Fellows will also work one week at a Jewish publication and participate in a public discussion, typically in Los Angeles where the Pearl family resides.

All 14 participants will receive the five day journalistic training and two day safety training. One of the participants will be chosen for a 2012 Daniel Pearl Fellowship in the United States. We are seeking $35,000 to partially support this U.S.-based fellowship.

CONCLUSION

Since 1983, the Alfred Friendly Press Fellowships has trained journalists from countries where press freedom is challenged. Our alumni are well-respected journalists, and advocates for a professional press, in their own countries. Many attribute their success to what they learned on their Alfred Friendly Fellowships. Our 12 Pakistani alumni are Anwar Iqbal, Mohammed Hanif, Qudssia Akhlaque, Fasih Ahmed*, Ammara Durrani*, Aoun Sahi*, Shahzada Irfan Ahmed*, Adnan Adil Zaidi, Masud Alam, Aatekah Mir*, Shahid Shah* and Umar Cheema*.

*Daniel Pearl Fellows

By drawing on our experience in training individual journalists, in recent years we have expanded our work to provide training outside the United States. Our dual approach reaches many more journalists than we otherwise would.

Along with the Daniel Pearl and Pakistan Press Foundations, and with financial support from the U.S. Embassy, through this training, we seek to:

-Stimulate the journalists’ adherence to the highest ethical standards and practices

- Build a cadre of well-trained journalists able to conduct journalistic inquiries that uphold universal principles of transparency, good governance and accountability

- Increase and renew the enthusiasm of journalists for their important work

- Provide the tools, skills and knowledge to remain safe

- Build mutual understanding between the United States and Pakistan

For additional details, contact AFPF Executive Director Susan Albrecht at salbrecht[at]pressfellowships.org or 202-429-3740.