KL NEWS NETWORK

SRINAGAR

A three-day workshop series on “Peace Journalism” was Tuesday inaugurated at the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST).

The workshop series is being organised by the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication (DJMC) and the Centre for International Relations (CIPACS), IUST.

The series includes a two-day workshop for students from different universities and colleges throughout the valley and a one-day workshop for teachers from different universities and colleges.

The event began with tributes to Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and a two-minute silence was observed.

The workshop is being attended by the students of Kashmir University’s Media Education Research Centre (MERC) and Department of Political Science, Department of Convergent Journalism, Central University of Kashmir, Government College for Women, MA Road, Government Degree College, Baramulla and students from CIPACS and DJMC, IUST.

Vice Chancellor of the university, Prog AR Trag was Chief Guest and the Registrar, IUST was the Guest of Honour for the inaugural session of the workshop.

On the occasion, Prof Trag said that media’s role is very crucial in contemporary society as it has huge influences.

He advised the participants of the workshop to work more responsibly to make this society a better place to live.

Prof Trag highlighted the positive role of media in a democracy in keeping the elected governments in check. “For a journalist, the service to his nation comes first. Whatever he reports, he does by keeping the larger interest of his audience in consideration.”

Appreciating the efforts of the organising departments for organising this workshop, Prof Rather (Registrar, IUST) said that media being the fourth pillar of society has an immense responsibility towards the people. “Journalism should seek to create and maintain objectivity in reporting, eliminating as many biases as possible in the process.”

The chief resource person for the workshop, Prof Steven Youngblood, is the Director of the Centre for Global Peace Journalism, Park University, USA).

Talking about his experiences throughout the world in academics and on the field, he expressed concern over the sensationalism in the media and said that sometimes the best thing that journalists can do is not make matters worse.

Welcoming the participants from different institutions of the valley, Head, Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Dr Ruheela Hassan expressed optimism that these workshops will give the participants much needed practical, peace-oriented perspectives from which media can be analysed and produced in conflict situations.

Shazana Andrabi, Head, Centre for International Relations, thanked the participants for their presence and enthusiasm in attending the workshop.

Andrabi also said that we have much to contribute to the field of Peace Journalism and much to learn from it as well. (CNS)

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