For the first time since its founding, the Al Jazeera Media Institute, in collaboration with the International University of Modern Languages, launched “Al Jazeera Week” in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.
Moreover, the event features a series of activities, including three training courses for journalism students and seminars on the future of the journalism profession. This initiative is part of the Media for Development Initiative at the Al Jazeera Media Institute, aimed at empowering journalists and sharing the expertise of the Al Jazeera team to enhance journalistic practices and ethics.
The activities kicked off with simultaneous sessions covering various aspects of journalism:
- A TV Correspondent course led by Osama bin Javaid, Senior Correspondent at Al Jazeera English.
- A Storytelling for Digital Platforms course conducted by Firas Ghani, Senior Producer at Al Jazeera English.
- Art and craft of Feature Writing course conducted by Anam Hussain, Journalist for Al Jazeera Journalism Review at Aljazeera Media Institute.
Montaser Marai, Manager of Media Initiatives at Al Jazeera Media Institute, emphasised the institute’s responsibility to support colleagues in the field by developing their journalistic skills and capabilities. He highlighted the crucial role of universities in preparing a new generation of journalists who are not only capable of practicing the profession but also adept at navigating the challenges of the digital age.
Over 75 students are participating in the training courses, which span five intensive days and include practical applications.
In addition to the training sessions, the Al Jazeera Institute, with the participation of the Minister of Information, launched a special guide to help journalists cover issues related to Islamophobia. Osama bin Jawid, the guide’s author, presented its significance, particularly in light of the growing wave of Islamophobia worldwide, especially after the war on Gaza. The Minister of Information also commented on the importance of the guide.
The event also featured a symposium on managing perceptions and professional ethics, where the Al Jazeera Institute and a group of journalists discussed the bias prevalent in Western media institutions. The symposium addressed how these institutions often distort perceptions of Global South countries, including their coverage of the war on Gaza, thereby violating professional standards and ethics.
