JournalismPakistan.com
December 25, 2021

ISLAMABAD - The first anniversary of the Digital Media Alliance of Pakistan (DigiMAP) was celebrated Friday with the Diversity and Pluralism in Media Awards to journalists of DigiMAP who had reported on religious minorities.

DigiMAP is an alliance of 11 independent digital media organizations established in November. DigiMAP supports and practices independent online public interest journalism and digital media in Pakistan and strives to represent the rights and interests of all the socio-political and economically marginalized communities ignored by the mainstream media.

Diversity and Pluralism in Media Award 2021 were given to three journalists whose stories on religious minorities were published by DigiMAP member organizations. The awards were decided by a committee of senior journalists based on a rigorous evaluation criterion coordinated by the Institute for Research Advocacy and Development (IRADA).
Lal Chand Malhi, Parliamentary Secretary on Human Rights, was the event's chief guest. He appreciated the reporting carried out by DigiMAP member organizations on religious minorities. "I also have a journalism background, and I understand the importance of digital media in ensuring accurate and humane reporting about religious minorities in Pakistan."

Sabookh Syed, the Chairman of DigiMAP, shed light on the importance of independent digital media. "Today is an important milestone in the journey of our nascent alliance, and it will shape up a new framework for media in Pakistan."

He said that applications are open for DigiMAP membership.

Fatima Razzaq from Sujag won the first position, Asma Ghani from The Reporters got the second position, and Syra Rashid representing IBC Urdu got the third position in the Diversity and Pluralism in Media Awards 2021.

Lal Chand Malhi awarded shields, certificates, and prize money to all three award winners.

Adnan Rehmat, country representative of International Media Support (IMS), Aftab Alam, Executive Director of IRADA, Haroon Rashed, the editor of Independent Urdu, and Shazia Mehboob, finance secretary of DigiMAP, also addressed the gathering.

Adnan Aamir, the general secretary of DigiMAP hosted the program. The event ended with a cake-cutting ceremony.