Journey of a 1000 stories

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 4 May 2012

JournalismPakistan.com reflects on its journey from its first post in October 2009 about Samaa TV’s iSAMAA citizen journalism portal. The site reached its 1000th story milestone on September 17 last year, highlighting its role in sharing news, opportunities, jobs and fellowships for journalists.

Summary

ISLAMABAD – When JournalismPakistan.com arrived on the worldwide web on October 24, 2009 our first post was titled ‘iSAMAA…connecting the human story’ (http://journalismpakistan.com/stories/1.html).

The story was about the launch of a Samaa TV’s online citizen journalism portal www.isamaa.tv. “At iSAMAAanyone can become a citizen journalist and report from anywhere,” said the channel’s CEO Amir Jahangir at that time.

From that first story began an eventful journey that saw hundreds of exclusive news and opportunities being posted on JournalismPakistan.com – news which drew a lot of attention.

We reached the 1000th story (http://www.journalismpakistan.com/story/1000.html) landmark on September 17 last year and the post related to American journalists arriving on a study tour of Pakistan as part of an exchange program between the two countries.

"The 1000th post was a huge psychological boost for us. It vindicated all we believed in. Reaching this milestone proved we were on the right path and doing the right thing,” the website’s Founder and Chief Editor Steve Manuel said.

“It is quite satisfying to have come this far,” says Imran Naeem Ahmad, Co-Founder and Managing Editor of JournalismPakistan.com. “I say satisfying because the journalist community has benefitted in some way from what we have been able to do.

“I know of journalists who have found jobs through posts on our website and others who have gone on prestigious foreign fellowships; it is heartening therefore to see our work is proving beneficial.”

KEY POINTS:

• The website launched on October 24, 2009, with its first post about Samaa TV’s iSAMAA portal.
• JournalismPakistan.com published its 1000th story on September 17 last year.
• The 1000th post covered American journalists visiting Pakistan on a study tour under an exchange program.
• Founder and Chief Editor Steve Manuel called the milestone a psychological boost and validation.
• Co-Founder Imran Naeem Ahmad said the site has helped journalists find jobs and secure foreign fellowships.