Peshawar journalism students for Germany

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published June 08, 2012 |  Zeeshan Yousafzai

PESHAWAR: Journalism students of University of Peshawar will be leaving for Germany next month (July 19) to attend an agenda setting workshop.  

The meeting is abouta three-year project organized by the University of Erfurt discussing the topic ‘the changing role of social media in the Muslim countries’.

This meeting will be attended by six students of the Journalism Department although the list of participants from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has not been finalized yet.

Students representing several universities of the Muslim world will be part of the event. A number of cultural events have also been planned. Students from Germany will be visiting Khyber Pakhtun khwa in October.

The project was envisioned in the wake of events that unfolded during the civil unrest in the Arab world. The mass civil protests in countries such as Yemen and Egypt were complemented by heavy use of social media tools.

Ziaullah Khan, Coordinator, German International Assistance, Pakistan told JournalismPakistan.com: “Mass communication curriculum in Pakistan has not been revised although social media has become one of the important factors in public mobilization in the Arab world. The Pakistani participants will discuss the changing role of social media in Muslim countries especially in Pakistan.”

“The social media has entered each home of our country in the shape of cell phones and Internet but awareness on how to use itproperly is lacking,” said Summer Saeed, on of the students shortlisted for the program. She said like other mass media subjects, the social media too should be included as an academic discipline.

Khalida Niaz, who is also likely to make the trip, said the workshop would not only help identify the positive aspects of social media but will also be determining its negative impacts on society. “Social media along with its positive aspects has its dominant negative side too.”

Other students short listed are Omaima Ashfaq, Khadija Kanwal, Izaz Ali Shah and Ikramullah.

During the workshop the students will visit Germany’s culture center Weimar, local theaters and exhibition halls. There will also be group discussions among students of various countries on cultural issues.
 

Freedom of expression shrinks in Pakistan as PECA Amendments take toll: report

 April 30, 2025:  Freedom of expression in Pakistan is under threat, as the 2025 Freedom Network report reveals increased arrests, censorship, and legal restrictions following amendments to PECA, posing serious risks to journalists and democratic values.

Dawn urges Indian media to abandon war rhetoric

 April 30, 2025:  Dawn has criticized the Indian media's calls for war and condemned the banning of 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, urging a rational response after the Pahalgam attack that left 26 dead.

India bans 16 Pakistani YouTube channels following Pahalgan attack

 April 28, 2025:  India has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including major news outlets and individual journalists, following the deadly Pahalgam attack. Tensions escalate as Islamabad demands a neutral probe.

Coordinated or coincidence? Identical tweets by Pakistani journalists raise eyebrows

 April 23, 2025:  Pakistani journalists respond in unison to a post hinting at a possible Indian military strike. Citing the 2019 ‘Swift Retort,’ they warn of a stronger response if provoked again.

Sher Afzal Marwat launches personal attacks on journalists after PTI expulsion

 April 21, 2025:  After being expelled from PTI, MNA Sher Afzal Marwat launches personal attacks on journalists and Aleema Khan, sparking outrage on social media over his offensive remarks.

Journalist Sanaullah Khan alleges FIA blocking accounts of YouTubers and families

 April 21, 2025:  Journalist Sanaullah Khan reveals that the FIA has launched a financial crackdown on YouTubers by freezing the bank accounts of journalists and their family members—raising serious concerns over freedom of expression and legal process.

A launch in style: Dr. Nauman Niaz unveils 'In A Different Realm'

 April 20, 2025:  Dr. Nauman Niaz launched his fifteenth book, In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple and Triple Centuries 1876–2025, at an elegant Islamabad event, reflecting on cricket’s rarest feats and his journey as a scholar of the game.

Sindhi journalist AD Shar brutally murdered, PFUJ declares three-day mourning

 April 11, 2025:  Sindhi journalist AD Shar was brutally murdered in Khairpur, Sindh. His body was found dumped on Handiyari Link Road. PFUJ has declared a three-day mourning period and demanded justice.