Sherry inspires local reporters

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 24 May 2012

About 60 journalists and journalism students in Lahore attended a two-day training led by Dr Sherry Ricchiardi of Indiana University. Organized by the US Consulate General, the workshop covered media ethics, investigative skills and reporting fundamentals.

Summary

LAHORE: Pakistani reporters get but a few opportunities to learn the real skills of their profession from a genuine expert. On Monday, some 60 journalists and journalism students in Lahore were lucky that they had Professor Dr. Sherry Ricchiardi, the celebrated media trainer, journalist and author from Indiana University, demonstrate to them that there is always something left to learn in journalism.

The two-day training course was organized by the US Consulate General and focused on media ethics, investigative skills and fundamentals of journalism. While the first day was reserved for media professionals the second was specifically for students. The US Consulate hosted the training as part of its regular support for strengthening media freedom and journalism capacity building in the Pakistan.

The participants were all praise for Dr. Ricchiardi’s methods and said the training was informative and inspiring. One seasoned journalist remarked: “I came here because I was signed up to. But, now I’m glad I did. There is so much I did not know about investigative journalism and media ethics. Dr.

Ricchiardi was superb.” Another journalist said it was good that the Consulate was taking such initiatives as neither investigative journalism nor ethics came into play much in the media in Pakistan.

“These are important components of the profession and it’s good we are finally recognizing that they are essential for the development of journalism in Pakistan.” Besides ethics, the course also included interviewing skills, evaluating sources, accuracy and balance in reporting as well as investigation methods. The workshops involved case studies, practical exercises, and active participation.

“The biggest problem we have here is that our seniors keep their skills and knowledge to themselves. They are selfish because they are insecure,” said a young reporter, “but then again… perhaps they don’t know much either. What we learned here today was not only helpful but has inspired me to make journalism my fulltime profession.

I was seriously considering quitting the profession, but not now.”

KEY POINTS:

• Two-day journalism training held in Lahore for professionals and students
• Dr Sherry Ricchiardi led sessions on ethics, investigative reporting and core skills
• US Consulate General organized the workshop as part of media capacity-building support
• Training included interviewing, evaluating sources, accuracy, balance and investigation methods
• Participants said the course was practical, informative and motivating