A new digital learning platform for Pakistani journalists

by Finn Patraic

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A virtual, interactive and multilingual program DW AKADEMIE offers journalists in Pakistani training in media monetization, in constructive journalism and public commitment.

News in Pakistan these days do not leave rest for the Fasing – or, tired journalists, as the case may be.

There are the trade negotiations underway with the United States, tensions and also a critical water treaty, with India, and the border carried out of Pakistan with Iran. Keeping these stories, as well as local problems, obliges journalists to be warned and fast with research. How can journalists improve their skills in this rapidly evolving news cycle?

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Shehnaz Yousafzai, a Pakhtun journalist working for the Tribal Information Network in Pakistan, wanted to become more effective in work. However, she said: “Access to training and opportunities, especially for women, can be limited here.”

IN Pakistan, learning journalism skills for a long time depends workshops in person and conventional training. Both are often limited in the range, expensive and inaccessible for many journalists in remote regions. And although certain learning materials on platforms like YouTube exist, these lack structure, interaction and responsibility.

In Answer, DW Akademie has developed mediability.coman interactive Online learning platform that teaches reporting and editing skills and is available in several languages used in Pakistan.

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It was, for Yousafzai, a real game changer.

DW AKADEMIE | Meddienfähigkeit von journalen in Pakistan
The new platform for learning the viability of DW Akademie's media has helped Tribal News Network journalist Shehnaz Yousafzai has improved his professional skills. Image: Aiman

“It's an invaluable resource”, “ She said. “These online learning courses have helped me overcome many challenges by equipping me with the tools and strategies to innovate, create sustainable media practices and more effectively engage the public in a digital environment.”

“”The availability of these courses in Ourdou has made them even more accessible and easy to understand, “she continued,” delete linguistic barriers and allow deeper learning “.

Proven value

ACording in Asif Khan, the representative of DW Akademie in Pakistan, the initiative “reproduces the best aspects of the dynamics of the training rooms, while offering courses with an enriched rhythm of multimedia, interactive exercises and performance monitoring characteristics.”

The learners are not only supported by structured modules, but are also recognized for their efforts with certificates and step reports, He added. This stimulates responsibility and motivation.

DW AKADEMIE | Meddienfähigkeit von journalen in Pakistan
Zahid Dawar, a Pakistani journalist and a user of the platform, at the top of the stakeholders of DW Akademie, focused on viability, quality, diversity and safety of the media Image: DW

The initiative reflects a partnership between DW AKADEMIE,, Tribal And Individual below Journalism of the future projectFunded by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development. Together, they created a digital platform that could meet the real needs of journalists and digital media, with subjects ranging from revenue generation, constructive journalism, facts, podcasting and climatic reports to AI in the media and the diversity of press rooms.

DW AKADEMIE | Meddienfähigkeit von journalen in Pakistan
The home page of the platform with course previews Image: Mediability.com/DW AKADEMIE

The platform Quickly proven its value and in just two months following its launch, the courses had been followed 382 times by 60 journalists from 19 media, covering Pakistan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balutchistan, Punjab, Sindh and other tribal regions.

One of the most surprising and gratifying results was the The simultaneous skills were obtained from the course developers themselves. Despite being some of the most respected journalism trainers and educators in Pakistan, many had never designed digital courses before. Thanks to the targeted training and support of DW AKADEMIE, these experts not only learned the basics of online development, but also created their very first online training.

AFIA SalamA main journalist with Individual, has developed a course on climate change for journalists with different levels of competence. She found that even if the denial on the subject is rare, explaining science to readers and viewers can be difficult. To help this, she brought experts to discuss Pakistan's vulnerability to climate change.

“Many journalists simply fail the surface, so my attempt was to provide them as many resources as possible, and specifically in the Ourdou language, where most of journalism occurs today,” she said.

“I tried to connect them to those who could explain science,” Politicians, diplomacy, economy, so while working in their assigned beats, they can put a goal of climate change on stories, “she added.

DW | DW AKADEMIE | Medienting in Pakistan Mit Afia Salam und Iqbal Khattak
AFIA Salam, one of the course creators, and Iqbal Khattak, an expert contributor, at the DW Akademie media summit in April. Image: DW

Save time and money

The platformsaid Khan, stands out because it combines the design of modern online learning with local relevance. The courses are based on the realities of the Pakistani media while using advanced digital tools, including elements of artificial intelligence that improve personalization and interactivity.

Monetization The media, for example, are a huge obstacle to Pakistan, in particular for small community canals, said Shereen Karim, journalist at Womentv.

“Thanks to training, I learned more about how we can win through brands, advertisements, partnerships,” she said. AI's tools, she added, help her and her colleagues report more quickly and save time and money.

“We cannot hire more staff or pay for large wages,” she said. “AI helps us work more with fewer people.”

DW AKADEMIE | Meddienfähigkeit von journalen in Pakistan
For Shereen Karim (photo on the left), learning to rationalize your work can save both money and time. Image: Shareen Kareem

Karim Enjoy particularly that training has been designed for journalists like her, who work in distant regions.

“I work in Gilgit-Baltistan,” she said. “It will always be a challenge to execute small media-The regions reported, we are therefore looking for training that helps us find real solutions to our work. »»

The DW Akademie project mediability.com is supported by the German FederalInistry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

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