By Asif Mahmood Awan
Abbottabad: A consultative meeting was held under the Save Media Project of the Welfare Association of Journalists (WAJ), Abbottabad, to discuss obstacles faced by journalists in accessing information, challenges during reporting, and coordination between the government and the media.
Particpants Highlight Reporting and Safety Challenges
The meeting was chaired by Chairperson FAFN and Executive Director of WAJ, Mukhtar Javed, while Project Coordinators Shahzad Osama Ahmed Ghazali and Omar Javed presented a briefing on the project’s objectives. Journalists raised concerns over life-threatening conditions during reporting and difficulties in obtaining timely information from government departments.
Delays in Information Linked to Spread of Misinformation
Participants pointed out that delays in official information often lead to the spread of false or unverified reports. They presented practical recommendations to improve information flow, following which it was decided that training workshops would be organized to strengthen professional capacity under the Save Media Project.
RTI Act Awareness and Role of Government Institutions
Speaking on the occasion, Mukhtar Javed highlighted the importance of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, stressing the responsibility of public relations officers in district institutions to provide accurate and timely information to media persons and citizens.
Written Proposals and Future Capacity-Building Initiatives
Journalists jointly prepared a written document outlining key problems and proposed solutions, which was presented during the session. FAFN officials also announced upcoming workshops, webinars, and seminars for journalists and public relations officers, and discussed proposals to keep the district administration’s website regularly updated for public access to information.
Demand for Journalists Protection Act in KP
Participants called for the introduction of a Journalists Protection Act in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to safeguard media professionals and stressed the need for immediate access to information through effective implementation of the RTI Act.
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