JournalismPakistan.com
December 20, 2017

KARACHI: The Centre for Excellence in Journalism at the Institute of Business Administration (CEJ-IBA), Karachi and Center for Communication Programs Pakistan (CCPP) in partnership with Palladium Pakistan organized the Awards for Excellence in Journalism “Lab Azad” Wednesday.

Twelve journalists received the awards in rights based reporting for news stories published between July 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017 at a ceremony at CEJ.

 The winners in each of the four categories are as follows:

Mainstream broadcast (TV/Radio)

• Health rights with focus on access to services: Amina Shaheen, Geo TV
• Population growth and realization of human rights: Shayan Saleem, Samaa
• Women rights with focus on reproductive health and family planning: Shumaila Jaffery, BBC

Mainstream print/online- English

• Health rights with focus on access to services: Yousaf Ajab Baloch, Balochistan Point
• Population growth and realization of human rights: Bilal Karim Mughal & Saher Baloch, Dawn.com (Saher Baloch now works for BBC)
• Women rights with focus on reproductive health and family planning: Atika Rehman, Fahad Naveed & Munnazzah Raza , Dawn.com

Mainstream print/online - Urdu

• Health rights with focus on access to services: Muhammad Atif Sheikh, Freelance
• Population growth and realization of human rights: Syed Sajjad Kazmi, Daily Dunya
• Women rights with focus on reproductive health and family planning: Fariha Fatima, ARY News

District Correspondents

• Health rights with focus on access to services: Nisar Ahmad Khan, DawnNews
• Population growth and realization of human rights: Islam Gul Afridi, Daily Akhbar e Khyber
• Women rights with focus on reproductive health and family planning: Amjad Ali, Daily Islah

Speaking on the occasion, CEJ Director Kamal Siddiqi said: “I am happy that we continue this partnership with CCPP and Palladium Pakistan as it helps recognize rights based reporting.”

He added that the CEJ would start its Masters in Journalism program next year so they would try and introduce rights-based reporting in the syllabus.

The panel of judges included Rahimullah Yusufzai, Resident Editor of The News Peshawar, Afiya Zia, scholar and contributor to Dawn, Farah Zia, Editor The News on Sunday and Hafiz Tariq Mehmood, Director News at News One TV.

 On awarding journalists for rights based reporting, Rahimullah Yusufzai said these awards will encourage journalists to write on socio-economic issues that have a direct impact on the lives of people.

Commenting on the importance of such initiatives, chief guest Javed Jabbar said the CEJ-CCPP awards will help inspire journalists to new heights. He added that the CEJ maintains a commitment to qualitative human resource development in journalism.

Award winner Shumaila Jaffery said she was deeply humbled and honored. “I am sure that these awards will motivate journalists to focus more on human rights, health issues and women development. These topics are under reported and considered less important.”

Yousaf Ajab Baloch, who won an award in the category of mainstream print/online said: “It is a success for all journalists in Balochistan who have been striving to ensure truth and accuracy and become a voice of the voiceless through digital journalism.”   

Sharing the idea behind having awards for a specific category, CCPP Director Atif Ikram said through these awards, their aim is to promote and recognize beat reporting, especially the so-called softer subjects in Pakistan. “We want this award to be independent, impartial and owned by the journalist community at large.”

One of the award categories of women rights with focus on reproductive health and family planning was sponsored by Sukh Initiative.

Other dignitaries present on the occasion included Arshad Saeed Husain, CEO Aman Health Care Services; Dr. Fayaz Ahmed, Team leader EVA-BHN (Palladium Pakistan); and Dr. Farrukh Iqbal, Dean and Director IBA; and Azhar Abbas MD Geo News. - CEJ press release