Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

A brave attempt in a desperate situation was performed by HANDS and We Journalists. When the people were dying due to starvation, when the people were surrounded by diseases, when the people did not have any shelter, at that critical moment a ray of hope has spotlighted HANDS and We Journalists in front of those deprived people. Flood has caused immense miseries to the people. The flood victims have lost their belongings and are now at the disposal of the government officials.
In such a situation HANDS and We Journalists with the collaboration of Philanthropists tried to provide some relief to the flood affectees. It was a very good effort and a very good initiative to facilitate the flood victims. Instead of blame game HANDS and We Journalists took on the responsibility and showed others the concept of self reliance. There are millions of people who have been displaced by flood. The government relief camps were incapable of providing relief on a massive scale.
A total of hundred bags were distributed among the starved, ill and naked people. Before distributing the bags a survey was conducted in the areas where people were lying in open air and were destroyed brutally by flood. So a hundred bags for hundred families were distributed by We Journalists and HANDS. It facilitated a total of 600-700 people. The bags comprised of Flour, Oil, Sugar, and Tea, powder Milk, Maize, Pulses, Rice, and Salt, Spices, Frying pan and Mineral water Bottles.
A total of approximately 600-700 people were facilitated and it showed that if there is determination, devotion and dedication then even the biggest and the worst problem gets resolved. A police picket at Bhit Shah was formed to prevent the flood affectees from entering into the boundaries of the great saint. But people were crying and praying for help. There were thousands of people lying their hopeless and helpless in Hattri, Memon Ji Wassi, Bao Dero, Bharoot, Hala New and Hala old. Government’s efficiency can be judged from such actions. The flood affectees claimed that there had been no one who would have visited them and promised them for any kind of relief. They have not eaten anything from many days.
So We Journalists and HANDS approached those flood victims and provided them relief in the form of ration and facilitated 600-700 people. But it is just a small step and it needs further support and contribution by international donors, local donors, social activists and government officials to facilitate their poor brethren in their devastation.

It is to apprise you all that millions of people have been displaced and thousands have been killed due to the worst ever natural catastrophe in the form of a flood. People are homeless and they have left their belongings and are roaming here and there in search of food. It is a pity that they are starving, they are fighting for their survival, and they are crying for help, their children are fighting for food, clothes are torned, shelter have been snatched from them due to this calamity.
In such a worst and desperate situation it is the responsibility of every one, whether in person or in the form of an organization, that he should contribute in ameliorating the deteriorating situation of their poor brethren. We humbly request the international community and international and local donors and social activists to kindly support us in this act of kindness. We hope that you all will also become serious about the issue and will positively think about dragging the people out of severe affliction.
What is needed at this juncture is a kind of relief in the form of medicines, food items and clothing. Because at present the people are ill, starved and naked. We are looking forward to your favorable response as it is based upon philanthropic attitude and humanitarian approach.

HYDERABAD, June 3: A senior US journalist and Director International Media Affairs, Dr.Sherry Ricchiardi and another senior photojournalist Frank Folwell on Thursday have said that accuracy and truth telling are cardinal principles of investigative reporting as journalists are the bridge between people and government. They were delivering lectures to participants of a one-day training workshop on “investigative journalism and media ethics organised by US Consulate, We Journalists and Center for Peace and Civil Society in Sindhi Muslim society here Thursday . Dr. Sherry described investigating journalism as the watchdog of society and it was the most important tool of journalism to protect society against the powerful ones. She referred to six stages that form basis of investigating reporting by journalists and added that while working on any investigating story the media ethics should not be lost sight of. She said that ethics is an every day business for journalists and they could ask their organisation or the editors that these ethics must be followed adding that BBC’s ethics were wonderful to be adopted if journalists don’t have something in black and white. She quoted several websites for studying code of ethics of journalism.

[View with PicLens]

123►

She said that journalists must be cautious when comes to competition of reporting as it was upto journalists how to spin or frame something. About attribution of anonymous sources in stories, she said that at times it could be harmful and in US print media there are very strict guidelines if one has to rely on anonymous sources. She said that in various cases these sources have their own agenda therefore journalists must be careful in confirming anonymous material by a reliable second source and also see whether the story is important enough to justify use of such source. She said that currently in Pakistan water scarcity, deforestation and environment are important subjects for stories to be investigated. She said journalists could be agent of change and reforms of society especially when it comes to investigative reporting. She said that investigating journalism’s checklist has six important points like idea, reality check, go or no go, plain/outline, report and write/rewrite adding that idea for such a story could be a news as well. She pointed out that professional journalists should keep in mind that who is going to win or lose in the story and who is the victim because reporters have to support the victims and common man who suffer in various cases. She said that when journalists commit a mistake it is always a reflection on them. She agreed with a participant that national interest often could be in conflict with an investigating reporting but as far as US is concerned the government couldn’t ask journalists to do or don’t do this. She added that if the government does it then the papers would be writing that they were being influenced. She shared some ideas for stories as well. For instance, she said, if child is a big problem in community, find a child 5 to 10 years old and show the public how he/she lives. Use this child or group of children to link to the larger issue, she added. Frank Folwell, treasurer national Press Photographers Association said that photojournalists have the same responsibility as a journalist has. He observed that emerging electronic technologies provide new challenges to the integrity of photographic images. He said that they have to be careful in their job. He particularly spoke of a tool of photojournalism – photo shop – as it could land them in trouble if this software is misused. He added that pictures always reflect the subject of story in right perspective. He suggested that photojournalists should be accurate and comprehensive in representation of subjects, resist being manipulated by staged photo opportunity and they should treat all subjects with respect and dignity.

Courtesy: daily dawn

Speakers at a dialogue said that even though the PPP had disappointed people, if it was removed through unconstitutional and undemocratic means, the people and Sindh would not accept it. They also said that Asif Ali Zardari was being targeted for being a Sindhi. -
HYDERABAD: Intellectuals, writers and civil society leaders have said that the present government has come into power due to the supreme sacrifice of Benazir Bhutto and only the people have the right to remove the democratically- elected government. They warned that if the current government was removed through pen or unconstitutional means before it completed its tenure, it would be considered as an insult to the mandate of the masses. They said such an unconstitutional and undemocratic action of the undemocratic forces would push Sindh on the path of Bangladesh.

They were speaking at a dialogue organised by the Women Action Forum and “We Journalists” at the press club here on Wednesday.

The topic of the dialogue was “NRO and its effects on the Sindh Politics”. A large number of intellectuals, writers and women attended the dialogue.

Speaking on the occasion, convenor of Sindh Dost Rabita Council, Barrister Zamir Ghumro, said that only the people had the right to change the government. He said central Punjab had always remained in power and usurped all the resources of the country and added that this leadership considered itself insecure in a democratic set-up and was creating hurdles in the democratic process.

If the president was removed at gunpoint or through media trials, this would be considered as an attack on the mandate of the Sindhi people, he said.

Women Action Forum leader Ms Amar Sindhu said that undemocratic forces had ruled the country for the last 60 years and added that these forces loathed a democratic system. She said that the present assemblies in the country came into being due to the supreme sacrifice of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.

She warned that if any attempt was made to remove the present government through undemocratic means, the people of Sindh would not accept such a change. No unelected organisation has a right to remove the democratically -elected government, she said.

The chairman of “We Journalists”, Mr Jafar Memon said that it was an insult to the peoples’ mandate to raise a hue and cry against the elected government by taking refuge behind the NRO. The very survival of Sindh is at stake, he said and added that Asif Ali Zardari was being targeted for being a Sindhi.

Jami Chandio said that when Pervez Musharraf was placed in a tight corner, he tried to protect himself by promulgating NRO. He said if only political cases were withdrawn under the NRO, the situation would have been quite different.

He, however, said that the withdrawal of cases against the murderers of innocent people was a great injustice. No doubt the PPP has disappointed the people, nevertheless if it was removed through unconstitutional and undemocratic means, the people and Sindh would not accept it, he added.

The others who spoke on the occasion included press club president Mahesh Kumar, Javed Kazi, Ms Irfana Mallah, Punhal Sario, Comrade Hussain Bux Thebo and Zafar Rajput advocate.

Zafar Rajput said that a dictator had withdrawn murder and corruption cases just with one stroke of pen. He said it was time for the PPP ministers who were hit by NRO to give sacrifice.

The speakers were of the unanimous opinion that people would not accept removal of the present government through undemocratic and unconstitutional measures. They, however, urged the government to pay attention to the basic problems of the masses.

Friday, 29 Jan, 2010

Indian journalist Arfa Khanum, visits the Karachi press club and meets with journalists of Karachi and Hyderabad.the welcome reception was managed jointly by Karachi Press Club and We Journalists, organization.

Link to Gallery