Reporting and Writing

Covering Financial Inclusion

2018-10-04T12:07:00.000+05:00

Covering Financial Inclusion

In continuation to its efforts of imparting practical knowledge of economy and finance to journalists, State Bank of Pakistan is conducting a series of six workshops for economic journalists in 2018. These workshops are contributing towards developing understanding of fundamental economic ideas of journalists and enable them to produce stories of a global standard. So far, three workshops have been held on different topics.

Now the fourth workshop "Covering Financial Inclusion" will be held on October 16, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at IBA, Aman Tower, City Campus, Garden East, Karachi. News organizations may nominate a member of staff to attend.

Reporters and sub-editors may also apply themselves. Reporters across all media—print, electronic and online—are welcome to apply online. Freelancers, bloggers, media students and new entrants to journalism can also apply. These workshops are free to attend. If journalists from cities other than Karachi wish to attend, they may so but will need to bear their own travel & lodging costs.

To find out more about the Workshop Series 2018, please visit http://www.sbp.org.pk/Media/journlist.asp or click at http://dsqx.sbp.org.pk/MediaEvents/ to apply on-line:

Competition to award print and electronic travel journalism

2010-09-15T06:54:00.005+05:00

Competition to award print and electronic travel journalism
Posted on: 09/09/2010
Fellowships and Awards
Deadline: 31/10/2010
Region: Worldwide
Travel journalists from around the world are invited to submit their work to an awards program sponsored by the North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA). Submissions are accepted until October 31.

Writers, editors, agencies and publishers can enter work published or broadcast between October 1, 2009 and September 30, 2010. From almost fifty competition categories, five overall grand prize winners will be chosen. Grand prizes include trips to Alaska, Baja, the Grand Canyon or Greenland. Winners will be announced January 15.

For more information, click here. (Source: IJNet)

IREX Small Grant Fund for Africa and Asia

2008-12-18T16:49:00.002+05:00

International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX) will provide a select number of grants of up to US$10,000 to local private, nongovernmental institutions in Africa and Asia. Proposed project must focus on promoting professionalism and independence in media in one of the following ways:
§ Journalism training, to include basic reporting skills, environmental reporting, business and economics reporting, investigative reporting, and other specialized reporting skills.
§ Media advocacy, to include education on the value of professional media, development of media legislation, community outreach, and training in issues related to free media.
§ Institutional development of media and media-related institutions, to include support for equipment and operational costs
Eligibility
§ Must be a private nongovernmental organization based solely in Africa or Asia
The Small Grant Program will not fund:
§ grants to individuals
§ grants for university study, graduate study or research
§ grants to attend conferences, trainings or workshops
Application procedure
In lieu of a formal application or proposal, IREX requests that interested organizations submit a brief letter of inquiry, of no more than two pages, to help determine whether the proposed project would address IREX’s present interests.
The letter should include:
§ A description of the project proposed
§ The purpose of the project for which funds are being requested
§ Problems and issues the proposed project will address
§ Information about the organization conducting the project
§ Estimated total project cost and a list of major expenses (not to exceed US$10,000)
§ Period of time for which funds are requested
Inquiry letters will be reviewed on a rolling basis and if they meet IREX’s current interests, the grant seeker will be asked to submit a formal proposal.
Inquiry letters can be sent by mail, fax or email.
IREX
Small Grants Fund-Media
2121 K Street, NW
Suite 700
Washington, DC 20037
Fax: 202-628-8189
Email: irex@irex.org

SAJA: Fourth Annual Reporting Fellowships

2008-12-17T19:02:00.010+05:00

South Asian Journalists Association (SAJA) has extended date for its fellowships. The fellowships are open to proposals on any in-depth topics covering South Asia or the South Asian Diaspora - upto $20,000 available to support quality reporting. You DON'T have to be South Asian to participate.

SAJA Reporting Fellowships deadline is now Jan. 10, 2009
[ SAJA | FOURTH ANNUAL REPORTING FELLOWSHIPS]

The SAJA Reporting Fellowships program is aimed at promoting a rare element in 24/7-news-cycle journalism -- in-depth and follow-up reporting on major events relating to South Asia or South Asians, long after the breaking-news crews have moved on.

Questions to Laura Griffin, SAJA Administrative Director: sajamember@gmail.com

As part of their mission to encourage in-depth coverage of South Asia and the South Asian Diaspora, SAJA & SAJA Group Inc. are pleased to announce a call for submissions for its fourth Annual SAJA Reporting Fellowships (SRF). Open to freelancers and staff journalists in any medium, the fellowships are meant to encourage in-depth reporting projects by providing grants to cover a portion of reporting expenses.

A total of up to $20,000 may be given out annually, divided among projects or a single project at SAJA's discretion. Each fellowship award is typically between $3,000-$7,000.

These Fellowships, launched in 2005 to ensure follow-up reportage about the 2004 tsunami and its victims, were initially funded by SAJA members, corporate donors and friends of SAJA. For the last three years, SRF received a major financial boost thanks to the support of the Mahadeva Family Foundation, which will make an annual contribution of $20,000.

"The support of Kumar Mahadeva and Simi Ahuja, who have been part of the SAJA community for more than a decade, is critical to SAJA's core mission of improving the coverage of South Asia through the SAJA Reporting Fellowships and similar programs," said Sandeep Junnarkar, the group's president and a professor at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. "This is going to have a major impact on the kind of stories that the Fellows do and how Americans learn about what's going on in South Asia today."

In 2009, the fellowship is open to proposals on any in-depth topics covering South Asia or the South Asian Diaspora.

For requirements of the fellowship click here

QUESTIONS/FEEDBACK/SUGGESTIONS: saja@columbia.edu

Journalists invited to write on Islam and other religions

2008-07-23T12:12:00.004+06:00

Deadline for applications: September 1.

The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) in Washington, D.C. invites print and TV journalists from the United States or from majority Muslim countries to propose reporting projects on issues of importance to audiences in both places.

Applicants whose projects are selected will be paired with a reporting partner from another country and will receive funding through ICFJ.

Each of the four pairs of journalists selected will attend the “Faith in Media: Improving Coverage of Islam and Other Religions” conference, to be held December 14 to 16 in Istanbul, Turkey. Projects will be discussed and refined at the conference.

Pairs will have several months to conduct reporting together and will be encouraged to collaborate on the writing of the stories, but they are not required to publish or broadcast identical stories. The conference and the reporting projects are sponsored by Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Reporting projects that explore issues in Islam and other religions are encouraged, but other topics will also be considered. Ability to work in English is required. All expenses for the conference and the joint reporting projects will be covered, but ICFJ cannot pay participants’ salaries.

For more information and to apply, click here.

The Reuters – IUCN Media Awards

2008-05-14T20:39:00.003+05:00

Application deadline June 15, 2008

The Reuters – IUCN Media Awards is a worldwide competition in environmental journalism to recognise excellence in professional reporting on environmental and sustainable development issues; and foster a dialogue between journalists and experts to encourage informative reporting based on sound scientific data.

The Awards are open to journalists in print and online news services throughout the world. Journalists are invited to submit entries related to environment and sustainable development.

The global winner, selected from six regional winners, receives a cash prize of US$5,000. The six regional winners receive a trophy and a travel grant to attend the global awards ceremony in October 2008.

For more information and entry form click
here.

Reuters' workshop on writing international news

2008-05-13T15:49:00.003+05:00

The Reuters Foundation is offering a course on international news writing for journalists from the developing world in London from August 11 to 22. Last day to apply: June 27.
The course will focus on the writing of international news, as practiced by Reuters and other global news organizations. Through practice exercises, emphasis will be placed on improving basic reporting skills including accuracy, impartiality, speed, clarity and structure.

Scholarships are available for journalists from the developing world with limited recourses. Partial scholarships are also offered to journalists who can afford to pay for their costs through their organizations. Regular tuition fees are UK£2000 (US$3,905) for travel and accommodations for 10 days.
Those interested should have fluency in English and have worked for print or other media organizations for at least two years. Interested persons must submit a 250-word essay outlining their career, two recent examples of their work in English, and a statement of 250-500 words describing why this workshop would benefit them.
For more information click here

Global Shining Light Award

2008-05-09T08:39:00.002+05:00

Nominees for the second Global Shining Light Award are now asked to send in
their projects to the jury, by June 15th.

The prize is at USD 1000 and a free trip and stay at the fifth Global
Investigative Journalism Conference in Lillehammer, Norway in September.

CRITERIA

The journalist, journalism team and/or media outlet provided independent,
investigative reporting, which was broadcast or published between January 1,
2007 and December 31, 2007, and which:

• Originated in and affected a developing or emerging country
• Was of an investigative nature
• Uncovered an issue, a wrong-doing and/or a system of corruption which
gravely
affected the common good, and
• Did so in the face of arrest, imprisonment, violence against them and
their
families, and/or threats and intimidation

NOMINATIONS:

Nominations for this award may be made by independent Investigative
journalism
organizations, associations of journalists, independent media outlets, or a
fellow
investigative journalist.

SUBMISSIONS SHOULD INCLUDE:

• A nomination letter listing the journalist's name (or names of team
members), and
name of his/her media organization with address, telephone number, fax and
email.
• The letter should provide a brief summary of the entry topic, explaining
the
importance of the story, the challenges faced in reporting it, and the
impact it made upon its broadcast or publication.
• One English-translated copy of the published entry or one copy of the
broadcast material with an English-translated copy of the script

Entries must be received no later than June 15th 2008. Entries (articles,
tv/radio) can also be sent on CD-ROM/DVD.

Entries should be sent to: Bibiana Dahle Piene, c/o The Norwegian Journalism
Union,
P.O. Box 8793 Youngstorget, 0028 OSLO, NORWAY.

THE AWARD

The winning entrant will be notified by the first week of August 2008.
Airfare, hotel, per diems and conference registration for the journalist or
one member of the team, is
included in the award.

The presentation of the $1000.00 award and a plaque will be made at the
Saturday
banquet of the Global Investigative Journalism Conference.

For more information click here

USC Annenberg/Getty Arts Journalism Program

2008-05-08T13:05:00.003+05:00

Application Deadline: June 16, 2008

The USC Annenberg School for Communication and The Getty Foundation have announced the 7th annual USC Annenberg/Getty Arts Journalism Fellowship. Formerly held during the spring, the program for 2008 will be offered in the fall (November 1 to 22), in order to coincide with USC`s academic year and take advantage of the resources available through the University, including its new Master`s Program in arts journalism.

Six to seven arts journalists who bring distinction to the field will be chosen from the applicant pool. This is an international program for mid-career arts editors, critics and reporters from print, radio, television and online who cover the performing and visual arts, architecture, literature, entertainment and pop culture. They can be generalists or specialists. Staff writers, editors and freelancers and self-employed Web journalists alike are welcome to apply.

Based in Los Angeles, the fellowship is a total immersion experience that includes attending as many as 23 performances, art exhibitions and architectural sites. Participants will visit private studios, rehearsal rooms, architectural firms and art schools providing many behind-the-scene opportunities to meet renowned artists, arts administrators and accomplished journalists face-to-face.

IMPORTANT DETAILS

Institute dates: November 1-22, 2008

How to apply: Email an application request to uscgetty@usc.edu. Include your name, media affiliation(s), number of years you have been practicing arts journalism and your contact information. In addition, please note if you have applied in the past and for what year.

Notification of Acceptance: August 8, 2008

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Cost: The program covers most expenses, including: roundtrip travel to and from Los Angeles, hotel, most meals, reading materials, Internet access in your hotel room and transportation within Los Angeles.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK HERE

Applications invited for AFPF and Daniel Pearl Fellowships 2009

2008-05-06T19:07:00.004+05:00

Alfred Friendly Press Fellowships and Daniel Pearl Foundation has just invited applications for 2009 fellows.

Applications would be accepted till August 1, 2008 from print and online journalists for the 2009 Alfred Friendly and Daniel Pearl Fellowships. Successful candidates will report for American newspapers from March-August 2009. Since 1984, AFPF has provided on-the-job training to 258 journalists from 78 developing countries. In the United States Fellow learn practices, standards and values of U.S. journalism which they can adapt, share and apply in their own countries.

Applicants for the fellowships must meet the following minimum criteria of eligibility:

-Current full-time employment as a journalist for the news or editorial departments of independent newspapers, wire services, online publications, or magazines of general public interest in a developing country;

- At least three years of full-time professional experience as a journalist in the print/online media;

- Citizenship of a developing country;

- Early to mid-career status and between 25 and 35 years old;

- A demonstrated personal commitment to a career in journalism in a developing country;

- Ability and desire to share what is learned on the fellowship with other journalists at home;

- Endorsement from the management of the home publication;

- An excellent command of both written and spoken English as all activities are conducted in English.

Click here for more infomation and application form.

Remembering Daniel Pearl on World Press Freedom Day

2008-05-03T11:03:00.005+05:00

Remember those who lost their lives in the way for their job to provide truth to readers. Remember Daniel Pearl today, who was assassinated while performing his duty in Pakistan. Pay tributes to him and remind him that we stand by him. We stand by truth.
Hundreds of journalists are killed every year. We curse dictators for targeting journalists, but we pay salute to our colleagues, our friends who are not among us at this time but will remembered forever. You can find statistics and background of journalists killed around the world from 1992 to April 4 2008 here.
Today is May 3, World Press Freedom Day, so remember all the journalists who are attacked. They were the people, who showed reality to the readers.
China is going to have Olympic games, but journalists are not free to cover it. We want freedom unlimited! We will not stay in boundaries. Read about China's curbs on press here.
World Press Freedom Day is celebrated every year on 3 May worldwide. It is an opportunity to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom; to evaluate press freedom, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Read about history of press freedom day here.

Lorenzo Natali Prize for journalism

2008-05-01T22:42:00.004+05:00

Application Deadline: June 30

Journalists who have covered democracy, human rights and/or development can enter the Lorenzo Natali Prize for journalism, in honor of the now deceased former vice-president of the European Commission in charge of cooperation and development policies.

Print, online, radio and TV journalists are invited to submit an application, including one journalistic work or an extract of a series of journalistic works that has been printed or aired between January 1, 2007 and June 30, 2008.

In 2007, more than 1529 journalists from 165 countries participated. Fifteen award winners were selected by an independent jury, made up of NGO representatives, leading journalists, and news agency representatives.

In the words of Louis Michel, Commissiorner for development and humanitarian aid, "The Natali Prize was created in 1992 by the European Union so as to promote quality journalism and to remind the memory of the dedication of Lorenzo Natali, former vice-president of the European Commission in charge of cooperation for the development between 1985 and 1989. His work and personal commitment very much contributed to increase the importance of the cooperation policy for the development in the European Communities of that time."

For further details and submission of the application click here.

Jafferson Fellowship for Asian journalists

2008-04-30T11:50:00.004+05:00

Application deadline June 4

Jafferson Fellowships program are providing a chance to the Asian journalists to cover 2008 elections.
This special Jefferson Fellowships program will provide journalists from Asia, the Pacific and the U.S. with an opportunity to explore the important issues in this 2008 election, learn about the U.S. political process, observe this historic election and finally, discuss the outcome with U.S. analysts and one another. The Fellows in this program will benefit from the rich opportunity to share among themselves the perspectives of journalists from across the region and the concerns of their governments and people.
After one week of discussion sessions with regional experts and one another at the East-West Center in Honolulu, participants will travel to various areas of the United States to discuss election issues and attitudes with policymakers, business leaders, community activists, and most importantly, voters from a range of important constituencies such as recent immigrants, retirees, blue collar workers, factory owners, religious groups, African American communities, young people and women. In Phoenix, Arizona, John McCain’s home state, Fellows will explore the complexities of health care and immigration. In Erie, Pennsylvania and Cleveland, Ohio, cities in America’s “rust-belt,” an area hard hit by globalization, the program will focus on attitudes toward the economy, trade, social values, and America’s future. Fellows will observe the election in Ohio, the state that determined the 2004 contest in favor of George Bush and which is predicted to serve as a bellwether again this year. They will then travel to Washington, DC for a discussion with analysts, policymakers, journalists and others on what the results mean for the United States and its relations with Asia, the Pacific and the rest of the world.
For more information and application click here.

The Bastiat Prize for Journalism 2008

2008-04-26T17:39:00.003+05:00

Deadline Date June 30, 2008

The Bastiat Prize, named behind the 18th-century French philosopher and journalist Frederic Bastiat has been announced. This prize was developed to encourage and reward writers whose published works promote the "institutions of a free society": limited government, rule of law brokered by an independent judiciary,
protection of private property, free markets, free speech, and sound
science. The prize (a total of US$10,000) will be awarded to one or
more authors. The Prize is open to all writers, anywhere in the world;
writers need not be associated with any specific publication.

Entries, which should take the form of one or more published articles,
are judged according to their intellectual content, the persuasiveness
of the language, and the type of publication in which they appeared.
Articles must be in English and should not exceed 4,500 words,
published between July 1 2007 and June 30 2008, in recognised news
publications. Finalists will be invited to a ceremony in New York, NY,
United States, in October 2008, where winners will be announced.

The deadline for application is June 30 2008.

Application Information
Click here for more information and the rules of submission.

Entries can be submitted through the online entry form or by email,
fax, or post using the contact information below. Submissions by fax,
post, or email must include a Bastiat Prize Submission Form, available
through the link above.

KUJ protests against manhandling of newsmen

2008-03-13T19:02:00.002+05:00

Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) has protested against manhandling of photographers and senior journalists when they tried to cover a protest demonstration of Muhajir Qaumi Movement(Haqeeqi) outside the Karachi Press Club, which was attacked by supporters of Muttahid Qaumi Movement (Altaf).
KUJ in an emergency meeting on Thursday afternoon clearly pointed out towards MQM (A) men for snatching cameras from photographers and beating them up.
Veteran journalist Abdul Hameed Chhapra, Ahfaz ul Rahman, Khursheed Tanveer and others called on those who barred newsmen from their duty that journalist would continue giving voice to the voiceless, which was their duty.
They said when MQM(A) had cried in the past of the state atrocities against them, journalists had given them due coverage but when they enjoyed fruits of the government they had become part of the establishment, they were playing in the hands of the agencies and were trying to stop any voice against them.
On Wednesday afternoon, MQM (H) women were protesting for the independence of judiciary, when a group of MQM (A) supporters carrying weapons attacked the rally.
Usually, police men are found outside the KPC most of the times, but they did not came farward to protect the victims.
The incident laid to the murder of one worker of MQM (H).
However, the KUJ leaders said journalists did not belong to any political party, and the KPC was a place where voiceless people, most of the times, came to record their voice and it was their (journalists) duty to give them coverage.
They said they would not be undermined through pressure tactics.

KUJ denounce PEMRA

2008-02-18T19:41:00.001+05:00

Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) in a meeting on sunday evening here at the karachi press club denounced Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority saying it was unconstitutional. Khursheed Tanveer, president and khursheed Abbasi, secretary general of the journalist union and other activists addressed the hurriedly called gathering. It was called after Pemra's decision which bans live coverage of the general elections in pakistan to be held tomorrow monday february 18. Earlier elections were announced on jan 8 but the loot and plundering that followed murder of Benazir Bhutto, the most popular leader in the country, laid to the postponement of the elections. Pakistan's media is going through curbs and barring it from the live coverage would be an addition to it . Besides it will pave way for those who plan for rigging.

Shahbaz Sharif

2008-01-30T17:52:00.003+05:00

Leader of Pakistan Muslim League and former chief minister of the punjab MIAN SHAHBAZ SHARIF addressed meet the press club at karachi press club on wednesday evening. He said those societies where there is no justice would not sustain for longer. He said current judges have taken oath of loyalty with Pervez Musharraf. They can not provide justice to the people. Talking no controversial dam 'kalabagh' he said it could be beneficial but if it was constructed without consensus of the four provinces it would shack up roots of this country.

Love

2008-01-29T11:36:00.001+05:00

One of my friends sent me this photo a few days back. Pictures speak sometimes so does this one. It shows two things at the same time. One is love and the other is jealousy. Even at this age all natural expressions can be seen. Just wanted to share it with you too.

Purpose of sharing this picture with you is just to come out of the hibernation, I went into last month after murder of Benazir Bhutto.

After assassination of the most popular leader of Pakistan, I had gone nearly into coma, as no hope was left in the future.

When I received this photo, this reminded me that there is still hope, as children are future of the country, as they have true expressions. But, the terrorists in my country do not want children live happy.

Benazir Bhutto killed in Pakistan

2007-12-27T19:51:00.000+05:00

Benazir Bhutto is killed in Liaqat bagh Rawalpindi. Pakistan's almost all cellular phones are down. roads are jammed in Karachi and elsewhere in the country. several vehicles have been set on fire. the country is mourning the death of twice elected prime minister of Pakistan and the most popular leader of this country.
She's the second prime minister of Pakistan shot dead at Liaqat Bagh near head quarters of Pakistan's millitary in Rawalpindi. Pakistan's first prime minister Liaqat Ali Khan was also shot dead in the same park.
According to reports there was a bomb blast in the bagh where PPP Chairperson addressed a large gathering during the election campaign, where a sudden blast left around 30 people dead at least 20 at the stop, then a bullet crossed neck of Ms Bhutto leaving her critically injured. She was rushed to the Rawalpindi general hospital, but could not sustain to the injuries.
i wish i can write more, but my fingers as well as my all other nerves are in panic and i'm feeling completely stressed. will try to update you.

45 more journalists arrested in Pakistan

2007-11-21T17:44:00.000+05:00

Karachi police released the all journalists they arrested yesterday 20 November during a peaceful protest outside the Karachi Press Club, however, around 45 more journalists have been arrested in Pakistan.
Today, when journalists of Quetta, Faisalabad, Peshawar and other cities of the country took out processions in solidarity with the journalists of Karachi, the police unleashed their sticks on them. Journalists in Peshawar and Faisalabad were severely beaten up. Police made around 20 arrests in Peshawar and 25 in Quetta.
In Karachi, more than 500 journalists gathered inside the Karachi Press Club and condemned police action of Tuesday. They vowed to continue their struggle till withdrawal of PEMRA (Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority) Ordinance and revival of constitution.
On the other hand, the government allowed ARY Oneworld on the cable network in the country, whereas, Geo News and all other three TV channels of three group remained off air.

More than 150 journalists arrested in Karachi

2007-11-20T18:01:00.000+05:00

Karachi police has baton charged over peaceful journalists and has arrested more than 150 of them including around 10 women infront of Karachi Press Club on Tuesday afternoon.
The journalists of the city gathered in and around the Press Club at around 3.00 p.m. to finalize their strategy against the millitary government's censorship policies and ban over transmission of country's most popular channel Geo News and ARY One World.
The police baton charged the peaceful journalists when they voiced their slogans for their right of expression. Aajiz Jamali of ARY One World, Najeeb of Daily Jang, Khursheed Abbasi of Urdu Eveninger 'Awam', Sabihuddin Ghausi, President Karachi Press Club were severly beaten up and were arrested.
Kamal Siddiqi, Editor Reporting The News, Owais Tauheed, Geo English, Idris Bakhtiar of BBC are among arrested journalists.
Later, in a meeting leaders of the press club and the Union decided to continue their struggle till revival of all constitutional rights of the citizens.

50 more Places to Shop for Stories

2007-10-03T22:05:00.000+05:00

During winter last year when I discussed with one of my former colleagues that I was planning to start a website to share my experience with other reporters, she said I should not exchange my tips with anybody. But, I wanted to share my experience, as I believe knowledge is the only treasure that multiplies when shared.

Its true.

Last time, when I requested Gregg Mclachlan for permission to reproduce list of his "50 places to shop for story ideas," he not only allowed me but liked by idea and gave me access to more of his resources at News College. Had I not tried to share my experience with you and not sought the permission, I would have not been able to find "50 more places to shop for stories".

I hope you'll love this list too. But, again credit again goes to Gregg McLachlan for compiling this list and allowing me to share it with you.

1. Court news: Look at what sentences criminals are receiving. Look for sentencing trends. Maybe, criminals are being ordered to donate to food banks, humane societies or shelters for abused persons. In one case, an illegally killed moose was ordered to be donated to a food bank. Also look at crimes being committed, especially the unusual ones. How does someone shoplift a TV? What are the most common items being shoplifted?

2. eBay: What's selling on eBay that has a connection to your local community? Maybe it's a historic postcard. Or pottery. Or antiques made by some long forgotten factory. Search eBay by using your city/town name. There are treasures waiting to be discovered.

3. YouTube: Just like eBay (see #2), search YouTube. Who's posting what from your community?

4. The Yellow Pages: Think you know your community? You'd be surprised what obscure or niche businesses are operating in your backyard that you don't know about. Start flipping through the pages.

5. Special interest magazines: Live in a rural community? Get your hands on a rural living magazine. Live in a popular eco-adventure area? Get an adventure mag. Live in a farming community? You get the idea. Special interest magazines report on unique issues that likely have relevance to your community too.

6. Visit your local museum: Most people love history about their community, but it's always amazing what we don't know. Exhibits can tell you stories, and give you ideas. Plus, what's not on display can be just as fascinating. Museums rarely have room for public display of everything in their collections. Find out what's in storage too.

7. Real estate listings: Sure, you'll find homes, homes and more homes. But you'll also find businesses, factories, historic landmarks, former schools and churches, bank-possessed properties, and more.

8. Liquor licence notices: Notices from governing bodies that control liquor licences for restaurant and bar owners can reveal not only who's applying for an alcohol licence, but also who's having their alcohol licence revoked because of violations.

9. College, university course guides: Look for the latest course offerings and night classes. Bellydancing? Yes, it's just one of the courses noticed in a college program guide.

10. Tender notices: When municipalities require specialized construction projects, tender notices are issued (invitations to contractors to bid on the work). Find out what work is being proposed. Bridge construction? Sewage upgrades? Sometimes the lowest bids aren't accepted. Why?

11. Insurance claims: Public agencies and municipalities are always settling insurance claims. It could be damage caused to a taxpayer's property. It could an accident involving a municipal vehicle. It could be anything. Find out what's being paid out, and for what.

12. National/provincial/state parks: Most parks operate activities for families, especially on summer weekends. Get a list of the activities planned. Maybe they'll include a late-night owl prowl, rattlesnake education day, or tips on how to survive if you get lost in the woods.

13. Recreational facility users: Find out from your municipality or county which groups are using arenas, ball diamonds, etc. Besides the usual groups, you'll likely find some interesting users. One example of a find: young inmates at a juvenile correctional facility playing hockey at a local arena during early morning hours.

14. Estate sales notices: Often, a deceased person's belongings may be sold at estate sales. Such sales usually advertise in advance in newspapers. You'll get an interesting list of heirlooms, antiques and collectibles.

15. Police auctions: Usually, police forces will annually auction off seized or recovered items, such as bicycles or stolen goods for which owners were never found. The goods sell for bargain prices. And many of the never claimed items leave us wondering . . . I wonder who owned that?

16. Marriage notices: Mixed in with all that standard stuff about exchanging vows, cutting a cake and best men and bridesmaids, you might just find tales of unusual honeymoons (mountain climbing, humanitarian expeditions, etc.), or two people with the last name Smith getting married (yes, Smith & Smith is a true story!).

17. The One Year Ago comparison: You can apply this to almost anything. Take something from the current year and compare it with the previous year. Smog days. Real estate sales. Boating accidents. Business bankruptcies. Fires. Campground occupancy rates. Humane society adoptions. The list is endless.

18. Agriculture associations: Find out what they're lobbying for. Find out about crop yields, the state of crop pests, and general farm trends.

19. Scanners: Most newsrooms have one. But more importantly, what stations are loaded into your scanner, besides police, ambulance and fire? Make sure you have utilities (hydro, gas, etc) programmed too so you'll know about gas leaks, electrical transformer malfunctions, and tricky operations such as the transportation of giant objects via roads which require lifting of power lines, etc). Make sure you have public works departments (the county department that handles flooded roads, backed up sewers, downed trees, etc.) added too.

20. Emergency plans: Most counties have official emergency plans that are always being updated, scenarios being added. Find out how your county will handle epidemics, disasters, etc. Is your local hockey arena the designated morgue if an epidemic hits and hundreds die? Find out. What about vaccinations? Who's where on the priority list? (Sorry, journalists aren't likely No. 1)

21. Campus life: College and university campus life has its own culture of newsletters, websites, bulletin boards, etc. Tap into campus life (no, we're not talking about the beer).

22. Facebook: Who’s posting their profiles on Facebook? Local politicians? Local sports celebrities? Average Joes from your community? What are they saying, sharing, etc?

23. Job statistics: Find out which government agency compiles job data about your marketplace. When you get the data, you’ll be able to see which career sectors dominate your area, which sectors are lacking workers, and whether your area is diversified enough. It can all add up to telling data about whether your community is stuck in neutral or diversifying its employment offerings.

24. Pauper burials: Every community has pauper burials (ie. Burials where no relatives of the deceased have been found, and there are no funds available from the deceased for the burial). Communities allocate X amount of funds for such burials. Tell the story of one pauper burial: it’ll take some digging (sorry, it’s a bad pun) but there might be a touching story there about someone who has left this Earth with barely a goodbye from anyone. Who was Mr. X or Ms. X? Find out.

25. Hunches: Good reporters develop hunches. Many prize-winning stories have been broken because a reporter had a hunch. Maybe it started with a simple "something doesn’t seem quite right here." Or maybe, "I wonder if the government is doing this today because it will eventually pave the way to implement XXXXX next…..?" Or, perhaps, "this is really odd. I think there has been XX break-ins at churches in the past six months. I wonder if they’re connected?" Take your hunches and start sleuthing.

26. Buried leads: Read other reporters’ stories, especially your competitors. In a perfect world, reporters perfectly structure their stories, leaving nothing buried. Truth is, buried leads happen. And when they do, they represent an opportunity for an eagle-eyed reporter.

27. Old magazines, newspapers: Look to the past to reintroduce or update an idea for today. Story themes of the past often have relevance today.

27. What would you like to see in the newspaper?: It's a basic person-to-person question that often leads to someone saying, "Why don't you do a story about...?" Congratulations, you've just used your readers as a source for ideas.

28. Check out Newseum: This is a one-stop website for quick hits about what other newspapers are doing. Visit www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages. It's bound to generate some ideas, or at the very least, some inspiration.

29. Advice columnists: Read about the problems facing average people and how they are being addressed by advice columnists. It might be the lonely bride bemoaning the husband who still insists on hanging out with pals at the neighbourhood bar on Friday nights. Or it may be the family who has a dog with bad manners that makes social visits with friends an uncomfortable affair. No matter what is discussed, you'll likely find oodles of social dilemmas that are common for many of your readers.

30. Whatever happened to...?: Readers often wonder about whatever happened to....? And we often forget to tell them. It can be people, places or events.

31. Unsolved crimes: Every community has them. Sometimes they're long forgotten crimes. Or sometimes they're stories we wrote a month ago and then let slip. Long forgotten cold cases can make for fascinating reading. More recent unsolved crimes simply beg being revisited: Has anyone been arrested? Has the investigation grown cold?

32. Anniversaries: We're not talking Uncle Jed and Aunt Sally's 50th wedding anniversary (although, there might be a story there too!) We're talking about anniversaries such as the 20th anniversary of a tornado that destroyed a town. Or the 25th anniversary of a $1 million lottery win by a local couple. Or the 10th anniversary of the closure of a community's major factory. All these dates represent the opportunity to reflect on the actual event when it happened and how life has changed years later. A smart editor or reporter will log important dates and be prepared for such stories.

33. Use a newsreader: Many websites today offer RSS (Really Simple Syndication) news feeds. Popular newsreaders include www.NewsGator.com, www.Bloglines.com, www.FeedReader.com. Just Google 'newsreaders' and you'll have many options (some free, some paid). Newsreaders are great ways to customize which newsfeeds you receive so you can tailor information to your beat or just general interests. RSS lets you stay on top of the latest news or blogs.

34. Use social bookmarking sites: Facebook (see #22) is so vast and useful it's worth being its own source for story ideas. But there are other social bookmarking sites that specifically track and circulate popular website finds. www.Digg.com, www.StumbleUpon.com and Del.ico.us are sites where users share and categorize their favourite websites. It's an excellent way to find what's hot with web surfers and stay current with what's trendy.

35. Google Alerts: If you don't have time for other Internet websites or online services for story ideas, do the basic thing: Go to Google and create Google Alerts. You can get Alerts sent to your email inbox for anything, such as news containing the name of your home town, favourite team, favourite sports athlete, politicians, etc.

36. Subscribe to PR Newswire: This is an invaluable free service for receiving press releases about companies and products which are often produce excellent leads for news stories. One corporate press release spotted recently was a warning about counterfeit Colgate toothpaste finding its way into the marketplace. Another release touted concrete canoe racing (now that's a story to sink your news sense into!). Sure, it's PR and you'll get corporate spin, but that's why we're journalists who sort the spin in order to come up with story angles. Use either www.prnewswire.com or the journalist-specific http://media.prnewswire.com.

37. Check out those oddball stories: We all get a good chuckle and raise an eyebrow at some odd stories. Sometimes odd stories present an opportunity to get local reaction. When the Vatican released its 10 Commandments for Good Motorists in June 2007, it was an ideal opportunity to do just that. What do motorists in your community think about Thou Shalt Not Make Rude Gestures, or Thou Shalt Keep Your Car in Good Shape? Ask them. A good source for odd stories is www.reuters.com/news/oddlyEnough

38. Columnists: Columnists who share ideas may actually plant the makings of a news story. For example, a columnist who is critical of efforts to halt the spread of the exotic invading Asian carp in the northeast United States, may provide the theme for a issues-based news story based on the premise: Are we doing enough to stop the Asian carp? Look for potential story lines in columns.

39. Hospital statistics: Hospitals keep statistics. Tons of statistics. Number of babies born. Number of visits to the ER. Number of MRIs performed. Revenue generated from in-room television rentals. Parking lot revenues. Even numbers for specific injuries (lawnmower injuries, backyard trampoline-related injuries, etc.)

40. Your own newspaper's archives: This should be required reading for every journalist who starts a job at newspaper. Have the reporter spend an hour or two flipping pages in the archive room. They'll hopefully gain an appreciation for the newspaper's history, and no doubt, stumble upon an idea worth resurrecting or revisiting in terms of what it means today.

41. Put your own curiosity to work: Good reporters are curious. They have an insatiable appetite to know why something is the way it is. Or, simply what if XXXX happened? Chances are, your readers are curious to know too. It's no coincidence that curious reporters are the ones called diggers.

42. Use your newspaper's searchable database: Most newspapers have a searchable database of previously published stories, but many journalists often forget to use such a database. That database is essential for getting up to speed on a subject, and getting the mandatory background information you'll need for your story. It's also your vital tool for what's on the public record. For example, don't take a politician's word that he/she has been an active proponent of XXXXX. Search your newspaper's database. What did your newspaper report a year ago, or two years ago about this politician? What was he/she saying back then? You might find some contradictions. Too often we let politicians talk a good game in the present, and forget to challenge it down the road.

43. Club notes: Once a fixture in many newspapers, club notes (those little briefs handed in by men's or women's clubs and social groups) often get passed over when we read a newspaper. "They're just taking up valuable space," we might say. "Nobody cares if these people met for tea and had a 50/50 draw." Well, yes, it's often bland, but sometimes there are story ideas sandwiched between those dry paragraphs about calling a meeting to order and what was served for dessert. Once spotted in a women's club hand-in: preparations being made for a meeting with a Belgian prince.

44. Family get-togethers: Spend an evening around a campfire with family, or sitting at at table for a reunion dinner and you'll be guaranteed to get story ideas. What usually begins as family-specific chatter often morphs into a bigger picture discussion. Yes, that little small talk about how grandson Bobby got a concussion heading a ball on the soccer field soon evolves to be a conversation about how heading a ball should be banned for young soccer players. And there's the potential theme for a story: Should young kids be heading a soccer ball? Family get-togethers allow greater time for discussions to expand into something more than just family talk.

45. Ethnic communities: Is your newspaper telling the stories of many communities or just a few? Each ethnic community has issues that are unique. Before you can tell those stories, you need to go to those communities to get the story ideas.

46. Ask your readers to call: Make sure your newspaper invites readers to call in news tips and story suggestions. All it takes is a small blurb that appears in the paper on a regular basis: Got a news tip or story idea? Call XXXXXXX. Sometimes readers need to know their ideas are welcome, before they'll pick up the phone.

47. Meet with Al every morning: Al Tompkins of the Poynter Institute has an invaluable free offering. Every morning, Monday to Friday, you can receive an email appropriately called Al's Morning Meeting. It's where Tompkins checks out the headlines and offers suggestions for localizing stories.

48. More story ideas: Check out www.Holdthefrontpage.co.uk. This UK site is operated by journalists. One recent story idea was suggested as a spinoff about a story involving a woman caught stealing toilet paper from a hotel. Holdthefrontpage asks: What about shampoo and shower gel? When does helping yourself to the odd freebie become stealing? Lots of ideas at this site to inspire you.

49. Read show summaries in your television guide: In your TV guide you'll get quick story themes of sitcoms and dramas. And perhaps some inspiration to spin a real-life story.

50. Read fine print: It's so small that people often never read it. But they might be shocked if they did. Drug advertisements. Travel brochures. Insurance documents. Contracts. All those little stipulations in very small text can have some major impacts on your life.

Crisis Continues in Pakistan

2007-10-02T12:39:00.000+05:00

After humiliation of lawyers and journalists in the hands of Islamabad and Karachi police, alliance of the opposition parties of Pakistan; All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) has finally tendered their resignations from National as well as Provincial Assemblies.
On Tuesday around 86 MNAs (members of national assembly) submitted their resignation. These include 62 MNAs from Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), 20 of Pakistan Muslim League (N) and one MNA each from Tehrik-e-Insaf, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party and JUI Fazl-e-Karim.
The National Assembly is one of the two Houses of Parliament, with a total membership of 272 elected through universal adult suffrage. 60 seats for Women and 10 Minorities. The total number becomes 342.
Around 26 MPAs (members of provincial assembly) Balochistan have also resigned. However, the most popular oppostition party Pakistan Peoples Party has kept itself aloof from the movement of the opposition. Benazir Bhutto's statement for allowing the US forces to strike for Osama in Pakistan lost her further support of the people.
State has unveiled its full revenge against politicians, lawyers, journalists as well as judges. Yesterday some 'unidentified' people in Karachi in bannes alleged Sindh Chief Justice, Justice Sabihuddin Ghausi for bribery.

'Go Ahead Musharraf'

2007-09-29T10:49:00.000+05:00

Yesterday evening one of my colleagues said he was disappointed again, because the Supreme Court of Pakistan dismissed six petitions challenging Musharraf's two offices. "Now any and every general can become a president too," he said.

Six out of nine member bench rejected the petitions declaring them "not maintainable."
Justice Rana Bhagwandas, Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan and Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan said the petitions were maintainable, while Justice Javed Iqbal, Justice Muhammad Nawaz Abbasi, Jutice Faqir Muhammad Khokhar, Jutice Falak Sher, Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar and Justice Javed Buttar declared them non maintainable.

Though Gen Musharraf is not the only Gen-President, but the ray of hope this nation developed after reinstatement of the Chief Justice and the bold decisions taken by the Supreme Court is now dead. People of this country have been waiting for the strengthening of the last 60 years.

When parliament and the political parties became a tool in the hands of the establishment, the judiciary had developed the hope after a long struggle and sacrifice of more than 50 people on May 12 this year. Early this month, when state forcibly sent Nawaz Sharif, former prime minister of Pakistan, to Saudi Arabia despite of orders of the apex court, one editor of a newspaper said, "Your judiciary is dead."

Well, Pakistan's newspapers flashed the historical decision this way: Daily Times in its full page headline wrote: Supreme Court says 'Go ahead Musharraf'. In a box news item the daily reported that Presidential candidate Justice (r) Wajeehuddin Ahmed had filed an application with the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) that President Musharraf could not contest the election under Article 41 (3).

I am not an expert of law, will wait to see whose interpretation of law is accurate, whether of a retired judge's or sitting judges'.

Headline of Business Recorder reads; SC dismisses petitions (six to three) against Musharraf contesting election in uniform. In an other news daily quoted the US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, Richard Boucher saying the decision would promote democracy in Pakistan.

May be only Boucher believes this!

Full page headline of The News reported; SC saves the day for Musharraf.

The daily in an other news item reported President Gen Pervez Musharraf emerged stronger with cent percent chances of recording victory for a second term in office as his nomination for re-election crossed all the 'artificially' erected hurdles.

Rahimullah Yusufzai asked in The News why was it so that Supreme Court judges belonging to Sindh and the NWFP often gave dissenting judgments in important constitutinonal petitions having political implications while those from the Punjab usually upheld the government's stance? He said out of six judges who rejected the petitions four were from Punjab, one from Balochistan and one, Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, had 'domicile' of Sindh. Recently he served as chief election commissioner of Pakistan. The three judges who gave dissenting note belong to Sindh and the NWFP.

DAWN's heading reads; The day of the General. Musharraf to run for president in uniform. Petitioners, lawyers' leaders livid.

Headlines of other national as well as regional newspapers also highlighted the decision.

Guiding Principles for the Journalist

2007-09-27T07:37:00.000+05:00

Code of ethics may vary from country to country and newsroom to newsroom. However, some guiding principles prepared by Mr Bob Steele, Director, Ethics Program, The Poynter Institute for Media Studies would serve as useful advice for journalists at all levels.
Here is the copy of those principles, he provided me during my training at the Poynter Institute summer 2006.

1- SEEK TRUTH AND REPORT IT AS FULLY AS POSSIBLE

Inform yourself continuously so you in turn can inform, engage, and educate the public in a clear and compelling way on significant issues

Be honest, fair, and courageous in gathering, reporting, and interpreting accurate information

Give voice to the voiceless

Hold the powerful accountable

2- ACT INDEPENDENTLY

Guard vigorously the essential stewardship role a free press plays in an open society

Seek out and disseminate competing perspectives without being unduly influenced by those who would use their power or position counter to the public interest

Remain free of associations and activities that may compromise your integrity or damage your credibility

Recognize that good ethical decisions require individual responsibility enriched by collaborative efforts

3- MINIMIZE HARM
Be compassionate for those affected by your actions

Treat sources, subjects, and colleagues as human beings deserving of respect, not merely as means to your journalistic ends

Recognize that gathering and reporting information may cause harm or discomfort, but balance those negatives by choosing alternatives that maximize your goal of truth telling