A new project was launched in August 2010 aimed at strengthening the press clubs in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) bordering Afghanistan through p romoting ICT (information and communications technology) use by media in one of the country's most under-developed regions.

The presidents and representatives of eight press clubs based in FATA agencies signed memorandum of understanding (MOUs) with Intermedia in Peshawar that will build the technical capacity of both the press clubs and their members in improving the standards of journalism and quality of reporting in and from FATA.

Under the project, supported by UNESCO, Intermedia will build technical capacities of press clubs through equipment grants comprising computers, editing suites, digital voice recorders, digital cameras and wireless Internet connectivity. Over 200 journalists across FATA will be trained in conflict sensitive reporting and ethical reporting standards; adopting best safety practices to keep themselves safe; and in enhancing their skills to access information by using ICT and use Internet as a source of research to improve the quality of their reporting.

An e-group of the alumni of the more than 200 trained journalists will also be established to promote networking among the press clubs and journalists of the region among themselves and with their counterparts in the rest of Pakistan.

Monthly media monitoring reports on violations against press freedoms and freedom of expression and analysis reports on the state of media in FATA and the trends prevailing in the region will also be produced to keep the media community informed of the security-related risks.

“The project aims to build the technical capacity of the network of press clubs in Pakistan's conflict-affected regions and train their member journalists in reporting on conflict, using online research as a critical tool to improve quality of reporting and to promote a culture of safety among the journalists community,” Aurangzaib Khan, the Media Development Manager of Intermedia said at the MoU signing ceremony.

Under the project, Intermedia will strengthen ICT systems within press clubs across the Bajaur, Khyber, Mohmand, Orakzai, Kurram, North Waziristan and South Waziristan agencies and through training of journalists in each agency, build their capacity to generate research-based reporting.

“The project will also aim to improve a culture of safety of journalists by conducting safety clinics and producing regular analysis of the state of violations against the media in FATA by promoting documentation of incidents of violence and intimidation that journalists face in the region,” Khan said.  

The press clubs that signed the MoU with Intermedia, a Pakistani media development organization that focuses on advocacy, research, training and capacity building on media issues, included Parachinar Press Club and Sadda Press Clubs of Kurram Agency, Mir Ali Press Club of North Waziristan Agency, Bajaur Press Club of Bajaur Agency, Landi Kotal Press Club of Khyber Agency, Mohmand Press Club of Mohmand Agency, Orakzai Press Club of Orakzai Agency and Wana Press Club of South Waziristan Agency.

Speaking on the occasion, President of the Tribal Union of Journalists Ibrahim Shinwari said that capacity-building of the journalists of tribal areas is indispensable to meeting the challenges of modern journalism.

“Half of journalists in FATA do not have formal qualifications; they need training to improve their skills which will improve the professional standards of journalism in the tribal areas,” he said.

Shinwari lauded the assistance being extended to the press clubs in FATA by Intermedia and said that it would go a long way in enhancing professional skills of the journalists of the most neglected part of the country.

Ihsan Dawar, secretary-general of Mirali Press Club, said that the ICT equipment provided by Intermedia and UNESCO will help local journalists acquaint themselves with modern techniques of journalism, including online research and information sharing.