[afro-nets] Role of Media in Fostering Evidence-based Decision Making

[Ahmed Saleem <asaleem@pcpak.org>]

Role of Media in Fostering Evidence-based Decision Making
---------------------------------------------------------

The Population Council (Pakistan Office) arranged a one-week
workshop with media professionals on "Role of Media in Fostering
Evidence-based Decision Making in Pakistan".

The workshop was held for one week in Islamabad from April 12 to
16, 2004. Concept behind this workshop was of establishing a
"Core Media Group" consisting of 10 to 12 senior media profes-
sionals. These professionals will be participating in our future
media-related activities as mentors and resource persons having
better knowledge about population, RH, and research issues.

Each member of the "Core Media Group" will be
(a) creating his/her own network of 05 to 15 media profession-
als,
(b) writing and/or accommodating news on RH and population is-
sues,
(c) assisting the Council as our resource persons in future ac-
tivities and,
(d) mentoring their junior colleagues.

With this core group we hope to set the basis for a nationwide
effort towards introducing development journalism in Pakistan.

As for structure of the workshop, we divided it into three parts
i.e. research, reporting, and mentoring. In research part, pri-
mary focus was on understanding and utilization of research in
population context. With regard to reporting, we discussed the
crucial role of media in support of health and population issues
in Pakistan. In the third part, there were a couple of sessions
on the art of mentoring.

--
Ahmed Saleem
Senior Communication Officer
Population Council (Pakistan Office)
House No. 7, Street 62
F-6/3, Islamabad
Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-227-7439 Ext: 114
Fax: +92-51-282-1401
mailto:asaleem@pcpak.org