Commonwealth Journalists Association UK, HQ Training workshop
Renowned British journalist Michael Griffin ran this four day workshops in Ahmedpur East 16-19 June 2003 to impart basic skills to rural journalists. This was the first training workshop run by the Commonwealth Journalists Association London HQ, in a remote area since the CJA was founded in 1978. The workshop was held at the Ahmedpur Public high School and was attended by 10 female journalists and 15 male journalists. Due to cultural requirements separates classes were conducted for lady journalists which lasted two of the four days allocated for the workshop. The women were given presentations on writing skills, developing stories, the news pyramid, corruption its causes and effects, how media can help in the fight against corruption, and basic details about Pakistan Freedom of Information Act and how it can help them. A survey was also conducted to determine the women journalists priorities in the fight against corruption and its results showed the participants thought that in the fight against corruption freedom and democracy and the example set by leadership were top priorities. The result was the same for the survey of the male journalists. The male participants of the workshop went through the same course and were also given exercise to determine their level of competence
Stories pertinent to Ahmedpur were discussed in details and investigative techniques imparted by Michael Griffin.
A presentation on bonded labour was given by Malik Abdul Aziz, advocate and a labour activist from the area of Liaquatpur who gave a detailed history of bondage and how the media can help the less privileged by reporting on their plight. A local advocate from Ahmedpur also gave a presentation and discussed issues such as libel and slander. Griffin was assisted by Ziaul Islam Zuberi a columnist from Karachi, and a volunteer with Transparency International who gave a presentation on the subjects of corruption and the freedom of information act. The local facilitator for this workshop was Ehsan Ahmed Sehar and it was inaugurated by Nawab of Bahawalpur, Nawab Salahuddin Abbasi.
