In fact, journalists and other advocacy related bodies could sustain their integrity and professional capacity, i.e. to collect, organise, analyse and disseminate information, only in relation to reaching out to links with other components of civil society. JRC insists upon keeping the full picture of media politics in mind, before taking up the task of information dissemination. Even an on-face correct but socially crude description of a sensitive issue can result in a tragedy of great proportions.
It is in this situation that the role of journalists gets significant in not only building public opinion but also in strengthening democracy and civil society. Journalists must be conscious of the seriousness of the issues they are covering and be able to make better and more informed judgement on the treatment of the news and analysis they deliver.

It is the need of the hour to create an institution where professional learning opportunities are made available to journalists, as sense of social responsibility requires clear minds. It is high time for journalists to stop presenting stereotypical images to meet their deadlines, and come up with enlightened thought patterns.
Journalists have access to wider audience; it is easier for them to target a larger number of people. It is also possible to educate more people on social issues through mass media. Equally important is their sustained follow-up, which may lead to better co-ordination among various sections of civil society. Changing the approach of our journalists is the first step towards building a more democratic and egalitarian society.

Journalists may also extend their support services to all social groups who need expertise, adequate media links and equipped human resources in the field of mainstream journalism/advocacy/awareness campaign design and its execution.

Objectives

1. To establish an institution dedicated to fill in the vacuum of professional training in journalism;
2. To work for a socially responsible journalism in the country towards the evolution of a civil society;
3. To facilitate journalists' access to information and research resources, and also to training opportunities outside the country;
4. To support development organizations with thorough media services;
5. To generate action with the help of other like-minded groups and institutions on issues, which require urgent attention;
6. To promote a regional (South Asian) perspective on issues;
7. To advocate the creation of more political and social space for disadvantaged sections of society like women, minorities and the poor after consulting the organizations working for their betterment. Special focus will be given not to impose our will upon them, rather the marginalised be invited to speak for themselves; 
8. To organize issue-based dialogues and forums within journalist community to enhance their professional abilities to handle socially sensitive issues like minorities, sectarianism and women. 

In pursuance of the general objectives, we pledge

1. to hold issue based dialogues and forums within journalist community on a regular basis to enhance their professional capacity in handling socially sensitive issues like the minorities', sectarian and women issues;
2. to hold regular skill enhancement and thematic training workshops for professional journalists;
3. to assist/guide journalists in the discharge of their professional duties through the establishment of a data base of resources and the use of Internet;
4. to collect, organize, analyze and disseminate information on socioeconomic and political issues to professional journalists in particular and other organs of civil society in general;
5. to extend professional co-ordination/facilitation services to like-minded organisations for bringing their agendas to mainstream media;
6. to develop a 'Code of Conduct' for journalists in pursuance of social mobilisation and change;
7. to generate support for journalists activities at the local level, national and regional level;
8. to set up JRC's own site on the Internet dedicated to the realisation of all the above objectives;

The JRC team is a group of trained professional journalists excelling in various fields including economy, national and international politics, social development, literature and production. The team includes some senior most names in the journalist community.

Coming from very diverse backgrounds, some of them have made their way to journalism after being involved in the politics of left and trade union activities for a good period of time.

Structure

JRC's Board of Governors is the decision making body. The functional affairs of JRC Core Programmes are dispersed between six units under their respective coordinators. 

Dialogues/Seminars Unit conceives, manages and follows up dialogues held under the JRC. Muhammad Akram, Noman Yawer, and Mehboob Hiraj are current members of its organising committee. 

Publications & Documentation Unit prepares a monthly Newsletter, dialogue reports and research output prepared by the JRC. The unit also works as a documentation centre and is headed by Iqbal Haider Butt. Tahir Asghar, Ms. Tamseela Chishti are members of the team.

Training Unit holds skill improvement and district level reporting workshops, and develops database of Resource persons and training kits for our supported audience. Farah Zia coordinates the unit with assistance of Ahmed Naeem, Ms. Naela Raza.

Research & Advocacy Unit is responsible for conducting media researches, develops linkages with like minded national and international organisations. It also presents professional support services wherever identified, within and outside the organisation, and generates public awareness campaigns/advocacy initiatives/consultancy and undertakes public interest litigation in appropriate circumstances. Executive Director of JRC, Dr Mohammad Tanveer, looks after this unit.

Civil Society & Governance Unit monitors activities of the civil society in Pakistani perspective. It will also produce its monthly update, forming part of JRC bulletin and will be circulated electronically as well. The Unit has already devised a plan to district wise dialogues on CS in Nadeem Omar co-ordinates the unit. 

Electronic Media and Communication Unit maintains JRC website and help JRC in its visual projects. It will run virtual discussion forum, publish an electronic newsletter, and produce dialogues/seminars videos and documentaries for Television.
In this regard Hussain Sajjad is the coordinator of this unit.  Sabir Hussain and Abid Shamsi are members of it. 

JRC plan to capitalise upon Journalists' in-depth investigative reports as our input in the visual projects, as some of really valuable work is left out in print for problems of space and the medium's limitations.

Phone: + 92 42 6666404 - 6687827
 

 

 
E-mail: jrc@syberwurx.com