Workshop for health reporters held at IBA

The Institute of Business Administration's Centre for Excellence in Journalism held a two-day training workshop for nutrition and health reporters at the IBA's city campus. The workshop, held in collaboration with Nestlé Pakistan and titled, "Basics of health reporting: nutrition as a source of news," was aimed at introducing the health sector to beginners and mid-level journalists who may not have a background in health, medicine and allied fields.
The workshop was led by CEJ director Kamal Siddiqi, with guest speakers including nutritionists, policy experts and senior journalists. Kamal Siddiqi said "nutrition and health are very important areas but are generally neglected when it comes to reporting. That is why we need to work with journalists so that they can work on them and do better reporting."
He underscored the need for responsible reporting, advising participants to stick to journalistic principles in covering new stories. He said a reporter should do cross-checking, to ensure the authenticity of any information he or she obtains from sources.
"Journalists have greater responsibility because they represent the society," he said. "The most important thing for a journalist is his name, and he has to maintain his reputation in the marketplace." Kamal Siddiqi said when a reporter receives information from a source he must take a version from the other party because sometimes the sources have their own vested interests. Journalist must have evidence to prove what the accuracy of what was reported, he said.
He advised reporters to be more careful in reporting of kidnappings and murders and health-related issues because insensible reporting usually puts a victim's life in more trouble. He also urged the owners of media organisations to pay reasonable salaries to journalists because "ethics can't be practiced with an empty stomach." One of trainers, Asfiya Aziz, discussed public health, its social determinants, and the major health issues related to it, particularly the status of non-communicable diseases in the country. She also spoke about fact-checking and verification for a good story.
Nutritionist Dr Fauzia Waqar gave a detailed presentation on "Nutrition as a public health problem." Zara Basharat, Nestlé's corporate media relations manager, said malnutrition is a core issue in the country. "It leads to a decreased productivity in our workforce and costly inefficiencies. We endeavour to play a key role in helping address this issue." The trainers described in detail the international perspective on health, moving on to Pakistan and its particular issues, with special focus on nutrition as a source of news in a country where malnutrition is widespread.